Thereโs always one hotel in town that partying college kids flock to. In New Orleans, that hotel is the Hilton St Charles Avenue. Tipsy undergrads are adorable (at first, not so much at 3 a.m.) and remind me of the days when I aspired to stay at a Hilton too. This Hilton is a classic mid century property. Its lobby, elevators, and halls are elegant. And thereโs a classy bistro restaurant on the first floor. Thereโs good material for Hilton to work with here. But it feels like Hiltonโs heart just isnโt in it. The rooms are showing their age, and feel like itโs 1999 again. The bathroomโs only light is in the mirror, and the shower โ curtain, no glass โ is dim. The water isnโt always hot, and a tepid shower is no fun at 6:30 a.m. Hilton just about meets 4-star hotel basics, but you wonโt be getting a bathrobe. And then thereโs the alarm clock. The last time I stayed at a Hilton was in Toronto years ago: the alarm clock was telling completely the wrong time, and couldnโt be reset without a screwdriver. In the Hilton St Charles, the poor old clock had trouble even displaying the time (see photo). My colleague missed our 0645 bus because her alarm clock didnโt go off. And the young lady on desk, trying to serve guests and eat some lunch at the same time, explained that wake up calls were impossible because the computerized wake up call system had been broken for a week. I ended up leaving New Orleans one night early, after paying about $1000 USD for three nights. This Hiltonโs offers a discount to encourage you to pay for the full stay when you arrive before you see your room. In retrospect I guess that should have given me pause for thought. But Iโve learned a new travel lesson: Just because your event is at a Hilton, it doesnโt mean you have to stay there. Unless, of course, youโre 22 and down to party.