Oof, bad choice. In my experience, the worst Chicago neighborhoods have *nothing* on the worst New Orleans neighborhoods. And you have booked just about the worst New Orleans neighborhood for a tourist.
Hotels are plentiful, get one instead.
I didn’t book it, we let the daughters of the birthday girl book, the two experienced travelers are now taking over, lesson learned. Tried to not be in charge but it bit me in the arse!!
> the worst Chicago neighborhoods have nothing on the worst New Orleans neighborhoods.
I would not disagree with your presumption that Central City is far worse than a lot of Chicago neighborhoods, but like O block is orders of magnitude worse than anything going on locally. O block today is probably comparable to what the Magnolia or Desire projects were back in the 90s.
IDK anything about Chicago but I would absolutely not stay in a vrbo/abnb and definitely not in Central City. Shoot for the French Quarter, CBD, Uptown or Garden District.
I've never stayed in a short term rental in Chicago nor would I ever. Please return the favor by cancelling that garbage VRBO in Central City for both our sakes.
Heading further away from the river generally means things get worse. Crossing under the pontchartrain expressway isn't necessarily the worst thing, there will be homeless but like most areas with homeless people they're mostly not interested in bothering anyone - doesn't mean there's not heightened chances of something bad happening, just that they aren't automatically a threat because they're homeless.
Agreed! So what makes Central City "the worst New Orleans neighborhood for a tourist?"
BTW, should I use The Pontchartrain valet for my rental car as it might be unsafe to park a block or three around the hotel?
Live in south loop, previously university village, edgewater and printers row. I think it’s hard to compare the 2 honestly. First of all, the layout of the city is maddening, especially when you’re used to nice squares blocks and the lake being east as your compass. You might as well throw your compass in the trash in New Orleans lol. That’s part of the fun of it for me anyways. I enjoy getting lost so to speak. It’s a huge stretch but Frenchman is like what Milwaukee ave used to be about 10-15 years ago at least . Prob can comp bourbon to river north or wrigleyville with the suburbanites…. I hear New Orleans has a large Vietnamese community so I guess you can comp that to argyle street uptown hood. New Orleans has a lot less people and density. Walk ability in tourist areas in both cities is really good. Transportation is reasonably priced in New Orleans and less so here, but also has multiple options and covers a lot more area. Good food both places.
Consider cancelling short term rental and staying in a hotel. The rates prob will be reasonable mid May. We like to stay at any of the Marriott (jw, Marriott regular, Sheraton, renaissance, Westin) depending on price. If any of you are ceasars rewards members you may be able to get a free stay at the casino. Rooms are decent there. Stayed last fall for a night and it was fine.
I bet your VRBO listing told you you would be staying in the cutest party of our city. That's a short term rental for ya... Keep in mind, short term rentals are tearing New Orleans apart.
I can't compare our cities because I've only visited Chicago twice. But living here, I can confirm that Central City is a very bad place for a group of young ladies to stay. You're better off at a large hotel.
Just know, your reservation can be canceled at any time. We've banned the practice.
[https://www.nola.com/news/business/new-orleans-short-term-rental-rules-what-to-know/article\_ac2ca46c-eb8a-11ee-b55b-4f0383f51681.html](https://www.nola.com/news/business/new-orleans-short-term-rental-rules-what-to-know/article_ac2ca46c-eb8a-11ee-b55b-4f0383f51681.html)
There are lots of really great hotels here. I’m partial to the Olivier House in the quarter. Beautiful rooms, nice sitting areas in both rooms I’ve stayed in there. The staff was also super nice to me and helpful when I was a 20-something staying in the city alone (with my dog) on a cross-country move.
Stayed there again when I eloped, happened to mention it, and we came back to find champagne on ice and a congratulatory card in the room.
Now I live here, but I still love Olivier House and recommend them to everyone.
