PRICE:
Frommer's Highly Recommended

The site of the old Masonic Temple, and the second skyscraper in the city (after the Hypernia building), this establishment was taken over by Hilton in 2007 (it was the Hotel Monaco), and it keeps making improvements and upgrades. It's not as whimsical as in its former hotel incarnation, but it's a lot more memorable than the other Hilton in town. Rooms still have some pizzazz in the form of wild prints and designs, plus black marble vanities in the spacious bathrooms (tubs are small, though), fresh new bedding, flatscreen TVs, and Lavazza coffee. Corner room doubles have extra space perfect for non-couple traveling partners. A mere $60 will get you an upgrade to a suite -- go for it. The smashing new wood deck that overlooks the city is sure to become a nighttime hot spot, and the wedding chapel (the only hotel-based one in town) still carries its Masonic roots.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's New Orleans 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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