We selected this B&B based solely on the reviews seen here: TripAdvisor members were raving, especially about its fabulous owner Jess, and we figured we couldn't go wrong. So naturally we were disappointed to learn upon checking in that, well, Jess was no longer the owner; Peter was, as of a week ago.

Say what?!

We felt blindsided; the whole reason we booked a room at Five Continents was because of Jess' fabulous reputation. We didn't understand why neither he nor Peter would contact us and other guests to let us know about the change in management. My boyfriend reasoned that, "Well, they wouldn't tell you about a GM change at a restaurant or hotel, so why here?" but I think B&Bs are different. You go to them because you want a more personalized, intimate experience. It just would have been nice if someone had reached out to us beforehand and—you know, introduced themselves, told us what was going on, etc.

In any case, we wanted to offer Peter the benefit of the doubt and were pleased to see that the house itself was GORGEOUS—way prettier than the photos you see on its website. Amazingly tall ceilings, decadent chandeliers, a staircase to die for... a lovely slice of old-world Southern style. The location, however, kinda sucks: It's a few blocks from an underpass and 24-hour grocery/liquor store that draws a really sketchy crowd, especially at night. This was frustrating: We wanted to be able to walk to the French Quarter and its surrounding attractions, leaving the car parked safely at the B&B, but couldn't really do that because we felt so unsafe returning after dark. It made for a lot of time wasted trying to find parking.

But anyway, back to the B&B: Peter was very nice. He seemed a bit nervous, being new to the whole B&B thing. Our room was beautiful, but it was missing towels, basic toiletries like soap and shampoo, and had some trash strewn about it (including a dirty tissue stuffed in a washcloth under the footstool); it was as if the housekeeper had skipped it by accident. When we raised the issues to Peter, he would say "That's strange" but was quick to rectify it. And though the B&B advertises free WiFi, the signal in our room (located on the second floor at the front of the house) was VERY poor. We had to do a little work while on vacation and could hardly get anything done. The signal improved only if you worked downstairs in the living room.

Peter did a fine job cooking up Jess' old recipes at breakfast, even though he said it was his first time making some of the dishes. The only other eventful thing that happened: When we went to check out, Peter was having trouble with his credit card machine. He swiped and swiped and swiped by boyfriend's card but said it never went through. We were running late for a tour so decided to just pay in cash. Later, my boyfriend checked his bank account online and saw that he had indeed been charged. Argh. We tried calling but couldn't get through so had to drive all the way back to the B&B to tell Peter about the double charge and get a cash refund.

To summarize: Peter was very nice, and certainly gets an A for effort; with time, he should get the hang of this whole B&B thing. The bed was made for a king and the sheets were divinely soft. The claw-foot tub/shower leaked every time we used it (we wasted two towels a day mopping up the flood), but we had the most amazing front porch all to ourselves. The semi-shady location and poor WiFi connection were the biggest trouble spots, but if you can get over those and the fact that Jess is gone, Five Continents is a lovely place to stay.

I've always been a little skeptical of B&Bs because I like my privacy and anonymity when I travel, but this was a great experience, and I'd definitely recommend it to others - especially if you are coming to New Orleans for Jazz Fest or Voodoo Fest.

We stayed in the North America Suite which is a separate building behind the house. The decor was nice, bed comfortable, and bath spacious. Jes, the owner, included lots of special touches including a mini-fridge with juice, sodas, and water. He provided great coffee for the coffee maker and a small decanter of liqueur for nightcaps. The front porch was fantastic and relaxing, and we enjoyed our morning coffee there everyday. He also made great dinner and nightlife recommendations and had contacts at some that could get us a table even during the busiest times of the night.

The neighborhood is nice during the day, and it is in walking distance from the fairgrounds, the museum, Frenchman Street in the Marigny and the Quarter. At night, you probably want to take a taxi back to the house, but we felt perfectly safe during our four day stay.

My boyfriend booked the Five Continents for my first ever JazzFest experience. I travel to New Orleans two or three times a year on average and usually stay in the French Quarter or the CBD but am familiar with the Garden District also. This was a really nice change of pace and a great way to enjoy the city and the residents in a much more authentic way.

The accomodations were beautiful, a real oasis in the chaos that is New Orleans. Jess is very knowledgable and more than eager to share that with his guests. His breakfasts are legendary. He knows all the shops, bars, restaurants, and hidden treasures of New Orleans. He loves this city and it shows. If you stay in the cottage, beware the low water pressure.

Jess is a terrific host. Our room was lovely with a good separate seating area. The house is wonderfully maintained and filled with interesting antiques and artworks. Nothing was too much trouble for Jess. He offered many suggestions for restaurants tours and sightseeing. He also helped us complete online check-in and printed of boarding passes.His breakfasts were outstanding and he gave us a wonderful insights into some of the highlights of NOLA cuisine. Thank you Jess for your wonderful hospitality and generosity.