My husband and I have booked for 3 nights in New Orleans at the end of March (just after Mardi Gras).

We are going to be staying at the Maison Orleans. Anyone else stayed at this hotel, and can give me some reviews on it?

We are interested in going on tours through the Plantations, Swamps, and Cemetaries. Does anyone know a good reputable company that gives amazing tours? I have heard that Graylines is good...anyone know anything about this company?

We are also interesting in eating well when we are there...we are thinking we would like to try Cafe Du Monde (for beignets and coffee) Antoines, Commanders Palace and the Bistro at Maison De Ville.
What do you think of the above restaurants. Any restaurants that are not to be missed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are looking for romance and scrumptous New Orleans food!

Thanks for your help!

I went on a Garden District walking tour with Graylines and was pleased with the company. The guide was well informed and everything was well organized and a good value for the money.

For a plantation tour, I used Tours By Isabelle and was very happy with my choice. Unlike Graylines, Tours By Isabelle is a much more personalized tour. They use vans for touring as opposed to buses and the service includes direct transportation to and from your hotel. Our tour guide was well informed and had a great personality. I'd highly recommend this firm for a plantation tour.

We've taken the Gray Lines city tour and liked it very much, they had a short cemetary stop that was plenty for us and loads of great information about the city. Old River Road (plantationadventure.com) has lots of tours with some combining swamps and plantations, riverboat rides with swamp, etc. We haven't tried them yet, but maybe this year. If you take a swamp tour separate, just go for a half-day, that's really long enough.

Try Petunia's in the Quarter for breakfast - the omlettes are so big you might want to split them. We didn't like NOLA at all - the atmosphere was interesting, the food horrible.

Have fun!

When we were in NO, these are the tours we took and enjoyed:

Cemetery/Voodoo tour with the Historic New Orleans Walking Tour Co. It took about 2 hours and went through the FQ, a church on Rampart, the cemetery closest to the FQ, and a voodoo temple. Very interesting and the guide was great.

Capt Nick's Wildlife Safari - we took a 1/2 day swamp tour through Bayou Barataria. It was more expensive than some other swamp tours, but it was a private tour and the guide picked us up at the hotel. Also, unlike many other tours, this company goes out in small boats and does not feed the aligators.

Spinato Tours - we took a plantation tour to Laura and Oak Alley plantations. The company is similar to Tours by Isabelle in that they take people out in small groups rather than in buses. It's much more personal that way.

For eats, we ate at Cafe Du Monde a few times. Generally we would have dinner some place, skip dessert because we were too full, then soak up some nightlife and at about 11 be a little hungry again, stop by Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beinets and be ready for more nightlife.

We didn't go to any of the restaurants you mentioned so I can't comment on those.

NO is a great place, I can't wait to go back!

I ate at Antoine's a year and a half ago, and was disappointed with the food quality. Other posters have expressed similar opinions about Antoines. My best meal on that trip was at GW Fins, better than Commander's Palace, Emeril's, and Antoine's. I still like Commander's Palace, though.

I, too, would scratch Antoine's from your list. It peaked decades ago and unlike other historic restaurants in New Orleans (Galatoire's, Arnaud's, Commander's Palace) it no longer deserves its original great reputation.

Would recommend a stop at Napoleon House for a Pimms Cup, and if you're hungry, a muffeletta sandwich. In my opinion the sandwiches here are now much better than the more famous ones sold at Central Grocery. Our last sandwiches from Central were mostly bread, very little meat, cheese or olive salad.

Please do a search on NO & you'll find out all you need to know. Antoine's & Commanders are well past their prime & vastly over-priced. Take a look @ Ugelischs (sp), Acme Oyster House, Dickie Brennans (steak), Dominiques French/unusual), Bella Luna (River view) or GW Fins Seafood).

Every time I tell someone about NO I suggest eating at The Palace Cafe on Canal Street. It is wonderful! I was told it is owned by some of the same family members who own Commanders Palace. My husband and I ate here for lunch and found the food and service to be incredible. You must try the chocolate chip bread pudding for dessert--it's fabulous! I am also a big fan of Cafe Du Monde for breakfast or snacks. Another little chain-type place that I enjoy in that area is Le Madeline's. These are little French-type bistro/bakeries, and I've had great breakfasts, lunches, and dinners here several times. My husband and I often pick up desserts or pastries to take back to the hotel for later. One of the Le Madelines is right in the heart of the French Quarter and others are found going down St. Charles Avenue. You can take the street car.

For swamps, go with HONEY ISLAND.... For plantations, take a full or half-day with GRAY LINE. For cemeteries (or ghost/vampire), go with NEW ORLEANS GHOST TOUR. All of the above have websites. Have fun!!!

*MINA*
New Orleans

Tours by Isabelle is my choice for plantation tours. Honey Island is probably the most "nature-centered" swamp tour and I concur with the comments about Antoine's. Blech! I do disagree regarding Commander's Palace, though. I still get great meals every time I visit.

You can take free guided walks in various parts of the quarter including the cemetary by checking in at the park service kiosk in the French Market. Rangers lead tours frequently. We also stopped eating dessert while in NO and would end each evening with beignets at Cafe du Monde. Check out some other places to eat while in NO...I have eaten at the bistro at Maison de ville but when Susan Spicer cooked there. I suggest you check out her other restaurants either Bayona or Herbsaint. I always love lunch at Acme Oyster Bar..a dozen oysters bienville has a way of brightening up the day!