Carrolton Ave. area...complicated where to stay??

Apologies in advance for length and confusion!

I will be visiting son (new teacher for area middle school) for few days and trying to figure out where to stay?!? He will have recently moved to new apartment just west of Audubon Park so I was trying to determine of there was anywhere close to that area to stay or should I just go for a good deal closer to CBD and FQ? Hotel or B/B...would like pool, though

I will be flying in with a younger son (precocious 9 yr. old) to spend a few days before DH and another son drive in with load of furniture, etc for NO son%26#39;s apt. I am trying to find a place to stay that is okay for 9 y.o. (i.e., pool), is very clean, comfortable and safe. I looked into Hampton on Julia and rates there were pretty high (159-in comparison to most other for under 100).

We plan on zoo, aquarium, etc and just hanging out in NO with big bro...hubby and another son should be with us for one night before we leave for beach next day (Dauphin Island, AL?) .Looking seriously at Homewood Suites on Poydras, as I can get half of the stay free...but then I don%26#39;t know about needing a car (until hubby arrives)...hate to pay for parking but would be helpful to get supplies for beach pulled together, as well as help NO son get things for apt (he refuses to buy car, is getting around on a bicycle!). Hmm...Homewood Suites or similar is making more sense as I can keep beach perishables in ref/freezer...any thoughts and direction would be much appreciated. I just dislike paying for car rental and parking!! hmmm...I need help making up my mind!! Can any of you cut through my lenghty rambling (sleepy) post to help me out? If there%26#39;s a B%26amp;B that would work with a nearly 10 yr old, I would definitely entertain the idea. Thanks!

Carrolton Ave. area...complicated where to stay??

The 1896 O%26#39;Malley House is one block from Carrolton, where it crosses Canal St. Their summer rates start at $99. Their web site has an online booking engine that you can use to determine if these rates will be in effect during your visit. They accept children over the age of 6. Here%26#39;s the URL.

http://www.1896omalleyhouse.com/

Carrolton Ave. area...complicated where to stay??

I stayed at the Homewood Suites on Poydras recently and it%26#39;s very nice--really good for families too b/c of all the space you get. There is a full size refrigerator, so that would certainly give you plenty of space as you prepare for the beach trip. It%26#39;s a very nice hotel--clean, comfortable, quiet, etc. I really liked it. They have an indoor pool too.

Parking is $17.00 a day and you park in a lot that doesn%26#39;t actually belong to the hotel. It%26#39;s owned/managed by a parking lot/garage type company and it can be a bit of a pain to get a spot. I wrote more about that on my recent review of the hotel, if you want to check that out for more details. We were there on Sunday night so I%26#39;m not sure what the parking is like during the week. It was raining while we were there, so we got our car out of the lot a few times (we also had a 1 year old and it was just easier to drive to places). The lot is near the hotel--just a 1/2 block or so away.

If your son will be down near Audobon Park, this might be a good location since it%26#39;s kind of between that area and the FQ. I know there are city buses, but I have no idea about the routes or where the bus stops are.

I know there are B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the Garden District area--I just can%26#39;t think of the website that provides more information about this. A lot of these take kids too, so that migth be a good option for you. I had done some research a while back (but can%26#39;t find my notes now) and considered going the B%26amp;B route while we were in town. You sometimes have to go with off-street parking but might not have to worry about paying for parking that way. If you search a bit on this forum, you will probably find the website that gives more information about this.

I know that Creole Gardens Bed and Breakfast in the Lower Garden District is kid friendly and gets good reviews, but I don%26#39;t think their location is all that great, and the Chimes Bed and Breakfast also accepts kids and gets great reviews and would be closer to the Audubon Park area. But, it sounds like you are going to be all over the place, going here and there (zoo, aquarium, etc)...if I were you I would just go stay at the Homewood Suites where you will have the extra space, especially since you can stay for half price.

Staying at Homewood Suites...thanks for input!