Luxury Accommodations in the Gulf Coast
Updated for 2023: With a plethora of luxury accommodations in the Gulf Coast, we opted for a hotel stay in the Warehouse District of New Orleans away from the revelry of the French Quarter. My second, but not likely my last, visit to the Gulf Coast was memorable and reinforced why I need to go back.
Often, we are quick to look up hotels and Air BnBs without always considering all the options. Maybe you want to splurge a bit and stay somewhere nicer. There are plenty of luxury accommodations in the Gulf Coast that may meet your need for luxury living.
From award-winning boutique hotels to massive beach homes, you can find a variety of options to suit your needs be they a romantic getaway in Mobile, Alabama, a girl’s getaway in Coastal Mississippi or a family gathering in Fort Morgan. Here are my picks for luxury accommodations on our recent Girl’s Getaway to the US Gulf Coast.
New Orleans
New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District
A stunning property conveniently located in the Warehouse District, there is much to love about New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District. Located across the street from Riverwalk Outlets and the Convention Centre this is a great location for business and leisure travelers alike.
The Marriott Club lounge is located just off the main lobby bar and has a selection of breakfast and happy hour treats. The coffee bar is wonderful. Have a traditional Hurricane cocktail in the enormous lobby bar or take a walk to the National WWII Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art or a short walk to the new Vue Orleans multimedia show.
Dauphine Orleans Hotel
Hidden quietly on Dauphine Street in the French Quarter, the Dauphine Orleans Hotel is a mix of old and new. We stayed in the older rooms which were a bit dated but upon checkout found out that there were beautifully renovated rooms with quaint Creole cottage-style guestrooms in the restored carriage house. What is most appealing is the speakeasy just off the main lobby.
Have a cocktail at May Bailey’s Place a haunted bar where ghost hunters who visit New Orleans have surmised that one of the working girls of May’s brothel still haunts to this day. If it gets too spooky consider an intimate conversation in the hidden courtyard sipping cocktails on a Southern porch, toes dipped in a refreshing salt-water pool – savour simple pleasures in this warm, one-of-a-kind setting.
Coastal Mississippi
The Roost in Ocean Springs
When you first drive up to The Roost Boutique Hotel in Ocean Springs, MS, you will be very surprised by the tiny check-in desk. Reminiscent of a small motel (in size only), this is a very deceiving introduction to an award-winning boutique hotel.
As we made our way to our rooms, the three on the main floor were wheelchair accessible and beautifully appointed. These were large rooms with large bathrooms, dripping with a luxury feel. As I checked into my room, I was disappointed there was no desk to work at. After a quick call to the front desk, I was relocated to a room across the hall (which is really an outdoor sitting common sitting area) and shown into a more spacious room. I had hit the jackpot!
It had a large sitting area with a bar fridge and glassware just waiting for a light libation to be poured. The bathroom was sizeable with a spacious walk-in shower and a large closet. The ceiling was decorated with weathered painted shiplap (the type that you dream of having in your home). With a dimmable chandelier and a super comfy bed and premium cotton sheets, I was ready to get some work done and then have a peaceful night’s sleep. I loved the attention to detail in the decor and special treats. Honestly, this was one of my favourite stays in a boutique hotel in years.
The Wilbur Speakeasy
You can grab lunch at the small bistro downstairs but what I really recommend is the large charcuterie board with signature cocktails at The Wilbur – the speakeasy hidden behind the bar. The best board that we had, this hidden treasure was sultry and meant for the perfect nightcap with your sweetheart – oh so very romantic.
A few blocks’ walk to the beach will have you staring at The Biloxi Bay Bridge which gets you to Biloxi in less than 10 minutes. This is the perfect hotel to stay at if you want to enjoy the casino and nightlife of Biloxi with the quiet appeal of a luxury boutique hotel in Coastal Mississippi.
Insider’s Tip: Ask for The Pelican Room, at The Roost, it is spacious and super comfortable. There is a lovely outdoor ‘living’ room area just outside your room where you can enjoy the breeze and relax.
Mobile, Alabama
Renaissance Riverview Mobile Plaza Hotel
Location, location, location. Sometimes that is the most important part of choosing a hotel. It means you have easy access to great restaurants, parks, attractions, and in Mobile, a view of the bay. The Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel meets all of those criteria and has a killer club suite on one of the highest floors in the hotel.
The highlight for us was one of the hotel staff who took the time to chat with us about his city (as 4 Canadian travel bloggers – we were all ears). We had questions about the best places to eat – Southern National – check. Where the locals go for a bite to eat late at night, great family attractions – The GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico and The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. – check, check, check. In doing so we had a greater insight into the city.
