The Depot at Madame Julia's

Description:

• A second establishment from the couple who runs the St. Charles Guesthouse in the Garden District, the Depot takes up part of a whole complex of buildings dating from the 1800s and is an alternative to more commercial hotels in the Central Business District. Then again, it may be full of volunteer groups helping to rebuild the city when you call.

  Low prices and a guesthouse environment mean a number of good things -- including rooms with character and a proprietor who loves to help guests with all the details of their stay -- but it also means shared bathrooms, rooms on the small and cozy side, and a location that, although quiet on the weekends, can get noisy in the mornings as the working neighborhood gets going. Still being gentrified, the neighborhood is hit-or-miss, but more of the former than the latter thanks to artsy Julia Street. A mere 7 blocks (safe in the daytime) from the Quarter, it's a quick walk or a short streetcar/bus ride, which makes it an affordable alternative to the Quarter's much more expensive accommodations. The budget-conscious and those who prefer their hotels with personality will consider this a find.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010