10 best places to stay in New Orleans on a budget

The European-style Greek Revival Prytania Park Hotel - think smallish rooms, personal friendly service and neighborhood location, is an ideal choice if you want to travel around the city and explore. The 60 rooms are mostly contemporary in style, although there are some with a more traditional New Orleans vibe. The location in the happening lower Garden District is just a short walk from the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line and only one mile from the French Quarter. Hotel amenities include free Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, parking, 24-hour front desk, tour assistance and snacks and coffee in the lobby. There isn't a bar onsite, but you're within a stroll of several bars and eateries. Rates during the week can dip as low as $79.

Although a little pricier than a few others on this list, this lovely spot offers great bennies and a location that can't be beaten. An urban oasis not far from Canal, this affordable 83-room hotel delivers lovely tropical rooftop terraces and a soothing courtyard. The lobby feels more like a well-appointed parlor, and the service is friendly and competent. High ceilings make the rooms feel spacious, but ask about windows as some of the standard rooms lack natural light. Pet friendly, but be aware that the Bienville House charges a non-refundable fee for the critters. The hotel faces Decatur and a world of shopping if you're so inclined.

DoubleTree deserves a double-take since the budget Hilton brand poured $25 million into a stem to stern renovation. New rooms floor to ceiling, a freshened lobby and a much better sense of place, thanks to a slew of New Orleans artwork in the rooms and common spaces gives this property much-needed elan. Location is a plus. The 367-room high rise on Canal Street is close to Harrah's and the Convention Center, outlet shops at RiverWalk and riverfront attractions, with select rooms offering Mississippi River views. There's an outdoor pool on the fourth-floor terrace and fully-equipped fitness center, along with a respectable amount of flexible meeting space if you're doing business. There are a casual cafe and bar in the lobby. For breakfast on the run, visit the locally owned PJ's Coffee on the ground level.

Staying at MOXY has its perks, the first of which is a super location. Walk to the Smoothie King Center, Superdome, French Quarter or Convention Center no problem. A full list of amenities includes keyless entry, internet TV in-room featuring Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Pandora and Crackle; abundant power and USB outlets; and furiously fast and free Wi-Fi. The 108 spacious guestrooms go for an industrial-chic look with polished concrete floors, exposed concrete columns, and open ceilings. There is a grab-and-go F&B option 24/7 in the lobby. Relatively inexpensive garage parking is available across the street. Hint: the always popular Domenica is located literally steps away. Be sure to check it out during it's daily 3-6 pm happy hour.

Boasting beaucoup ambiance, this compound of eight restored townhouses dates back to the 1700s. Place d'Armes offers 84 rooms with design features like exposed-brick walls and French country decor. Located just off Jackson Square, the French Quarter is your neighborhood. Rooms offer the usual extras along with a complimentary basic continental breakfast, valet parking (for a fee), 24-hour security, a courtyard and swimming pool and an on-site tour desk. Interior rooms can be as low as $89 during the week when rates are at their cheapest. Service is friendly and offered 24 hours, which can be a plus in this city that never sleeps.

This Embassy Suites hotel is literally steps away from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The establishment offers a wide range of amenities including complimentary made-to-order breakfast, newspapers and an Evening Reception (complete with drinks and snacks). There is an outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool spa and complete fitness center. The 24-hour business center is great for fine-tuning business presentations or sending a last-minute, important fax. The hotel is super clean, and 100 percent non-smoking. All rooms are two-room suites, with a bedroom and living room area. There is a television in each room and adequate workspace on a well-lit desk/office area.

Although rates aren't rock bottom, this jazz-themed hotel offers so many extras that the value skyrockets. Ideal for groups and families traveling together, the cottages can sleep as many as 10 guests. Free parking? That alone can run $35 and up a day in many city properties. Located in the Faubourg Treme, steps from the historic French Quarter and Louis Armstrong Park this Creole-style hotel offers the best of New Orleans travel: accommodations in iconic Creole cottages and suites, the modern amenities of a hotel, and the charm and scale of a neighborhood bed and breakfast. Local art adds to the charm.

Located just a half-block off of many of the Mardi Gras parade routes, this charming property delivers terrific value in a historically restored setting. Rooms, many with Magazine Street views, come with two double beds, queens or a single king. Extras include free wifi, a complimentary hot continental breakfast, in-room fridge and more. This is a pet-friendly hotel in case you've brought Fido along. The CBD location is close to the French Quarter, streetcar line to the Garden District and popular attractions like the Insectarium, Aquarium and IMAX theater. A good choice for value, this architecturally interesting family-oriented hotel is less than a mile from the Superdome.

The Quisby isn't the hostel you remember from your backpacking days in college. Opened in 2017 in the Lower Garden District in site of the former Audubon Hotel, this sweet 60-bunker is squarely at the intersection of comfort, style and affordability. An upgrade from the usual no-frills hostel scene, The Quisby spotlights local art, a social bar scene and great common areas for hanging out. Rates vary by date, season and festival time, but the hostel's 30 rooms include a six-person shared space offered as low as $16 per bed; co-ed or female-only shared quad starting at $21 per bed; private quad rooms starting at $78 per room; and private double rooms starting at $48 per room. All rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, comfy memory foam mattresses, bedside reading lamps and outlets, air conditioning, high speed wifi, and a collection of pulpy sci-fi and adventure paperback books and vintage magnets from all over the world. Additional amenities include free breakfast, a 24-hour front desk, a fully stocked lobby bar, luggage storage, daily housekeeping, and bicycle parking. Combine the welcoming vibe with the killer location on St. Charles Avenue and The Quisby is the perfect place to lay your head in New Orleans whether traveling solo, with friends, with family, for fun, or on business

Redone to the tune of $10 million, this 103-suite Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown is a stunner. Just minutes from the French Quarter, the Marriott brand delivers great value on all fronts and unlike most of its sister properties in other cities, this one has a bar! The historic hotel, built in 1910 as the Interstate Electric Company, counts impressive details including 13-foot ceilings in the guest rooms, exposed original brick interior walls and support beams, a jazz-themed lobby decor and a full-service bar, 346Blu. These amenities, along with a stellar location, elevate the hotel beyond the traditional Fairfield footprint.