Matthew F.
Yelp
I've been to New Orleans about 30 times, and the Melrose Mansion represents my absolute worst accommodation experience in the city.
The property has plumbing issues. On our first morning, our toilet wouldn't flush, which will render your Valentine's Day weekend somewhat less romantic. Next, the water supply changed from hot to cold during my shower. When I informed the front desk personnel, I was told "this has never happened before" (doubtful, but denial is not the most effective customer service strategy), and that I "may have the opportunity to switch rooms later." Later in the afternoon, when I called to check on the situation, the front desk staff informed me that "engineering has confirmed that there is hot water in your room," so I guess I was hallucinating the whole thing, except that for all three mornings of our stay, we never had enough hot water to complete two showers and a shave. (To be fair, the toilet issue was taken care of that morning.)
Because of the hot-water situation, I asked two different front desk staffers about the possibility of checking out early. I was told that if I did so, I would forfeit the charge for the full three nights of my original booking. Clearly, I found that unacceptable; I asked to speak to management, and was told I would receive a call from the GM. That call never came. The staff never made good on the offer to change rooms, and no consideration on my room rate was offered for the water issue.
So Melrose management apparently believes that you must fulfill your contract to pay for the full length of your original reservation, even if they don't fulfill their implied contract to provide you with hot water. This alone should make you think twice about staying here.
Even without the above lousy experience, I couldn't give Melrose more than three stars. It's tough to say who the property is designed for. It can't be business travelers, because there's no workspace. It can't be anyone staying for long, because there was very limited storage space for clothing in our room (5 hangers and two small side tables/dressers).
The bathroom was particularly disappointing - French doors that don't fully close, very little space for personal effects, a poorly lit mirror (the only one in the room, BTW - no full-length), and a shower head that should be adjustable but wasn't - never a spray, only a narrow stream. As to toiletries? Waiting for us were one small bottle of shampoo, one small bottle of lotion, and a single bar of soap, which I guess we were meant to use for both the sink and the shower.
I've traveled 50+ nights a year for 20 years, and Melrose Mansion is among the very worst values I've experienced. I paid $419 per night for my Valentine's Day weekend room at the Melrose. Out of morbid curiosity, I checked rates at the Monteleone, my preferred New Orleans hotel, for that Sunday night (Feb. 16); the same amount of money would have gotten me an executive suite, or TWO king rooms, with money to spare.
At this price point, you have a right to expect better, and there are plenty of more professionally managed properties in town. Apart from its proximity to the Frenchmen Street clubs, there's no reason at all to endorse Melrose Mansion.
