re: How is the Lod Cook Hotel these days? What is good hotel to use in Lafayette?

Lod Cook is very nice, and cool location if you want to soak in the campus setting.

I always go to Thibodaux through Sorrento, and cross over the Sunshine Bridge. It's an easy little drive and more interesting to me than the other routes, plus some decent little spots to stop and pick up local food like boudin, etc.