Been to New Orleans?

[agdbirmingham]

Has anyone been to New Orleans recently? I'm meeting a bunch of my sorority sisters down there in May and we're looking for a reasonably priced hotel. Any ideas?

Some will have kids with them so don't want to stay in a really shady or noisy part of town. And most of us will be flying down and not have a car so we want to be close to stuff. I've never been there so I have no idea what are the good/bad areas. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[TxAPhi]

There have been some great discussions about where to stay and what to do in NO recently:

I'm going to New Orleans!
Where to stay in New Orleans?
I am going to New Orleans for Vacation. What should I do?



Here are my New Orleans Suggestions:

I've stayed at Bienville House in the French Quarter several times and enjoyed it, it seemed to be in walking distance of most things - http://www.bienvillehouse.com/

One restaurant we enjoyed was this one - http://www.palacecafe.com/
I also enjoyed House of Blues and Cafe Du Monde www.cafedumonde.com

We took a voodoo tour from this company that was entertaining and there are many others available as well - http://www.neworleanstours.net/
The tour included a lot of fascinating history of the area as well as the hauntings and voodoo.
I also went on a great paddleboat cruise back when Texas went to the Sugar Bowl - http://www.neworleanspaddlewheels.c...reolequeen.html

A friend of mine got engaged in the Park - http://www.neworleanscitypark.com/
The Audubon Park and Anne Rice's house on the St Charles Streetcar line is also nice to see. http://www.regionaltransit.org/
And you can go on a swamp tour at the Audubon Zoo - http://www.auduboninstitute.org/

There's lots of fun shopping too, depending on what you might be looking for. Magazine Street has some unique finds. The French Market is fun - http://www.frenchmarket.org/

[agdbirmingham]

Thank you VERY VERY much!! I looked for other threads, but couldn't find any. I must be a complete idiot today!! Thanks again!

[TxAPhi]

Originally posted by agdbirmingham
Thank you VERY VERY much!!

No problem at all! Have lots of fun in New Orleans! Now get ever to Chit Chat and bump up your vacation contest thread, so that all these new GCers will vote for you....

[agdbirmingham]

You're so sweet! Thanks! I'll bump it up in just a second.

Well, I just did something spontaneous and booked my hotel through hotwire! We got a room at the Hyatt Regency (4 out of 5 star hotel) for $80/night! Sounds like it's not real close to everything, but not too bad.

Thanks again!

[docetboy]

Originally posted by agdbirmingham
Has anyone been to New Orleans recently? I'm meeting a bunch of my sorority sisters down there in May and we're looking for a reasonably priced hotel. Any ideas?

Some will have kids with them so don't want to stay in a really shady or noisy part of town. And most of us will be flying down and not have a car so we want to be close to stuff. I've never been there so I have no idea what are the good/bad areas. Any suggestions?

Thanks

The only time I went to New Orleans, everyone in their right mind was leaving. Of course, I was just cutting across town from Biloxi to Louis Armstrong International to do the same myself.

Hurricane's tend to empty areas out pretty quick...

[roqueemae]

Get a few Drinks. Bourbon Street is open during the day and much tamer then. Then you could at least say you have been.

Some drinks to stay away from if you don't want to get wasted:
Hurricane
Hand Grenade
Both sound pretty violent right? One is more than enough

I am a big Jimmy Buffett Fan and he has a Margaritaville Restaurant near the French Market. You can find a "Lost Shaker of Salt" for sale.

And ditto on the Cafe du Monde thing. You have to make it for some biegnets and cafe au lait!