Help finding best spot for mardi gras?

The place to stay in New Orleans during Mardi Gras has got to be Bourbon Street. There you'll find a number of Hotels within the French Quarter that allow you close acces to the Cafe Du Monde, where you might enjoy a beignet and a cup of piping hot and fresh coffee, all within walking distance of the major attractions of the City.

The other street on which you may find hotels is Royal Street, also Saint Louis Street. From Holiday Inn Express to the Monteleone Hotel, there is something for everyone in New Orleans.

Oh, and I wanted to mention the Old Absinth House Bar and Grill, which is a wonderful place to enjoy some authentic blues. 240 Bourbon Street. Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain reported used to sip absinth in this bar years ago.

Just remember you want your bathroom nearby while watching the parade. If you stay in the quarter and go somewhere like uptown to watch the parade you might have to pay to pee or wait A LONG TIME.

In the middle between the quarter and uptown- Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel

Closer to the quarter•••••••••••

Also if you want to be closer to the quarter and not a far walk stay at the intercontinental hotel or the Lafayette hotel, Parc St. Charles Hotel, Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles...

If you stay inside the quarter just know canal st. is the worst place to watch a parade!!!! Watch them on st. charles avenue!

The best hotel is a hotel ON the parade route so you have a bathroom and and can walk right out the door to the parade. I would suggest Columns Hotel, Hampton Inn - St. Charles Ave/Garden District, Best Western Plus St. Charles Inn, Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast. All these hotels are uptown. Short cab ride or street car ride to the quarter. I have actually walked it many time during mardi gras but it might be to far for some people. It is 2.4 miles to the edge of the quarter from uptown.

NO PARADES RUN INSIDE THE QUARTER and CANAL ST. Is the worst spot to watch a parade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best days to come is the weekend before fat tuesday!!!!!!! So come friday, sat, sun, mon and tuesday. You can even come thursday before too. So come on february 16 or 17 and stay till after fat tuesday which is feb 21 2012

Edit- Your a little late with finding a good hotel room on the parade route maybe prepare a year in advance next year.