Hip Bywater Guest House - New Orleans on a Budget!

Description from the owner

The guest house is centrally located in the trendy, hip Bywater neighborhood, primarily artsy and residential. The location allows easy access by car, streetcar, taxi or bus to the Convention Center, Riverwalk and Aquarium, Jackson Square, Cafe Du Monde, river cruises, ghost and graveyard tours. Free on-street parking. House is within walking distance to The Joint, Bacchanal, Jack Dempsey's, and Elizabeth's restaurants.

One of the many offerings for visitors is a two hour relaxed bike tour that takes you through the historic neighborhoods of New Orleans for a close up view of the unique influences of Spanish/French and Caribbean archit...ecture. Your guide will answer questions and stop at a few restaurants and bars along the way for a taste of local culture and cuisine.

Whether you're seeking rest and relaxation or a little romance, the sunny and spacious guest house offers plenty of privacy and room to stretch at 1800 square feet. No thin walls or hearing voices in the halls or another room-- so much better than a hotel. The house has a fully equipped kitchen and private dining space where you can save money by dining in. You won't be eating out of vending machines when you're hungry for a midnight snack. Free coffee and light breakfast items included. A convenience store is right across the street. Internet WiFi access is free. Guests visiting the city for special events, business or just the weekend will feel at home at the guest house, which has really comfortable furnishings.

Amenities: Air conditioning, heat, a working gas fireplace, towels, and high thread count linens provided. Washer and dryer, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, plush robes, cable TV and DVD.

Beds: Three queen pillow-top beds, 10 foot ceilings, huge walk-in closet, dresser with plenty of drawer space for folded clothes, French doors with direct access to the deck, lush tropical garden and court yard.

Bath: Two full baths, double sinks, deep tub with shower.

Outdoor Features: Old oak tree-lined street, front porch swing, deck, lush, tropical courtyard, patio table and chairs..

Kitchen: Fully equipped kitchen, cooking utensils provided, stainless steel refrigerator with ice maker, dishwasher, gas stove, microwave.

Communication: Telephone, free WiFi access.

Other Amenities: Morning local newspaper provided.

Suitability: No pets allowed. Smoking permitted in the garden area. Children over 12 considered.

Activities: The house is a distance of 2 miles to the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street. Public transit is one block away. Bus fare is $1.25 (exact change-- transfer to bus/streetcar is 25 cents). RTA pass for 3 or 5 days for one price is available, allowing passengers sightseeing via bus or streetcar (trolley) at their leisure. Venues feature antiquing, flea market with vendors selling interesting wares/souvenirs at the French Market, and also fresh produce, City Park museum, as well as World War II museum has changing exhibits. A myriad of delicious cuisine awaits foodies at world renowned restaurants. Many bars and nightclubs feature live music all over town.Read more

Additional Location Information

Location Type City, Downtown

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

Standard rate of $149/night may not apply to special events. Please inquire as to special rates.

No pets allowed. Smoking permitted in the garden area. Children over 12 considered.

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• idahowalrus
  Twin Falls, Id

  New Orleans on a budget

  Left on 02/05/2013 for a stay in January 2013
  
  

  What caught my interest was a 3 bedroom place that for all practical purposes could house us, our kids, and grand-children cheaper than a hotel. We arrived late afternoon, and gps'ed our way to the place. Be prepared for a rough looking nieghborhood. Katrina evidence is all around you. I mean right around you. I wasnt prepared for it, but grew accustomed to it. Its everywhere, besides...its a old town.I'm from the northwest, we are infants compared to the age of this area. Well, behold, in the middle of chaos is this little cottage that is cute as a button. landscaped, painted, just a total rose in a dandylion field. Inside it just got better. Clean, beautifully decorated. Virtually almost all new. 3 bedrooms decorated wonderfully, and the master bedroom has this canopy bed just to cool. Memo..shower in master bath has a trick, the mouth of the spout has a small almost not visible ring you must pull down to make the shower work. Stood there for 15 minutes trying everything but that, finally had the wife come rescue me. Eat at Jack Dempseys, jusr a few blocks down the street, and just around the corner about another 8 blocks is Elizabeths. Please trust me when I say they are both worth it!!! The smoked pork chops for breakfast @ Elizabethes goes down as one of those memorable meals for a life time.Bottom line, If this place was dirty, it was outside in the flower beds, Value? Best money I've spent on a vacation hotel or bed, The experience was interesting, but trust me, we never felt threatened, its just us outsiders have no idea what suffering these people endured and survived, and then got on with it. Trust Kate. Great gal

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends, Families w children

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  Was this review helpful? Yes

• Disappointed
  Mobile,Al

  Difficult to deal with!!!

