See Nola

St. Charles Guest House

1748 Prytania St. (Uptown) 504.523.6556. Credit Cards. The St. Charles Guest House (on Prytania) is old and unpretentious, attracting backpackers, Europeans, students and budget travelers. Rates start around $46.00 for a room with a shared bath and top out around $100.00 for a private bath with queen and single beds. None of the rooms have TVs or telephones. While the post-storm tourist climate takes some of the bargain out of their bargain rooms (try searching for deals from desperate luxury hotels) a stay here is about twenty times more charming than corporate, flat-screened luxury. Amenities include a small pool in a cozy courtyard that can get quite lively at night and a free minimal breakfast. Close to the St. Charles Streetcar and downtown.

Dauphine Orleans Hotel

415 Dauphine St. (French Quarter) 504.586.1800. You can float in the pool & look at the bar, or sit in the bar & look at the pool, or sit by the chairs by the pool (with a drink from the bar). This is a reasonably priced place for a French Quarter hotel. Rooms range from $70 to nearly three times that depending on the season and the type of room you book. The staff is unfailingly friendly & helpful. And the bar across the street, filled with attractive punks, makes a potent hurricane. The hotel has rooms on both sides of Dauphine, some large with a nice courtyard and tables where you can wake up & read the paper, but we prefer the poolside (and cheaper) area. The place lays out a nice low-key breakfast spread in the morning, where you can make your own waffles. Free wi-fi.