This post will provide information about the best ways to save money finding a place to stay while you’re in New Orleans.
We include details about hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, airbnb and more.
- Visión general
- 13 Tips for Cheap Rooms
- New Orleans Safety Tips
- Tips to Avoid Tourist Traps
- Free Things to Do in New Orleans
Visión general
While many of the best activities in New Orleans are quite affordable, one of your biggest expenses is going to be finding a place to stay.
Most hotels in New Orleans are going to cost at least $120-$180 per night.
If you’re planning to stay for a week, that could mean an additional cost of $900 or more. During the Mardi Gras season, prices can get as high as $300-$400 a night!
Thankfully, there are a lot of fairly easy ways to save money on accommodations in New Orleans. We’ll be going over some of the best options in our list below.
If you’re also looking for fun activities and attractions that won’t cost much, make sure to read our post covering free things to do in New Orleans.
We also have a post about City Park, a popular attraction with several fun and affordable things to see and do.
You may also want to consider taking one of our free New Orleans walking tours while you’re in the Big Easy!
Tips for Affordable Accommodations in New Orleans
This list will cover some of the best ways to save money finding a place to stay in New Orleans. Discounts range from
1. Stay at a Hostel
New Orleans hostels cost much less on average than a hotel. Rather than paying $100 or more per night, you can expect prices around $50 or less to stay at a hostel.
There are several affordable options in and around the French Quarter. We recommend the following options:
- City House New Orleans | 4.5 star rating
- 1 block from Canal Street
- 6 blocks from Louis Armstrong Park
- Madame Isabelle’s House | 4.5 star rating
- 4 blocks from Backstreet Cultural Museum
- 5 blocks from Louis Armstrong Park
- The Mansion on Royal Street | 4.5 star rating
- 5 blocks from New Orleans Jazz Museum
- 6 blocks from French Market
Each of these locations routinely offers some of the lowest prices for accommodations in the French Quarter area.
They might be around 8-10 blocks from most of the action, but the hostels that are closer to the water can sometimes cost as much as a decent hotel!
2. Buy a Trip Package
There are several websites which will let you save money on both airfare and accommodations by purchasing a trip package.
Although these services won’t save you a whole lot of money, you can usually expect to save at least 10% - 15% off normal prices.
3. Use a Budget Hotel Site
If you’re looking for the best possible prices on hotels, there are several specialty sites such as Hotwire which provide information about the best priced options in the city.
4. Check Discount Websites
In addition to the budget hotel sites, you can also find a decent deal on hotels using services like Groupon and LivingSocial.
5. Look for House Sitting Opportunities
In major US cities like New Orleans, there are usually at least a few people looking for someone to do some house sitting for them while they are out of town.
You can use a website like Trusted Housesitters to safely find people who need this service performed, and you might even make some money while you’re at it!
Use the code FREETOURS10 at checkout to get 10% off a membership.
6. Check TripAdvisor
In addition to allowing travelers to review popular hotels and attractions in New Orleans, this website also gives you a quick rundown of the most common and popular accommodations in the city and their prices.
If for nothing else, this is a good way to find out which hotels cost the most and which are more affordable.
Best TripAdvisor Deals in New Orleans.
7. Stay at a Bed and Breakfast
Sometimes you can save a few bucks by staying at a bed and breakfast instead of a hotel. This isn’t always the case, but it’s definitely an option worth checking out if you’re on a tight budget.
8. Check Your AAA Discounts
AAA and other insurance providers frequently offer discounts on hotels and other accommodations. You can also find these kinds of deals through your credit card company or even your bank.
9. Get an Airbnb
This is actually one of the best alternatives to hotels in New Orleans, because prices are often very affordable. Some locations will charge between $60-$90 a night.
In addition to that, Airbnb locations often have full or partial kitchens you can use, allowing you to save even more money by making your own food rather than eating out.
10. Join a Loyalty Program
If you frequently travel and prefer a specific hotel, you might be able to save some money on rooms by signing up for hotel loyalty programs. These services sometimes provide great discounts!
11. Use Workaway
Workaway is a website that connects you with hosts who will provide a place for you to stay in return for some small odd jobs around the house.
Similar to house sitting, this is another option that essentially allows you to work off your stay rather than paying for it.
Some of the odd jobs you can expect include caring for pets, cleaning around the house, fixing broken items, etc.
12. Look for a Place to Couch Surf
Whether you know someone in New Orleans who might be willing to give you a place to stay or not, couch surfing is always an option.
There’s even a website called Couchsurfing.com which can help you meet up with people who are willing to lend you a couch to sleep on!
13. Ask for a Discount
Although this isn’t always going to work, you could always ask for a discount upon arriving at the hotel. Chances are they will say no, but there’s always a possibility they’ll cut you a break!