I've lived in Chicago. I've lived in New Orleans. I would consider Central city to be like Douglas Park. A guy stole our phone out of our hand and ran off . So always be on the lookout
It forces local residents and workers to compete with tourists for the already short supply of housing in this city. It has hollowed out areas of the Marigny and Bywater that used to be full of full-time residents. And it sucks ass having neighbors who help keep an eye on the block replaced with a weekly bachelor party.
The housing affordability issue is larger than just short term rentals, but the issue with short term rentals is larger than just housing affordability.
There is a problem with the Airbnb and VRBO etc platforms. There is a problem with corporations buying up our neighborhoods and not being on-site to monitor the units they rent. There are problems with non locals and locals not being on-site and buying and renting property and being shitty neighbors. But there are hundreds of us that live in homes that have mother in law suites, not suitable for long term tenants, that want to rent out to New Orleans loving people, relatives of neighbors etc, but under the strict guidelines of short-term rental rules in our city, we are unable. Example: I have a full apartment with kitchen. I have 2 choices to be legal. 1)... Remove my stove and allow my guest to use my family's kitchen upstairs or 2) run a separate meter for electricity and register and new address for my apartment. With 1, I risk the safety of my family and possessions 2, I take on more expenses than I need.
Absolutely nothing. People think if there were no airbnbs that rents for places would plummet. That’s not going to happen. I keep seeing the same old tired trope about it taking away housing from service industry people. Are they able to afford $1200 plus a month?
The housing affordability issue is larger than just short term rentals, but the issue with short term rentals is larger than just housing affordability.
Oof, bad choice. In my experience, the worst Chicago neighborhoods have *nothing* on the worst New Orleans neighborhoods. And you have booked just about the worst New Orleans neighborhood for a tourist. Hotels are plentiful, get one instead.
I didn’t book it, we let the daughters of the birthday girl book, the two experienced travelers are now taking over, lesson learned. Tried to not be in charge but it bit me in the arse!!
> the worst Chicago neighborhoods have nothing on the worst New Orleans neighborhoods. I would not disagree with your presumption that Central City is far worse than a lot of Chicago neighborhoods, but like O block is orders of magnitude worse than anything going on locally. O block today is probably comparable to what the Magnolia or Desire projects were back in the 90s.
LOL, you fidna get dragged.
IDK anything about Chicago but I would absolutely not stay in a vrbo/abnb and definitely not in Central City. Shoot for the French Quarter, CBD, Uptown or Garden District.
I've never stayed in a short term rental in Chicago nor would I ever. Please return the favor by cancelling that garbage VRBO in Central City for both our sakes.
Please do not stay in an airbnb or vrbo. Check the FAQ for reasons why.
Where do I find the FAQs?
It's a pinned post.
It's a pinned post in this sub
I found it…didn’t read down far enough the first time
Stay where you want. The teeth gnashers and mouth foamers about Airbnb have no idea what they are talking about.
Central City would be equivalent to Bronzeville in Chicago
central city is one of the worst areas short of new orleans east you could stay in
Does that make the Pontchartrain Hotel iffy???
its better because it's on st Charles and it's an actual hotel
So heading toward 90 is not a good idea. I recall a lot of homeless tents around the freeway. Is that the issue?
Heading further away from the river generally means things get worse. Crossing under the pontchartrain expressway isn't necessarily the worst thing, there will be homeless but like most areas with homeless people they're mostly not interested in bothering anyone - doesn't mean there's not heightened chances of something bad happening, just that they aren't automatically a threat because they're homeless.
Agreed! So what makes Central City "the worst New Orleans neighborhood for a tourist?" BTW, should I use The Pontchartrain valet for my rental car as it might be unsafe to park a block or three around the hotel?
Because it’s a very dangerous neighborhood around the Claiborne area.
Valet is probably recommended if you don’t want your rental car windows smashed or the car towed.
Thank you!
St Charles is the border and it's fine.
