We got some new artwork

We meet the most interesting people

We got a couple unexpected and unsolicited things in the mail recently, which is always nice.

The first thing we got was an award from Booking.com.  We don't usually offer rooms through OTAs (On-line Travel Agents) and we don't do that for a few reasons.  

Reason #1:  Most people who make a reservation through an OTA are looking for the cheapest price.  They pay more when they book through an OTA than they do when they book directly through our website.  They do it anyway.  The listed price for the suite is the same in both places, but we don't add on any "processing fees and taxes" the way OTAs do.

[I got a phone call a few minutes ago.  Q: "How much are the taxes when we check in?"  A: "They're included in the price.  Whatever our website says, that's the price.  We don't charge more than that.  We aren't here to nickel and dime you."]  

Reason #2:  Most people who make a reservation through an OTA don't visit our website so they don't really know what we are about. All they know is what the OTA people have written about our inn, which is a sparse description that isn't always as accurate as we would like.  If you want to know what kind of services we offer and what kind of personality our inn has, our website reflects that to the best of our ability, as does this blog.  Thanks for reading!

Most people who make a reservation through an OTA don't read our blog.  If you are the exception, we would like to thank you double for stopping by this page today.

Here's the award:

9.7 out of 10

The award is just a cheap piece of plastic that says that last year La Belle Esplanade received an average rating of 9.7 out of a possible 10.  We are very grateful for the compliments from our guests, don't get me wrong, but I collect enough clutter on the mantle without adding a cheap piece of plastic.  After a few days, I finally stowed the award in our storeroom.  It just does't fit with our decór.

On the other hand, our Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence from last year is displayed on the mantle in our dining room.  We are much more proud of that and it's much more attractive.  We are hoping to add another one for this year.

If you make a reservation through an OTA, they'll send you an email asking for a review after your stay.  Trip Advisor doesn't do that.  Trip Advisor doesn't know you stayed with us.  I certainly don't tell them.  All our reviews on Trip Advisor are voluntary.  

We don't email you after your stay with a link to review sites because I know I don't enjoy being spammed for the rest of my life from someone whose company I once enjoyed.  That's what hotels do.  Frau Schmitt and I are just happy you visited.  What's nice about Trip Advisor is that they won't spam you after you write a review, either.  It's a nice arrangement all around---all good memories.

With that businesslike bit out of the way, the other thing we received in the mail is a watercolor of our house from a previous guest.  It arrived unexpected, out of the blue, like a pelican soaring out over the tops of the oak trees in City Park and then landing on our front stoop.

A work of art

We had the painting framed with the note that the artist sent with the picture.  It came out very nice and we've hung it in the first stairwell off the lobby where everyone will see it.  We have an older watercolor of the house from before we moved in and repainted.  That one must be about 20 years old.  We hung the old one with the new one.

Before and after

I don't think the house was ever the very sunny yellow-yellow the way it's depicted in the older painting.  Our house's former color scheme always reminded me of Gulden's mustard.  We never repainted the shutters on the sides of the house. The shutters in the front are now sky blue while the ones on the sides remain green as a historical detail.

They call it brown mustard for a reason

We live in a very interesting house.  Everyone enjoys it.  It is full of details and none of them are cheap plastic.  Well, there are some Mardi Gras beads here and there, but aside from that there is very little cheap plastic.  

We'd like to thank Mimi for her pleasant surprise.  Your painting is in a place of honor, as it should be.  A tip of the fedora in your direction, Mimi.  Cheers!  Don't be a stranger!

If you are thinking about visiting New Orleans, you know where to find us: on our website, not through an OTA.

À votre santé.