I had a great time staying in New Orleans at Beverly's airbnb, and would highly recommend. I stayed for 11 days for a conference combined with some sightseeing. Beverly was extremely helpful and friendly throughout my stay, always offering advice on places/restaurants to visit and up for a chat in general. She was also very generous and hospitable for any questions or requests that I had, which made me feel at home. Moreover, it was very interesting to talk to Beverly in understanding the culture/history/current affairs of New Orleans, which you might not get at a hotel or elsewhere.
The airbnb is located in Central city, which is not the nicest area, though I always felt safe walking around, and it's safer than more touristy areas like Bourbon street. It's about a 25 min walk from both the French Quarter and the convention centre. There are nearby bus and streetcar stops, and ubers are also a good option if tired/coming home late and are around $10-15 to the French Quarter.