Most Romantic – New Orleans, LA’s Hotel Monteleone.

Luxury, beauty, location and exceptional service all come to mind after visiting the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans.  Being one of my favorite cities to visit I was overjoyed when I was finally able to experience the grand dame hotel first hand.

The lobby is beautiful and bustling with constant movement. I found it intriguing to sit in the lobby and observe all the different people coming and going. There were business travelers, families and then there were couples, many couples – clearly making a romantic getaway or even honeymoon out of their visit to the hotel and New Orleans.

There are a handful of places that are synonymous with New Orleans and dating back to 1886 the Hotel Monteleone is one of them. The long-standing stature of the hotel is not the only thing that makes it one of the most popular in New Orleans but the hotel’s location on Royal Street in the French Quarter makes it for easy walking to literally any popular attraction in New Orleans and for those places located little farther away the trolley is close at hand.

The rooms are equipped with everything you need and if it isn’t there – ask for it – like magic you will have it at your fingertips. Vacationing within the hotel is wonderful too. You will want to sneak a peek at the rooftop swimming pool. Not only is it wonderfully refreshing to take a dip after shopping all day but I recommend you visit the rooftop swimming pool at sunset – what a romantic and beautiful setting and what a view of the city there can’t be many better. The Carousel Bar is filled with a circus motif and sensational sights and literally rotates around and around. From the picturesque carousel designs to the inspirational writings of Truman Capote, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, to name a few and the live piano music the Carousel Bar is loved by visitors and locals alike. For some of the best oysters and casual New Orleans fare stop in the hotel’s Aft Deck Oyster Bar. Looking for a place to “pop” the question or just enjoy a romantic dinner – the ambiance, menu and wine selection of the hotel’s Hunt Room Grill meet the bill.

Of course, you will want to include the newly opened, Spa Aria to the list of things to do within the hotel. Mind, body and soul are equally important to the pleasure that a visit to spa will bring and make you coming back for more.

If you can’t decide what to do and prefer someone else make the arrangements the hotel offers many packages to visitors from the Romantic Interlude offering champagne and chocolate covered strawberries when you arrive, a three-course dinner at the Hunt Room Grill, breakfast at Brennan’s world famous restaurant located just a few blocks away and a New Orleans souvenir jazz CD. Visit www.hotelmontelone.com and get a complete list of the many packages they offer.