The hotel is across the street from The Gulf Coast Exploreum and IMAX, Cooper-Riverside Park, Fort Conde Museum, and Museum of Mobile and a few blocks from great shopping on Dauphin Street. I cannot say enough about how well this hotel was located.
Insider Tip: Each night you received turndown service and a mini-Moon Pie (think a Joe Louis or a Mae West – if you’re Canadian). An iconic snack, on New Year’s Eve they drop a huge Moon Pie (and not a glittery ball) as they count down to the new year!
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Barefoot Beach House
What a luxury. Staying at a rental property, right on the beach in Fort Morgan was by far a highlight of the trip. We fell in love with the Barefoot Beach House. We had plenty of room to stretch out and get lost in. With a massive kitchen, two family rooms and enough beds to sleep 28, this was definitely a luxury property.
There is a small pool right on the deck, if you wanted to have cocktails and wade in you are just steps away from the kitchen and family room. One outstanding feature is how large the kitchen is! With a large table and plenty of seating, it had all the usual kitchen amenities plus two dishwashers!
Other unique features were two sets of washing machines and dryers as well as an elevator which lets you take your luggage right up to the second floor with ease. This is a bonus convenience and was very helpful for these weary travellers! The size of this beach house makes it luxury accommodations in the Gulf Coast.
With most of the bedrooms having a private ensuite, you will love the spaciousness of this home. There are two rooms with multiple bunk beds, perfect for a family reunion. We felt like we had our own hotel suite in this massive house. The views of the Gulf of Mexico were extraordinary. You really didn’t have a bad view anywhere. This is another reason to consider luxury accommodations in the Gulf Coast.
Insider tip: Stock up on groceries as the nearest store is about 40 minutes away. This is the perfect spot to just sit, relax and watch the beautiful sunsets.
Louisiana Northshore
de la Bleau B & B
A short bridge drive from New Orleans, there is no doubt, I will be back to the de la Bleau B&B in Old Mandeville on the Louisiana Northshore. It was the nicest and best-appointed B&B that I have ever stayed in. There is so much to say about this place that I’m not even sure where to start.
OK, I’ll start with the maple bacon. Made with the utmost of love and care by Cindy, the owner of the B&B, you will not want to miss breakfast here. We could not get enough of this and we would have loved to have stayed longer for the hospitality alone. The breakfast buffet had fresh coffee, various juices and a selection of items (eggs, french toast or waffles were offered).
There are plenty of places to lounge and relax here. The front parlour (because you know we are in the south and I could not wait to use that word), was so comfortable. With magazines and even a TV to keep you company. There was also plenty of comfortable seating out on the long porch that looks out to Lake Pontchartrain. I on a clear night you would see the lights of New Orleans!
We absolutely loved everything that Cindy did to make this B & B as comfortable as possible. We loved her choice of decor, the layout of the rooms, the small touches in the parlour and the company. I would HIGHLY recommend a stay here if you want to be close to New Orleans but want a true Louisiana experience.
Photo Credit: DownshiftingPRO
We had a lot of fun kayaking on the Caine Bayou and dancing at a swamp bar. Our meal at Vestige Restaurant was also very, very good and the desserts were divine. You can rent or borrow some bikes and take a tour of the Tammany Trace Bike trail or head to the beach just half a block away.
Although we were only in these five destinations for a short period of time, we were graciously welcomed and fell in love with the area. These are not large urban or wildly popular destinations but they are all hidden gems that need to be explored in the luxury accommodations in the Gulf Coast.
Additional post from the Girl’s Getaway on the Gulf Coast
- Take a Cooking Class in New Orleans – #NOLA
- Signature Cocktails & Good Eats in New Orleans #onetimeinNOLA
- A Secret no Longer – The Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs Mississippi @SeeCoastalMS #CoastalMS
- Why buy the Coastal Mississippi Attractions Pass? – for the savings! #MSCoastLife #SecretCoast
Disclosure: I was a guest of New Orleans & Company, Visit Mobile, Coastal Mississippi, and The Gulf Shores. This was part of the Girl’s Getaway 3.0 Press Trip. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own. There may be some affiliate lines that are of no cost to you but help me with expenses for the blog.
Ultimate Guides to Food, Attractions and Accommodations in the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach & Fort Morgan @VisitALbeaches
- Good Eats in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Alabama – Go Because of the Seafood #TBEXhuntsville
- Luxury accommodations in the Gulf Coast – find your special place
- Ultimate Guide to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama @VisitALBeaches
- How To Get Crafty in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach – Gulf Shores & Orange Beach – Blog
- Barefoot Beach House – a Harris Property in Fort Morgan, Alabama – Short YouTube Video of the property
- Do something that Scares you on the US Gulf Coast – Adventure Travel
Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.