We stayed at Le Pav less than a month before the hurricane (that visit here); here’s our trip a month *after* the hurricane:
Room: There *are* hotels open in New Orleans – they’re filled with government people. We were able to get a room at Le Pav for a couple of nights. I’m embarrassed to say what we paid for this room, but I can tell you that it was significant (what can you do?). This room, like the one we stayed in last time, was really small, and the bathroom this time was even smaller than our previous stay.
Lobby: The lobby is still as beautiful as ever. The hotel is filled with firefighters from Yonkers and EPA people and all kinds of government contractors. When Av was waiting for an elevator, a firefighter stopped him and half-jokingly asked if he was in the right place – he couldn’t believe that they had been put up in such a nice hotel.
Service: I’m just going to type in this letter that everyone receives at check-in:
September 26, 2005
Dear Hotel Guest,
We would first like to thank you for staying with us in our time of rebuilding the great city of New Orleans. During this rebuilding process some hotel services are not available and others, although available, are limited. As our guest, we would like to make you aware of these changes.
- Due to the displacement of our staff, we are unable to provide daily housekeeping service. Once weekly service will be available. If you need anything such as towels, shampoo, soap, etc. please call extension 4250 and we will gladly bring it to you.
- The water hotel is being treated with a chlorine solution but city officials have not yet declared it safe for drinking or brushing your teeth (my note: actually there were warnings that it wasn’t even, at the time, safe to get on your skin….so we brushed our teeth and bathed using bottled water.). We have bottled water available downstairs in the lobby near the elevator for your use, free of charge.
- Late night front desk and telephone operator personnel will not be available between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00am. Upon check in you will be provided with a direct phone number to your room which bypasses the operator station. Please give this number to anyone who may call you during these late hours. If you should need assistance, please speak to our security team located in the main lobby.
- Breakfast and dinner will be available a la carte in the Gallery Lounge (and then it lists the hours). (My note: supper was a buffet on all disposable plates and cups. It was $25 per person.)
- The Gallery Lounge will be open from 4:00pm to 11:00pm.
- Room service is not available. If you need special assistance, dial 4250.
- The rooftop pool, hot tub and fitness center is open from 5:00am to 1:00am.
- Parking is located across the street. It is currently self-park, free of charge (my note: it stayed at capacity most of the day and night).
- The cable television is not currently working (my note: we were only able to get one local channel on antenna).
- Guest laundry and dry cleaning service is not available at this time.
- Bell service is not available, however if you need to use a cart, one will be provided for you. If further assistance is needed, please let us know.
- Our famous PB and J hour is ongoing between 10:00 and 11:00pm.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact the front desk at extension 4250.
Sincerely,
Ed Morin
Managing Director
Food: We did have supper there one night, the only option was a buffet, and it was $25/pp.
Extra: The PB and J was nice.
Our experience is this: Le Pav wasn’t our favorite hotel before the hurricane, and although we appreciate that there was room for us, the fact that we paid a multiple of the rate we did last time didn’t exactly endear us to it. The Ritz is great (we stay there a few times each year), the Monteleone is nice, the W is cool, and Queen and Crescent isn’t expensive (those four are our fav hotels in New Orleans). Many more hotels are opening in December, and that should bring prices down.