This 14-floor mega-hotel (which has almost 500 guest rooms) in the heart of New Orleans is nestled in a fantastic, quiet location between the French Quarter and the Business District. The hotel has a host of convenient amenities that only a large-scale property can offer, from an impressive fitness center and a health club with an outdoor swimming pool to an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are spacious suites with separate living areas and sofa beds that are perfect for families, and rooms are equipped with satellite TV and premium cable.

The hotel does not offer onsite childcare services, but it is a wonderful hub from which families can explore an array of popular New Orleans attractions. Guests staying at the New Orleans InterContinental can easily walk to the sites including the Louisiana Children’s Museum, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and its neighboring IMAX Theater, and Jackson Square. The shops and restaurants of the French Quarter are just a short stroll away; but at night, families staying at the hotel are just far enough from the Quarter to avoid waking up to the sounds of its notoriously noisy nighttime revelries. The hotel is served by the New Orleans airport shuttle, which provides affordable transportation to and from the airport for families who aren’t renting car.

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There are a total of 479 at this big 14-floor property, which include single- and double-bed guest rooms, and suites. We highly recommend the hotel's sizable suites, which are an outstanding option for large families staying in New Orleans. The suites have generous bathrooms with separate sink and shower areas, sofa beds and separate living spaces with dining areas -- so there's plenty of room for everyone. Cots and cribs are also available at the hotel.

Standard guest rooms have either single or double beds. All rooms come with amenities including hair dryers, phones with voice mail, TV's with premium cable, pay-per-view movies, air conditioning that can be controlled within the room and closets. There isn't Wi-Fi in the rooms, but guests can access free Wi-Fi from public areas like the lobby.

Outdoor Pool
A hotel with a pool is a must in muggy, semi-tropical New Orleans, especially during hot and humid summer months. The InterContinental's outdoor pool overlooks the city, so parents can enjoy spectacular New Orleans views while kids cool off in the water.

Louisiana Children's Museum
The Louisiana Children's Museum is just a few blocks from the hotel. The museum has a variety of fun and silly hands-on exhibits, such as a child-size grocery store, giant eyeballs and mini-Jackson Square display. Other cool kid-friendly features include daily book readings, coordinated art projects and special programs for toddlers. (Check out their calendar of events to see what's happening during your visit). Kids ages 5 through 8 can take part in week-long summer camp programs at the museum, which run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and start at $185 per week for non-members.

The InterContinental's onsite restaurant, Veranda, is a nice option for families seeking a quick breakfast or a quiet dinner conveniently located close to home base. But in a city famous for its eclectic local cuisine and top-notch restaurants, proximity to good eateries is just as important as on-site dining -- and the InterContinental has both.

If you decide to try the hotel's restaurant, don't miss the lunch buffet, a great option for picky young eaters that includes salads, pastas and fruit. For dinner, Veranda serves up local specialties like crawfish and gumbo. On Sundays, there's a Champagne brunch at the Veranda, during which families can hear live jazz as they dine.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport's shuttle, which runs daily from 2 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., stops at the InterContinental. A roundtrip shuttle ride costs just $38 per person, and kids ages 6 and younger ride free.

Guests staying at the InterContinental don't need cars to explore the best New Orleans. Families can get to plenty of places by foot, and sites further afield, like the Audubon Nature Institute, are just a tram ride away.

The hotel has computers that have a printer and Internet access, which is handy when you need to print boarding passes for your flight home.