Any suggestions??? Would like to take trolley,staying in french quarter,gardens and parks,music and people watching.

Try using turbotrip.com for the Hampton Inn by the convention center. I know someone who booked it for either 79 or 89 dollars a night. It's a bit of a walk to the French Quarter, but the price is right and the hotel is newly decorated.

The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, 419 rue Decatur in the French Quarter, offers a free walking tour of the French Quarter, not widely publicized because it competes with other tours which are definitely not free. It begins at 9:30 a.m. each day and has a 25-person limit, first-come, first-served, and tickets must be picked up in person on the day of the tour.

The Visitour pass is a great bargain in getting around. It costs $4 per day and provides unlimited transportation on the streetcars - DON'T call them trolleys! - busses, etc.

Have lunch at Mike Anderson's in the food court at the Riverwalk Mall. Food is pretty much the same as at the restaurant on Bourbon Street, and about half the price.

You can have a great time in New Orleans without spending a lot of money, but like anything else, you've got to do some homework. Have a great time.

Check www.biddingfortravel.com to see what hotels folks have gotten on Priceline. Also, check Orbitz. I got a good deal for the Hyatt in NOLA.

As for bargain food, go to ACME Oyster Co. and MOM's.

Thanks for all the good info. I'll definetly take a "street car"

Hotel prices vary widely, depending on when you visit. If it's a weekend in April, prices will be high because of holidays, festivals, etc. In June, the opposite is true.

Other cheap eats - Mothers for Po Boy sandwiches, I heard their breakfasts are good too. Central Grocery for muffalletas. Cafe du Monde for beignets. For something nicer, but not super expensive, Remoulades and Red Fish Grill are good.

On the music front, head to the Funky Pirate on Bourbon to hear Big Al Carson. Fairly small venue, not as loud as many, and Big Al puts on a great show. Last I was there, no cover or minimum.

For a quiet drink, head to Napoleon House and have their house drink, a Pimms Cup. Classical music and a nice atomosphere.

Don't want to start a food fight, but I think Remoulade is way overrated. Has all the ambience of a high school cafeteria and my meal was pretty bland. Not far away is the Acme Oyster House. Real, not synthesized New Orleans. You'll have to wait in line, probably, but the food is great.

Discovered Quarter Scene this time around, Dumaine at the corner of St. Philip, as I recall. Really good, really inexpensive, and you can ask for Tennessee Williams' table in the window. Even less expensive because they don't serve liquor - in New Orleans, imagine. But you can bring a bottle of wine and have a nice meal for two very economically.

The best place to people watch, of course, is Jackson Square. On the edge of the Square is a chain restaurant, Le Madeline. Excellent pastries, soups, salads, etc. Get your meal to go and make it a picnic on the Square.

Burgers and jazz at Port o Call on Esplanade and Snug Harbor. Oysters at Acme(try a dozen Bienville)..beignets and coffee 24/7 at Cafe Du Monde...late night breakfast at The Cadillac Grill on Bourbon..find out about open gallery night on Julia Street..Ahh..the Big Sleazy!

For a first time visitor---stay in the Quarter(you'll never regret it).

I have heard people rave about Remoulades and some people trash it. Either they are hit and miss or people are coming from different perspectives. The atmosphere is pretty standard, nothing out of the everyday, but we got great service and had a really good meal. It definitely wasn't bland - I eat Mexican food almost every day and I make my own salsa, the hotter the better, so I am definitely a fan of spicy food. The only complaint I had about the place was the airconditioning was blasting and we got pretty cold.

To each his own I guess.