Our stay in James' apartment was phenomenal. The small room is actually much more beautiful and cozy than the pictures let us assume beforehand, the fridge was stacked full with a variety of beers, soft drinks and even two bottles of wine. The neighborhood is quiet at night, with a few bars in the area, but it seemed absolutely safe in every regard. You can catch a bus on St Claude Street which will take you to the French Quarter in roughly 15 minutes. James stopped by on our third day and gave us so many tips on what to do in the area. He really loves New Orleans and knows the city like the back of his hand. The day before we left, he invited us to go out for lunch with him so he could show us some local bars and restaurants - the whole afternoon was so much fun and we couldn't have spent the day any better.
If I ever come back to New Orleans, I'd definitely stay at James' house again.