Tablet Plus
International House Hotel
221 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA, USA
Neighborhood: Central Business District
Check availability as rates may vary for dates. Best rate guaranteed.
It is time to go back to New Orleans: if not for the Mardi Gras shops selling Comme des Garcons, and fusion cuisine replacing the beignet. International House hotel still manages to fuse old and new successfully — it is modern without being obnoxious, stylish without being frigid. It is, in fact, one of those most rare things in life, a boutique hotel with soul.Yes, svelte doormen dressed in monochromatic Banana Republic suits guard the entrance. The inside is done in the neutral palette and style made so popular by Christian Liaigre–textured cream fabrics, pale wood floors, gauzy white drapes and rattan rugs. The gift shop, Ren, is named for the Chinese character for humankind. But there is more to this modishness than meets the eye. International House has not relinquished its past, or its rich New Orleans heritage. In the lobby, ornate pillars and decorative moldings are copied from the original 1906 blueprints, when this building was a bank. Chandeliers are based on 19th-century models, and the softly glowing gaslights outside the entrance are copied from 1918 drawings. The lobby is a gallery of old black-and-white photos and the front desk carries a library of classic jazz CD’s. Some rooms (the best) have an old-fashioned cast iron balcony, from which you can watch the French Quarter traffic, dangling wisteria from your fingers. And on the penthouse rooftop terraces the air is redolent with the Louisiana scent of bougainvillea, magnolia, and vetiver.Then, of course, there’s the voodoo. Every night, the bar holds a welcome ceremony for the spirits with candles, thrift shop seats, and mirrors made of old church windows serving as an altar. And the usual romantic weekend package is given a, ahem, magic spin. A real live voodoo priestess can be hired for you very own love ceremony. Just give International House 30 days notice, a few fingernail clippings and locks of hair and she’ll ensure that your spirits are eternally joined. Now if that isn’t a taste of old New Orleans, we don’t know what is.
- Complimentary upgrade upon hotel check-in, based upon availability
- Guaranteed 4pm check-out
- One complimentary glass of champagne or one cocktail, per guest, upon arrival
- One complimentary clothing press (1 item) during your stay
- 117 Rooms
- Style: Cutting-Edge
- Atmosphere: Happening
- 110 Guest Reviews
- International House
- 221 Camp Street
- New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neighborhood: Central Business District
Hotel amenities and services
- 100% non-smoking hotel
- 24 hour front desk
- 24 hour gym
- 24 hour medical assistance
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Central air conditioning
- Free wi-fi
- Golf nearby
- Luggage storage
- No pets allowed
- Restaurant
- Self service parking (charges apply)
- Shopping area nearby
- Spa
- Valet parking (charges apply)
- Wake-up service
Other New Orleans hotels
110 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Avram
- Stayed January 2012
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
Fabulous Service. Nice TabletPlus upgrade.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- Jaymin
- Stayed February 2012
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
The ambience and the young friendly staff, good location
What the hotel could do better:
Gym could be better
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- Mark
- Stayed December 2011
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
I wanted to escape the Milwaukee winter, so I visited New Orleans the week before Christmas with my 21-year-old daughter. I wanted to stay at Loft 523, but that wasn’t possible because it offered only single beds. So I decided on its sister hotel, the International House, located around the corner, and it exceeded my expectations.
Our corner room on the sixth floor was large enough to nicely accommodate two queen beds and it had high ceilings with tall windows. The room was spacious and it included a desk, easy chair with ottoman, flat screen TV, and a big dresser. The bathroom was modern and had a roomy glass shower. It was stocked with plenty of quality towels and high-end bath products.
The hotel staff was helpful and friendly. One staffer, Stephanie Gianopoulos, was exceptionally informative and thoughtful. She directed us to Frenchman Street and recommended what became our favorite New Orleans haunt, Three Muses, for music and dinner. For breakfast, she suggested the shrimp and grits at the Ruby Slipper on Magazine Street, and it was wonderful. By the second day, if we had a decision to make about where to go or what to see, we would consult Stephanie, and her knowledge and enthusiasm for the city directed us to all the right places . . .
The sole disappointment with the hotel was the bar. It was more of a lounge with round couch like seating and the actual bar was small and cluttered and didn’t encourage guest interaction. And the service was so slow. But it wasn’t that big of a deal because we were in New Orleans and a quick drink is never that far away.
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!