  Left on 11/02/2012 for a stay in November 2012
  
  

  I had booked this property and something came up to prevent us from going to enjoy New Orleans as we normally do! I spoke with the owner about this and was told I would be receiving a refund in a couple of days. She was very sincere about the situation. It has been almost 2 weeks and she has not yet sent my money to me. I also told her I would see if someone else coming wanted my booking. I called her a few times to get her in contact with someone who wanted it and was unsuccessful. So I have had to get PayPal involved. I guess seeing noone has stayed here since May should have to me something. So if you book make sure that you will make the trip!!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? No

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  Response from Katherine Koons - 11/03/2012

  

  Katherine Koons

  Owner

  I'm sorry I wasn't available to answer Ashley's calls since I was out of town. I don't believe she had my cell phone number. If she had emailed me about booking a friend in her place, that would have been a win/win situation.
  
  I have since refunded the money for her deposit. Ashley was very cooperative. And to make up for the inconvenience she experienced, I would like to offer her a free weekend as my special guest at The Bywater Guest House.

• Cynthia392
  Mebane, North Carolina

  Filthy

  Left on 11/02/2012 for a stay in October 2012
  
  

  Spent 3 hours cleaning this place so we could live there for 5 days. Bywater is actually the 9th ward. Room air conditioners filled with mold. Very very noisy street, on the edge of industrial area. No wifi, spotty internet service.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? No

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  Response from Katherine Koons - 12/17/2012

  

  Katherine Koons

  Owner

  The house is spotlessly clean, from the curtains to the baseboards. I've had no complaints from other guests who have stayed here. The A/C units have been totally cleaned today. The location of the guest house IS in the historic 200 year old Bywater neighborhood. The house was built in the 1920s, and has been totally renovated with new plumbing and electrical. Passing fire trucks and ambulances are a part of city life. The thick insulation of windows/doors renders the house virtually soundproof inside. The Bywater is NOT a bucolic setting. Wifi is free, and the signal is strong. If guests have never been to New Orleans, please don't judge its decrepitness--that's part of the charm. One just has to get a little dirty--in a good way!

• Marti V.
  Atlanta

  Jazz Fest stay in Bywater

  Left on 05/10/2012 for a stay in May 2012
  
  

  My husband, I and a couple friend of our's stayed at the Bywater guest house over second weekend of Jazz Fest 2012. We could not have asked for better accommodations! There was more than enough room for the 4 of us. The guest house was very comfortable & had everything we needed. The Bywater area is very cool & we felt safe walking (although I would reccommend a cab after dark, the longest we had to wait for a cab was 15 mins, Saturday night. With a good tip, $15 to the French Quarter). There are some really cool restaurants walking distance, and we went to see Kermit Ruffins & his band Thursday night at Vaughan's Lounge (easy walk from the house). Be sure to have dinner at Elizabeth's. It was fantastic!!! Kate was so so nice & informative. We can't wait to come back. Thank you Kate for sharing your guest house with us during our stay! We will reccommend the guest house to everyone!!!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Luxury, Families, Rugged

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• heyheyhay
  Oregon

  Surprising Bywater

  Left on 04/11/2012 for a stay in April 2012
  
  

  When the four of us arrived, we were looking forward to spending time in the French Quarter and Garden District. We did all that, but we were really surprised at how many days and evenings we spent in Bywater. We ate, we walked and we played, all within walking distance of the house.
  
  The owner, Kate, got us settled in, found an open restaurant for us, then left us to enjoy her house and the neighborhood. We spent 6 nights there, and truly enjoyed coming back there after long days of having fun. It was handy to have a full kitchen, complete with everything we needed to cook for ourselves when we wanted. We already miss the Bywater neighborhood (be sure to visit Dr. Bob's studio on Chartres) and New Orleans, the city where art is everywhere.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends

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  Was this review helpful? Yes

• TurboJudy
  40435

  Homey and Inviting

  Left on 03/30/2012 for a stay in February 2012
  
  

  We rented the Bywater Guest House for Mardi Gras along with some friends. Kate went out of her way to make us feel comfortable. It was so nice to come back to a cozy comfortable home after standing for hours watching parades and walking around. Her nice big round table was perfect for a relaxing game of cards when the rain kept us in. We enjoyed our stay very much.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends

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• Christina in Seattle
  Seattle

  Wonderful Southern Hospitality

  Left on 02/01/2012 for a stay in March 2011
  
  

  This rental was just wonderful! The home was just beautiful! It was much better than staying in a hotel. You have all the comforts of home including a full kitchen, living room, tv and dvd player, closet, back porch, full bathroom and nice robes, and very comfortable beds. Everything was also very clean.
  
  Kate is a wonderful hostess, she knew all best Mardi Gras parades to attend, the history behind the parades and krewes, and the best places to eat, shop and sight-see. There is a lot do in New Orleans and Kate knew just where to go!
  
  While you can take local transportation from the house into the French Quarter, my friends and I walked. It was surprisingly close, taking only about 20 minutes or so. Getting around Nola was not a problem.
  
  I would absolutely stay at the Bywater Guest House again. I felt at home, like family and completely welcome!

  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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  Response from Katherine Koons - 03/22/2012

  

  Katherine Koons

  Owner

  Christina was a guest for Mardi Gras 2011. I don't host the guest house anymore. Prospective guests will have the entire house to themselves, not a shared space.