Louis Armstrong International Airport New Orleans (MSY): Approximate driving time is 30 minutes and distance is 12 miles.

Taxi service is available from the airport to downtown New Orleans where the Ritz Carlton is located. Cost is $28 (price subject to change). An airport shuttle also offers service to area hotels for $13 (price subject to change).

Other highlights include fireplace façades, 27-inch televisions in armoires, bookcases with drawers, high-speed Internet access (fee charged), and CD/DVD players offering surround-sound audio in living areas and bathrooms. Guests also enjoy bathrobes, slippers, and chocolates at turndown.

The hotel does not have its own restaurant, but guests have signing privileges at the restaurants in the attached Ritz-Carlton Hotel. These include:

Victor’s Grill - This fine-dining restaurant serves breakfast and dinner daily in an antebellum atmosphere enhanced by French doors, white tablecloths, and chandeliers. Menu offerings range from steak, lamb, veal, and chicken to Louisiana seafood favorites such as Blackened Grouper, and Sautéed Gulf Shrimp and Scallops. Intimate dining is available in “cheater booths,” private dining areas screened off from the main dining area.

French Quarter Bar (FQB) - Lunch and dinner are served daily at this casually refined dining spot overlooking the French Quarter. Wrought-iron balconies and arched windows complement a menu rich in Cajun and Creole favorites. Menu highlights include Red Beans n’ Rice and Pork Chops with Oyster Andouille Dressing.

The Lobby Lounge - Antiques and original art set a refined mood in this lobby lounge offering daily afternoon tea complete with sweet delicacies and a wide selection of teas. The light menu also features sandwiches and salads as well as wine.

The Library Lounge - Rich wood accents and leather furnishings create a private club atmosphere in this lobby-level lounge overlooking the hotel’s enclosed courtyard. A wide selection of spirits is offered, and the lounge has its own walk-in humidor. A selection of books is available for fireside reading.

The Spa Café - Located on the mezzanine level, the Spa Café offers light and healthy meal choices all day. Spa robes are acceptable attire.

Amenity highlights: In addition to 24-hour room service and an impressive collection of art, antiques, and fine French furnishings, the Maison Orleans presents five complimentary food and beverage services a day in the elegantly appointed rooms that comprise the hotel’s Le Salon lounges. Guests enjoy signing privileges and access to amenities at the attached Ritz-Carlton Hotel with its five restaurants, pool, sauna, steam room, spa, and business center.

Insider tip: This hotel is two blocks from the terminus of the historical St Charles Avenue Streetcar Line. The streetcars offer regular service from the downtown core to the elegant mansions and universities of the Garden District.

Guests have complimentary access to the recreational amenities at the attached Ritz-Carlton Hotel. These amenities include a resistance pool, spa tub, steam room, sauna, and fitness center. Guests also may use its business center that features high-speed Internet computer workstations as well as facilities for faxing, printing, and copying. Secretarial services are also available.

The Ritz-Carlton is also the site of a 20,000-square-foot spa offering a variety of aesthetic and relaxation treatments.