New Orleans

[VPS]

Hoping to spend two or three days in New Orleans in mid to late September - reading the books a lot of them talk about driving around - I was hoping to walk or take public transport.

Any suggestions for which area to stay in - middle aged female travelling alone -

Any suggestions for food and accommodation as well

Thanks in advance

 

[KitKat]

Stay central
eg Sheraton New Orleans
close enough to all most attractions

French Quarter best done in daylight hours if alone..... could get a little messy at night

Do an airboat tour, they pick you up from the hotel
Public Transport is fine e.g. tram out to Garden District for a guided walk - great way to spend an afternoon

OK eating places I enjoyed
- Sobou - snacks and drinks
- ROOT - my favourite, great food, drinks and service
- Cochon
- Cochon Butcher
- Commander's Palace - high end, in Garden district, have a nice lunch, then go for a guided walk and wander looking at some fine houses and the cemetery
- Peche
Serves are large..

 

[justinn]

Very Touristy but Cafe Du Monde is a must I go every time. I walked around when I go and they have the NORTA street cars. Another restaurant I like is Deanie's sea food, large potions and very reasonable priced. Unless you want to see something in particular you should not need a car. Just remember that Sept is Hurricane season still so be prepared to have a back up destination.

 

[VPS]

Put this in the wrong thread so hopefully this one will work

Hoping to spend two or three days in New Orleans in mid to late September - reading the books a lot of them talk about driving around - I was hoping to walk or take public transport.

Any suggestions for which area to stay in - middle aged female travelling alone -

Any suggestions for food and accommodation as well

Thanks in advance​

 

[Comoman]

I stayed at the Hyatt French Quarter, great safe location, great restaurants close, walking distance to everywhere! However, I was advised by my hotel that there are same areas in New Orleans which it is still not safe to visit after Katrina - mostly a few areas of suburbia.

 

[anna2103]

Stay around the French quarter - just outside it is good, would not recommend La Pavilion hotel where I stayed, but the area itself was great. Public transport ( tram cars and bus) are very slow so would not stay in the suburbs. Make sure you visit Magazine Street (near the Cemetery) Have a great time, I loved it.

 

[VPS]

put this in the wrong area so reposted in the destinations guide - thanks for the suggestions so far

 

[elan]

I'd certainly recommend that you don't venture outside the french quarter yourself. I have done both a swamp tour and plantation tour which was pretty cool. If you like Oysters I'd suggest Drago's at the Hilton. The Riverwalk is also a nice place to visit, they have only recently turned this into a outlet center. If you do shopping here take your passport as you can get you tax refunded at the tax refund shop.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Thanks for the above tips, was in NOLA staying at the Sheraton for a conference last June, and will be back there next January. Unfortunately didn't get to do much other than wander down Bourbon st. - certainly a sight after-dark (bit concerning to see families with very young kids out there that late though!)

 

[trixydoza]

I've stayed at the Intercontinental and the Hilton just across the road from it in Charles Street, the Crowne Plaza on Canal Street, and the Staybridge Suites a couple of blocks away, and all were good.

As a rough rule of thumb the area gets a little dodgier north of North Rampart Street. But walking along Esplanade Avenue is OK. I'm tempted to try this place next time:

Hotel Storyville - A New Orleans Inn

 

[ShaneN]

Hoping to spend two or three days in New Orleans in mid to late September - reading the books a lot of them talk about driving around - I was hoping to walk or take public transport.

Any suggestions for which area to stay in - middle aged female travelling alone -

Any suggestions for food and accommodation as well

Thanks in advance

Walking and public transport will be fine, although it will be hot and steamy. Agree with suggestion to take the St Charles Avenue streetcar (tram) to the Garden District. You can also take the Canal Street streetcar to the cemeteries, although it may be safer to visit these as part of a tour (I walked by myself, but not sure it was a good idea). It sounds ghoulish, but the above ground cemeteries are a tourist highlight of New Orleans.

You can spend hours walking around the French Quarter, visiting Jackson Square, listening to the buskers. A tour of the bayous (swamps) is worthwhile - there will be tours leaving from your hotel.

I stayed at Crowne Plaza on the corner of Canal and Bourbon Streets in 2011, and agree that somewhere around Canal Street is the most central and safest place to stay.

Despite the warnings about safety, you will love NOLA.

 

[Alanslegal]

We flew out of New Orleans this morning having spent a four nights there (Thursday-Monday). It was my second visit to NOLA. We stayed at Sheraton New Orleans which is on Canal Street and a couple of blocks away and a few minutes away from the madness of Bourbon Street. It can be quite intimidating as a first timer around Bourbon Street but I would highly suggest you walk through Bourbon Street during the day - just to get a sense of where you are, so when you go at night and it's a madhouse full of party-goers - then you won't be too fazed. The homeless/beggars, sadly, are quite visible in NOLA - but it doesn't concern me as I work with homeless/disadvantaged people in Sydney but to those who aren't exposed to that, it can be confronting.

What to eat and where?

Must try charbroiled oysters - which are oysters with a coat of parmesan cheese and garlic and then flash charred over the BBQ. (Also fresh oysters are good too). The popular places are ACME Oyster Bar, Deanies, Felix, Mr Eds. (Expect big queues at ACME, Deanies). I ate at all of those, some multiple times, and would have no hesitation recommending any of them.

Must try BBQ shrimp @ Deanies. Dipping crispy french bread into that secret southern blend of spices - delicious.

Must try Ferdi Special Po Boy @ Mother's.

Must try Muffalutta Sandwich @ Napoleon House, whilst drinking Pimms. (ALOT of people go to the original Central Grocer for these sandwiches, and I did eat there a couple of times too - but in my humble opinion, the ones at Napoleon House are wayyyyyy better, and you can enjoy it in their relaxing courtyard - better yet, ask the staff to show you around the historic property which we did).

Must try the fried Beignets and Cafe Au Laits @ the original Cafe Du Monde opposite Jacksons Square. Yes it is very very very touristy but it is exceptionally good. We at there daily and sometimes twice. (You can go to the CDM at the Riverwalk Shopping Centre too but only do so after you visit the original CDM). We did cheat one day and went to the imitator Cafe Beignets because someone said they were better - I can tell you they are not.

If you need a coffee fix - head to Spitfire.

If you want a really nice place to have coughtails and a pretty good meal - Cane & Table. The deep fried pork ribs are unbelievably good, and the coughtails have nice flair to them.

There are other southern foods that people would suggest you to try (such as gumbo, crawfish etoufeou, jambalaya etc) but I didn't really enjoy them - I did give it a go though!

Suggest having bread pudding or peacan pie at Palace Cafe.

I hope these suggestions help you

 

[AVC]

Windsor Court Hotel. Technically in CBD but bordering the French Quarter. Best hotel around. Walk to most everything, or catch a pedal cab.
The Steamboat Natchez is worth a go. Good music, good food, and a good bit of history.