On this trip, I decided to try out the Marriott group because there is a new Marriott Chase Visa card promotion offering 70,000 bonus points if you spend $2,000 in the first three months. So we tried two Marriott hotels in New Orleans, the first night at the Ritz-Carlton in the French Quarter, the next two at the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel in the Warehouse District. I can’t wholeheartedly recommend either. Though slightly old and in need of an update, the Ritz had good service and the plusher rooms of the two. But it’s located in the French Quarter, which is like staying in Times Square, and some of the clientele seemed a bit sleazy. I found beer bottles abandoned in many corners of the hotel. The Renaissance Arts, on the other hand, has a great location, close to the galleries on Julia Street and the museums and restaurants, like Pêche, Cochon and La Boca. While the rooms had contemporary and clean décor, it was not a luxury hotel. The king bed in our room had a weird flaw so that every little movement of the person next to you is magnified. The strange tsunami effect unfortunately prevented me from getting a good night’s sleep.