Driving directions from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport: Head east on I-10. Take exit 234B for Poydras St/Superdome. Continue on Poydras St, turn left on Camp St, and then turn right on Canal St. Make a U-turn where provided; the hotel is on the right.

Taxis are one of the most convenient ways of reaching the hotel. They charge a flat fee of $28 for up to two people or $12 per person for three or more people. Town Car or limo service is another option for more than $36. Shuttle service is also available for $5–$15 per person. All fees subject to change without notice.

Getting around: The hotel's location on Canal Street makes the Central Business District and the French Quarter equally accessible, and many guests choose to walk to their destinations. For longer distances, visitors often travel via historic streetcars or other forms of public transportation, which cost less than $5. Fees subject to change without notice. Taxis are another reliable option and are readily available by phone.

Insider tip: Many visitors enjoy a ride on the nearby St. Charles Streetcar. The line travels from the French Quarter through the historic Garden District, replete with stately homes. It then passes by Riverbend, with its Victorian cottages housing shops and restaurants, and continues to Audubon Zoo and Loyola and Tulane universities. For $5–$15, a VisiTour pass provides on-and-off privileges all day. Fee subject to change without notice.

Cafe du Marche - The hotel's ground-floor casual restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and features sandwiches and popular local foods, such as gumbo and jambalaya.

Gazebo - This small outdoor bar on the fifth floor caters to guests using the hotel's pools. Hours vary and no food is served, but a phone is available for ordering poolside room service.

Lobby Bar - At the center of the hotel's enormous lobby is a raised and carpeted platform with a full bar and various seating areas with couches and cushioned chairs. The seating area is always open but the bar's hours vary; generally drinks are served until midnight.

Amenity highlights: The hotel's 80,000 square feet of conference and banquet space make its value clear to business travelers and event planners, whom it also entices with high-speed Internet access (fee). But a pair of outdoor pools, one each for adults and children in the fifth-floor valley created by the hotel's two towers, plus a fitness center and a host of bars and restaurants, also appeal to vacationers.

Insider tip: The Marriott's 41st-floor Riverview restaurant provides a sweeping view of the twists and turns in the Mississippi that gave New Orleans the nickname "The Crescent City." Clearly visible across that river is Algiers, a city almost as old as New Orleans.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or near the hotel; fees may apply.