The 15 best cheap hotels in New Orleans

Straddling the Garden City District and the Central City, The Quisby is a more than your basic hostel affair. Proving that no frills and no fuss don't have to mean average accommodation, not only is the location a prime spot for keen explorers, but the decor is a charming merger of old meets new, in the form of rustic, wooden features, urban and vintage flair and an injection of bright and modern aesthetics. For booze enthusiasts, you can either head out to some of the best watering holes nearby, or rock up to the downstairs bar for a cocktail before hitting the hay after Mardi Gras.

Built in 1833, local folklore tells this might be the house in New Orleans that they called “The Rising Sun,” and that the ghost of the house’s former Madame still haunts the place. This Creole townhouse is located around the corner from the Ursuline Convent, the former owner of the land that the hotel now sits on. Since 1981, the hotel has been owned and run by the Campo family. For the cost-conscious traveler, the hotel offers three budget rooms.

With its shabby chic décor, stone-paved courtyard, whimsical garden and views of the Mississippi River, this recently renovated French Quarter hotel is a gem. Built originally in 1772 for a baker by the name of Dreux, the ground floor functioned as a boulangerie for many years. The imminent Baroness Pontalba converted the bakery into an inn in the 1830s. Staying in a historic French Quarter hotel for cheap is a tough ask, but booking one of the Value Rate Rooms here (which can go as low as $73 a night, depending on the season and time of booking) is one of the best deals around town. Plus, it helps that the rooms are effortlessly charming, with exposed brickwork, muted tones and plush features aplenty.

Le Marais is so peaceful and serene, it’s easy to forget that you’re actually in the thick of the French Quarter. This reprieve sits quietly next to the Bourbon Street bustle and the Royal Street hustle, offering guests full hotel amenities and comforts. It draws its name, ‘marais’—which translates to “marsh," a nod to New Orleans swampland—from the famous Parisian neighborhood.

With burnt rouge hues and rich shrubbery that recall past eras, The Olivier House Hotel has 42 unique rooms that make up one of the best budget crash-pads in New Orleans. Beginning life as a private home to Madame Olivier, the Creole Greek revival style home passed through a fair few families until 1970, when it was acquired by the Danner family to be run as a boutique hotel. And though it may be just a tad pricier than the other hotels in the city, the location is pretty impressive. At three blocks away from Jackson Square, it's totally worth the extra pennies. Plus, if you want to travel with your furry friend you're in luck, because this hotel is pet-friendly.

‘Auberge Nouvelle Orleans’ is French for “New Orleans hostel.” This cozy hostel is clean, accommodating and offers a mix of shared and private rooms to the wanderer. Like all hostels, it’s great for those looking to make new friends. The Auberge is located in the budding neighborhood known as Central City, home to a new restaurant seemingly every day, and is convenienty located between historic uptown and downtown NOLA.

Made by Marriot with millenials in mind, Moxy started in Milan, Italy and will soon be found across big cities all around the world. The hotel is known for sleek and tech-forward rooms, but the New Orleans Moxy stands apart for its infusion of city-specific flavor. Guests are welcomed with a cocktail at check-in and can enjoy onsite frivolities like burlesque shows, having their futures foretold with tarot cards, or acupuncture. Rates start at $114 a night.

Nestled right in the heart of the French Quarter’s historic section on Chartres Street, Hotel Provincial is an elegantly decorated dwelling for a traveler looking for a transporting experience. But all those plush drapes and curtains might be hiding something sinister as the hotel is believed to be haunted by a Civil War soldier, from the days when the plot of land was home to a military hospital. With various buildings making up the hotel, this ghost has quite a bit of roaming to do. Weekday prices can dip to $109 in August for a standard room and the hotel offers AAA, AARP and military discounts—but the price does not guarantee a ghost-free visit.

Named after the “Father of New Orleans,” Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, this gracious 83-room hotel captures New Orleans’ historical style and renowned hospitality. The elegant lobby greets guests with Old World sculptures, murals, a patio and a pool. Those of you who don’t want to deal with a car, rejoice: the hotel is located on Decatur Street, in the heart of the French Quarter and a stone’s throw away from Café du Monde. Cocktail aficionados should check out Latitude 29, a tiki-themed venue designed by exotic drinks expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. Our tip? Sip on a 'Missionary's Downfall' for a true taste of sweet tiki goodness.

Cute and quaint, the Creole Inn boasts old-fashioned décor in its historic house. It is located in the Faubourg Marigny district of New Orleans, only a 10-minute cab ride from the French Quarter. The rooms have very idiosyncratic names—like the Memories Single suite or The Cowboy Two Bedroom suite (which is saddled with a live edge wood bed frame and a deer head hangs on the wall). Depending on the season and the room, rates can go as low as $60 a night.