La Dauphine B&B

La Dauphine is described on its website as a «laid back guest house for the budget-​minded traveler,» and that is indeed true. We have been staying at La Dauphine during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival every year since 2007 and each year when we arrive we feel like we’ve come back home. Ray (and Kim) are welcoming and hospitable and although it breaks one of the «rules» for guests, there is always a hot pot of coffee for us no matter how late in the day we awaken. [During jazz fest as the week goes on this becomes later and later.] The rooms are comfortable and each one has a private bathroom so that I almost feel like I’m in my bedroom at home. I know from personal experience that staying at La Dauphine is more comfortable than staying in a hotel or condo and the hospitality can’t be beat. This guest house is in the Marigny neighborhood, within walking distances of Frenchman Street and the Bywater, areas famous for drinking, eating and live music entertainment. It is also easy to take a bus into and across the French Quarter and connect with other buses or streetcars that will take you all over the city. Because of this we never rent a car when we come to New Orleans and we rarely need to use cabs to get around. We have everything we need from our comfortable home away from home, La Dauphine.

Because my first experience with them was fantastic, of course my next trip to NOLA, I stayed at La Dauphine again. It was just as wonderful as the first time.
I highly recommend this experience when coming to New Orleans. I always leave knowing more about the city than when I came. This is now my official «go to» when I visit the city (which is often).
Thanks again Ray and Kim for your outstanding & warm hospitality. See you in August!

Stayed at La Dauphine while visiting New Orleans last month. Very happy with the casual artsy style and graciousness of the hosts. Great location and budget friendly. I would certainly stay again and will tell all of my friends.

La Dauphine is a great place for anyone — an individual or a couple — to spend a few nights in New Orleans, and since staying there I’ve recommended it to everyone, family, friends and colleagues alike.
My girlfriend and I spent four nights there on Spring Break and we had a wonderful time: the bed was comfortable, the towels provided were thick, the room and bathroom were both very clean, and the breakfasts were varied and self-​serve. The ceilings are vaulted, which makes for a spacious house, and the backyard was a very sweet area for having breakfast. Getting out and seeing the town was easy since La Dauphine is a short 10-​minute walk from the French Quarter: far enough away to give us the peace and quiet any vacation deserves, but close enough to make for a beautiful walk in the morning.
Ray, our host, was very generous and had lots of things to say about New Orleans: he’s a wealth of information on the area, and having lived in many different places, he’s a local with plenty of perspective. His two dogs are adorable: I’m not a huge fan of dogs, but these two were just right — affectionate without demanding attention, Tanuki was more than happy to sit and keep me company while I checked my email on the communal computer.
If you prefer doing research as opposed to getting someone’s opinion, La Dauphine has tons and tons of guide books and tourist guides — in English, French, perhaps other languages too — and they’re all at your disposal. There is an abundant selection of films, which can be watched in the common room towards the front of the house, or in our case even in our own room.
Having had such a good first experience, we’ll definitely be coming back to La Dauphine next time we’re in New Orleans.

To ring in 2011 the right way, the girlfriend & I spent the week around New Year’s Eve in New Orleans. During that short time, we discovered a historic city with long traditions of great music, outstanding food & continuing perseverance.
The 1^st order of business for our visit was lodging. As usual, I was seeking the impossible: fabulous accommodations near the French Quarter for cheap. Having read some sterling reviews of high praise for La Dauphine scattered amongst a few travel websites, I figured it was worth a shot, plus the price was right. I booked well in advance & Ray (1 of the hosts) was periodically in touch with helpful reminders & pointers even before our arrival. Ray & Kim were gracious hosts. Ray has an extensive knowledge of New Orleans & was very helpful with numerous tips & suggestions.
La Dauphine is conveniently located just a short walk from Frenchmen Street & the French Quarter. There is only street parking available & the streets are usually pretty full of parked cars already. Because of the location, though, we didn’t bother renting a car so parking wasn’t an issue. La Dauphine is in a classic, old New Orleans home originally constructed before electricity. Of course, it’s been upgraded with modern amenities like electricity, central HVAC, cable tv & even free Wi-​Fi, but it retains the feel of 19^th Century New Orleans.
The common area of the house has a large collection of books & movies for guests to use. Guests have access to an iMac with internet & printer, as well as a small fridge for storing goodies or leftovers. Some toiletries, painkillers, antacids & a few other necessities are also on hand if needed. A simple continental breakfast of toast, cereals, fruit, OJ & coffee is available every morning.
We stayed in the Matisse Suite which has an attached bathroom. The room was mixed bag for the girlfriend & I. The mattress on the bed was very firm, which was fine for the girlfriend but not so great for me. The room was very cluttered with various antiques, trinkets & other kitsch. I was totally OK with it, but it bothered the girlfriend. She also felt the room was dusty & pointed out a cobweb. The walls between rooms are very thin & it was easy to hear almost every noise in the next room. The water temperature for the shower takes finesse to get right, otherwise it was sometimes much too hot or much too cold.
La Dauphine is an economical B&B in a great location in New Orleans run by very inviting, knowledgeable & helpful hosts. The place certainly has its eccentricities & it’s definitely not 5 star, but it is charming in its own way. Despite some shortcomings, I personally liked the «flavor» of La Dauphine & thought it added to the overall experience of our visit.

This is a very comfortable, home away from home place to stay. If you like a personal touch, old fashion hospitality, and somewhere that is in your budget this is the place for you. I spent 8 days here the summer of 2010 and could not have been happier with my choice. My room was large, clean, and comfortable. Ray and Kim are very helpful about what to do in New Orleans. They have two very quiet well behaved dogs that just add to that home away from home feeling. Highly recommend this place for people who are looking for something other than the big hotel experience.