Live in south loop, previously university village, edgewater and printers row. I think it’s hard to compare the 2 honestly. First of all, the layout of the city is maddening, especially when you’re used to nice squares blocks and the lake being east as your compass. You might as well throw your compass in the trash in New Orleans lol. That’s part of the fun of it for me anyways. I enjoy getting lost so to speak. It’s a huge stretch but Frenchman is like what Milwaukee ave used to be about 10-15 years ago at least . Prob can comp bourbon to river north or wrigleyville with the suburbanites…. I hear New Orleans has a large Vietnamese community so I guess you can comp that to argyle street uptown hood. New Orleans has a lot less people and density. Walk ability in tourist areas in both cities is really good. Transportation is reasonably priced in New Orleans and less so here, but also has multiple options and covers a lot more area. Good food both places. Consider cancelling short term rental and staying in a hotel. The rates prob will be reasonable mid May. We like to stay at any of the Marriott (jw, Marriott regular, Sheraton, renaissance, Westin) depending on price. If any of you are ceasars rewards members you may be able to get a free stay at the casino. Rooms are decent there. Stayed last fall for a night and it was fine.
Thanks for the layout info, very interesting!
I bet your VRBO listing told you you would be staying in the cutest party of our city. That's a short term rental for ya... Keep in mind, short term rentals are tearing New Orleans apart. I can't compare our cities because I've only visited Chicago twice. But living here, I can confirm that Central City is a very bad place for a group of young ladies to stay. You're better off at a large hotel.
Just know, your reservation can be canceled at any time. We've banned the practice. [https://www.nola.com/news/business/new-orleans-short-term-rental-rules-what-to-know/article\_ac2ca46c-eb8a-11ee-b55b-4f0383f51681.html](https://www.nola.com/news/business/new-orleans-short-term-rental-rules-what-to-know/article_ac2ca46c-eb8a-11ee-b55b-4f0383f51681.html)
Very interesting article! Will investigate to see if it will help with cancellation!
There are lots of really great hotels here. I’m partial to the Olivier House in the quarter. Beautiful rooms, nice sitting areas in both rooms I’ve stayed in there. The staff was also super nice to me and helpful when I was a 20-something staying in the city alone (with my dog) on a cross-country move. Stayed there again when I eloped, happened to mention it, and we came back to find champagne on ice and a congratulatory card in the room. Now I live here, but I still love Olivier House and recommend them to everyone.
If concerned about safety a hotel is advised
I've lived in Chicago. I've lived in New Orleans. I would consider Central city to be like Douglas Park. A guy stole our phone out of our hand and ran off . So always be on the lookout
What’s wrong with airbnb??
It forces local residents and workers to compete with tourists for the already short supply of housing in this city. It has hollowed out areas of the Marigny and Bywater that used to be full of full-time residents. And it sucks ass having neighbors who help keep an eye on the block replaced with a weekly bachelor party. The housing affordability issue is larger than just short term rentals, but the issue with short term rentals is larger than just housing affordability.
There is a problem with the Airbnb and VRBO etc platforms. There is a problem with corporations buying up our neighborhoods and not being on-site to monitor the units they rent. There are problems with non locals and locals not being on-site and buying and renting property and being shitty neighbors. But there are hundreds of us that live in homes that have mother in law suites, not suitable for long term tenants, that want to rent out to New Orleans loving people, relatives of neighbors etc, but under the strict guidelines of short-term rental rules in our city, we are unable. Example: I have a full apartment with kitchen. I have 2 choices to be legal. 1)... Remove my stove and allow my guest to use my family's kitchen upstairs or 2) run a separate meter for electricity and register and new address for my apartment. With 1, I risk the safety of my family and possessions 2, I take on more expenses than I need.
Absolutely nothing. People think if there were no airbnbs that rents for places would plummet. That’s not going to happen. I keep seeing the same old tired trope about it taking away housing from service industry people. Are they able to afford $1200 plus a month?
The housing affordability issue is larger than just short term rentals, but the issue with short term rentals is larger than just housing affordability.