The Best Vacation Rentals in New Orleans

Just north of the tourist-friendly French Quarter and a 15-minute walk to the nightlife-packed Bourbon Street, this is a serene, marble-clad tower with hotel rooms and holiday apartments in New Orleans. Set in the polished-up former red light district, an elegant 1920s heritage building has been transformed into a set of smart, businesslike suites and studios in muted, silvery shades, many with kitchenettes and parking spaces. Best of all is the ravishing rooftop pool, with loungers for balmy New Orleans afternoons.

The French Quarter is famous for its elegant Creole townhouse-style mansions, with tiered wrought-iron balconies and wooden shutters. Stay in one of these landmark buildings, with a handsome peach and basil facade, when you bag one of the New Orleans vacation apartments at Saint Philip Residence. Apartments range from snug to generous two-beds with living rooms and balconies; just east of Jackson Square, you’re surrounded here by historic architecture, great cocktail bars, voodoo shops and fortune tellers.

An aparthotel with rooms featuring fridges and microwaves, this relaxed hideaway is on the most famous jazz alley in the city, Frenchmen Street, and the location is incredibly central for sightseeing. Bar-hop your way back to its smart-but-basic rooms with lacquered wood floors, striped armchairs and taupe sofas, connected by pretty balcony walkways that zigzag upward from a small courtyard. Outside is a hot tub and a medium-size pool for summer dips.

Sleeping four across a queen room and a pull-out double sofa bed, this brightly painted, self-contained unit suits families down to the ground. Comfy and homey with fruit salad-colored paintwork and a snug living room, it’s just east of the New Orleans Visitor Center – so out of the bar-crawl chaos, but a 25-minute walk to Bourbon Street. You’ll have access to a cute patio at this little blue guesthouse, with a swing seat, dining area and hot tub, all surrounded by neon-bright murals that reflect the bohemian, creative feel of New Orleans.

Slightly north of the tourist center, towards the enormous City Park, this homey vacation rental in New Orleans, sleeping six, is owned by the folks behind popular tour company Dr Gumbo Tours – so your hosts know their sightseeing. Bed down in bright, character-packed rooms with geometric rugs or stained-glass details and enjoy a huge garden with a swing set for the kids. Parents will appreciate the microwave, blender and dishwasher almost as much as the peaceful residential neighborhood, but you’ll need to budget for a few cabs to get to the main sights and restaurants.

This charming red-brick holiday apartment block in New Orleans is right in the thick of things, on the street parallel to central Bourbon Street, with its century-old restaurants and bursting-full cocktail bars. Somewhere between a hotel suite and a fully fledged apartment, each room has its own fridge, oven, microwave and crockery, as well as classic wooden four-poster beds and period furniture; some have pretty spiral staircases, tiled breakfast bars and brick fireplaces to add even more character.

So tastefully done up that you’ll be jotting down your favorite details and looking up the designers, this Instagram-ready two-bedroom pad is set in a historic shotgun-style house. Owners Anna and Tim are from Brooklyn, New York, and have artfully draped this white-and-brick space with decorative straw hats, snuggly throws, subway tiles and neatly curated bookshelves. Stylish types will love perusing the elegant, beautifully preserved Marigny district with its galleries, jazz clubs and cutting-edge brunch spots.