First off, the crawfish boil is being held, as always, in Madisonville LA.
Madisonville is a small historic river town on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It's about ten minutes from our office in Covington, and about 40 minutes from New Orleans.
Madisonville is a lovely town to visit with a ton of charm and several interesting attractions. But you can't find any accommodations in Madisonville. There are a few places that you can try in nearby Covington and Mandeville, although the best places you will find are bed and breakfasts.
In Covington, one of the best B&Bs is Annadele's. Annadele's is a lovely plantation home near Old Covington. The grounds are charming and the rooms are rather nice. My sister had her wedding at Annadele's and my wife and I were impressed with the accommodations. The restaurant is also usually pretty good, and would be a nice place for breakfast if you stayed there.
Blue Willow Bed and Breakfast is another nice B&B in Covington. I've never stayed there personally, but it has gotten very good reviews and I've always thought that it looked like a nice place to stay.
Maison Reve Farm is a lovely B&B about twenty minutes north of Madisonville in Folsom. It is quiet, tasteful, and out of the way while still being close to the boil and New Orleans.
Even though New Orleans is a little farther away than accommodations on the north shore, I highly suggest that boil attendees find accommodations in the city. Most of the drive to the north shore is taken up by traversing the Causeway Bridge, so it is a very easy drive to make.
If you're looking for something quiet and relaxing, a B&B on the north shore would be perfect, but you'll probably find yourself spending more time on the south shore no matter where you stay.
In New Orleans, I highly recommend the French Quarter for out of town guests. Staying the the Quarter is a unique experience and puts you right into the action. Most of the city's tourist attractions are easily accessible from the French Quarter, but you'll find that the quarter tends to be a 'round the clock type of place that remains vibrant at all hours.
The Royal Sonesta Hotel is a good place to stay in the quarter. It is right on Bourbon Street which is a plus in many ways, although you will find it to be bustling, especially in early March.
Jamie likes the W New Orleans - French Quarter hotel. She and her husband have stayed there before and recommend it highly. Its restaurant, Bacco, is good, and the hotel is in a quieter part of the Quarter down on Chartres Street, but still only a couple of blocks from Bourbon.
The Omni on St. Louis is also good place to stay, and a bit more luxurious. You'll find rooms with a lovely view of the St. Louis Cathedral.
The JW Marriott is on Canal Street, and is very close to the Quarter. Here you can be within easy walking distance of the Quarter without being surrounded by it.
The Courtyard Marriott is down by the river walk, which is still within walking distance of the French Quarter, although it will take a stroll to get down to Jackson Square.
If you're looking for a more modestly priced hotel, the Country Inn and Suites downtown is a well-rated hotel with modest prices that still isn't terribly far from the French Quarter. It is on the corner of Magazine and Gravier, meaning that it isn't really in the Quarter, but it is in a decent part of downtown New Orleans between Poydras and Canal Street.
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