⭐ Kimpton Hotel Fontenot Review — New Orleans
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A boutique stay with walkability, great food, and incredible value thanks to points + credits
If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans and want a boutique hotel that’s walkable, stylish, and surprisingly affordable when you stack credits, Kimpton Hotel Fontenot is a standout. We booked this stay using a mix of Chase Sapphire Reserve Edit Credits, IHG credit, and more, and I break down the full strategy in my post on How I Booked This Trip on Points
If you’re curious about how I handled the travel hiccup on this trip, you can also read about my Capital One Travel claim experience — it ended up being a great reminder of why I always book smart and how you can do the same.
🌿 Location: Walkable, Safe, and Close to Everything
The Fontenot sits in one of the most convenient pockets of downtown New Orleans:
A quick walk to the Riverwalk
Easy access to the French Quarter
Surrounded by restaurants, cafés, and the streetcar
If you love exploring on foot, this is exactly the kind of location that makes a trip feel effortless. I packed light for this stay, and you can see everything I brought in What I Packed for New Orleans.
🍳 Food & Drinks: Breakfast Bliss + A Perfect Arrival Dinner
Because we had multiple food and beverage credits, we made the most of them.
Breakfast
Every morning we grabbed:
Warm, buttery biscuits
Perfectly crisp bacon
Coffee from the lobby café
Simple, delicious, and a great use of credits.
Dinner at The Peacock Room
On arrival night we enjoyed:
A refreshing margarita
Flavorful gumbo
Fresh raw oysters
The Peacock Room feels like a destination in itself — moody, stylish, and perfect for a light dinner.
I carried my Away Featherlight Overnight Bag for this trip and it was perfect for a quick weekend away. It fits under the airplane seat, keeps everything organized, and is my go‑to for short trips. See my full review here: Away Featherlight Overnight Bag Review
🛏️ Room Upgrade: Spacious + Beautiful
Our room at the Kimpton Fontenot
Thanks to IHG status, we were upgraded to a huge room — far bigger than a typical downtown hotel room. Modern, quiet, and comfortable.
If you love seeing how I maximize hotel perks, you can browse all my hotel reviews booked on points for more inspiration.
⏰ Late Checkout: A Travel Day Win
With an afternoon flight out of New Orleans, the 4 PM checkout was a dream. No rushing, no storing bags — just a slow morning and an easy transition to the airport.
💬 Service: Friendly, Helpful, and Consistently Excellent
Every staff interaction was warm and genuinely helpful. It’s the kind of service that makes you want to return.
I love listening to audiobooks when I travel — it makes flights, airport waits, and hotel mornings so much more relaxing. If you’re the same way, you can try Audible and grab their current bonus offer here: Try Audible’s Bonus Offer
⭐ Final Thoughts: Would I Stay Again?
Absolutely. Kimpton Fontenot delivered on:
Walkability
Food
Room comfort
Service
Value
And here’s the real test: I’d stay here again even without the Chase Sapphire credits.
If you want to use credits the way I did, start with:
About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie, the creator behind No Point Left Behind — a travel blog dedicated to helping families, beginners, and everyday travelers unlock the world through points, miles, and smart travel strategies.
I’ve been travel hacking for over 20 years, and now that my kids are in college, I’m traveling 12–15 times a year, testing out points‑friendly hotels, cruise lines, and destinations so you don’t have to guess what’s worth it.
When I’m not exploring a new city or cruising with my parents (the unofficial mascots of my retiree travel series), you’ll find me creating Lazy Girl travel hacks, building trip‑planning systems, and sharing everything I learn inside my Travel Hacking Moms Group.
If you love simple strategies, honest reviews, and maximizing every dollar and point, you’re in the right place.
