We've been reading this board gathering information as to what to do during our 3 night stay in NO. We have narrowed it down to a plantation tour, taking the trolley to the garden district, a ghost tour and possibly a city/cemetary tour. A few questions though... any input is appreciated!

1 - If we only visit Oak Alley and not Laura plantation are we missing something we will regret (price difference is $34 vs. $63 pp).

2 - Are there any cemetary tours at night? The only ones we found were during the day. Any suggestions for the best one?

3 - Ghost tour - we've narrowed it down to the historic walking tour co. based on this board.

4 - City Tour - hoping to do one that also visits a cemetary. Any suggestions? Gray Line seems to be our best option?

Also... hubby is wanting to eat great for less. Any great restaurants without great prices? A sunday brunch recommendation is appreciated.

Thanks!

Here is some help and a question for you, both.

1 - Where did you get the price for just one plantation and both? We are thinking about a plantation tour and I would kinda like to keept it short.

4 - Gray Line is the only one I know of that combines tours, but it's a good one (especially if you're going during the summer, the bus is air conditioned and comfortable!) They also give AAA discounts if that's any help.

Some places we eat at are: Petunia's, Acme Oyster House or Felix's, Poppy's or Clover Grill, Maspero's and be brave and try a Lucky Dog.

Have fun!

Gray line offers a tour to just Oak Alley ($34/pp) and Tours by Isabelle offers one to both Oak Alley and Laura ($63/pp).

If you have to choose between Oak Alley and Laura Plantation, I'd definetly chose Oak Alley. The view alone from the road is worth it. Once you walk up the road amongst all those old live oaks, you won't regret it. Laura Plantation doesn't have the same effect I believe although I'm sure it's a nice antebellum manor.

We were there in December & took the full day Grayline tour. AM was a city tour including one cemetary (how many do you really need to see?). PM was out to Oak Alley. Drivers were very entertaining & knowledgeable, & the bus was most comfortable. Some people think it's better to take a small van tour, more personal, etc. I found Grayline to be more than sufficient.

1. We visited Oak Alley and Laura and found Laura to be much more interesting than Oak Alley. I guess it's a matter of preference, but Oak Alley seemed very white-washed whereas Laura seemed more genuine. Also, a lot is known about the family that owned Laura Plantation and the tour guides do a great job of telling the story. At Oak Alley, I enjoyed the views of the river and the incredible trees much more than the house itself.

2. We took a cemetery/voodoo tour with the Historic New Orleans Walking Tour Co and it was great. Our guide was very knowlegable and a great story teller. Our tour was during the day.

4. We didn't do a city tour, so I don't have any first hand information. I have heard from several sources that you get a lot more out of New Orleans by walking than driving through.

Cheap eats - Mother's in the CBD is good for breakfast and lunch, Acme Oyster House, Pere Antonie's on Royal, Mo's Riverbend Cafe at the Riverbend streetcar stop, Cafe Du Monde, Cafe Beinget

Hi: Do your research and take a look in the fodors archives. When I went to NO last year I used a small family owned tour company which was recommended and I got to see both Oak Alley and Laura (which really does have a good story behind it) for less than $60.00.

For cheap eats try the buffet style lunch at the Praline Connection in the French Qtr (don't go to the one in the Warhouse District), Cafe Du Monde and check out some of the all night cheap eateries on Bourban St. I heard Uglish (sorry about the spelling) is good too, but you'll have to take a cab. Good luck.

Gray Line city tour was very good and did include a cemetery. I was somewhat disappointed in Oak Alley; wish I had taken a Vodoo Tour or other Folklore tour instead. I didn't find it that interesting; gorgeous flowers, though. Took a tour of the Garden District (restored old homes) with the Magic company--very knowledgeable and personable guide.If you're interested in architecture, you might enjoy it.

Second Petunia's--charming spot with very good food. The shrimp curry was excellent. Also, the Aft Deck, at the Monteleone has a good reputation for oysters, gumbo,etc and is very reasonable.

It would be a shame not to do both Laura and Oak Alley since they're all of...15 minutes apart on River road.
Laura is more educational, but Oak Alley is more grand; the house is at least. I know a lot of Oak Alleys history isnt told on most tours. There are many tour operators that do both, Tours by Isabelle and Grayline being two of the biggest. Charlies Tours will do Houmas House, Oak Alley and I think beautiful, hard to find Madewood, but I dont know if he does Laura?

Yes, there are tours of a cemetary at night. "Bloody Marys tours" does the old Odd Fellows Rest cemetary the other end of Canal st at night.
www.bloodymary.com She has other tour offerings as well and transportation is available for the cemetary tour.

As for other Ghost tours we probably have about... 20 of them! They're immensely popular so dont be surprised if you have close to 100 people on your tour espescially a weekend. Magic Walking tours, Historic Tours of N.O. and Haunted History tours are three of the biggest.

City/cemetary combos seem pretty prevalent. Stepping Out tours does that and Dr. Paul Wagners sister in law, damn but I cant think of her name, does a cemetary tour thats good. If you call Paul Wagners Honey Island Swamp tour they can tell you. I'd also recommend a swamp tour and I think they now even have "haunted" swamp tours that you might like too.

Don't forget to leave plenty of time for just wandering around the Quarter. It's a fascinating place. One of my favorite times is early in the morning, just be sure and avoid Bourbon at that hour, the smell is pretty bad.

Another idea for not very expensive eats is Mona Lisa, a pizza place on Royal. We were walking to Fauberg Marigny one night and came upon it. Very good pizza and a fun atmosphere. People also say good things about Port o'Call on Esplanade. Never been there myself.

JeanH, shhh... MonaLisa pizza is just for us locals Oh, Port O' Call isnt exactly everyones cup of tea though, unless somethings changed recently.

OK, anyone who is putting 100 people on a single group for a walking tour in hte Quarter is breaking the law. The current limit is 47, and the City Council is voting on May 19 to try to change that to 28. So, if those companies you're talking aobut put 100 people in a tour gourp, do not go with them! The taxicab bureau or NOPD will probably stop the group and either arrest or ticket the tour guide. That does not sound like fun to me! Second, regarding cemetery tours, the Archdiose cemeteries (St Louis No 1, Lafayette) are closed at 3pm daily, so no night tours are permitted. There is one company I know of that can arrange late-night tours of a private cemetery just outside the Quarter. I have sent a lot of visiting family & friends on the New Orleans Ghost Tour in the past and recently, one of my cousins from Los Angeles wanted to go to the cemetery at night. We had to get a decent size group together but, heck, I called up a few friends and we had 12 people before I knew it. Anyway, the point is, the people at New Orleans Ghost Tour made all the arrangements and got us a private tour of that cemetery at 10pm. I thought they were really nice and easy to work with, and I have to tell you, I have lived in New Orleans all my life. Anyway, that is just my personal opinion. You should go one whatever tour you feel most comfortable with. Laissez le bons temps rouler!

hi, we have just returned to England following a trip to NO. I will write the report this weekend! Its been all go since I got back on the 12th May. I have a couple of suggestions in answer to your questions.

We took the Tour by Isabelle (the West Bank Tour) which includes both Laura and Oak Alley. ($63 I believe). I thoroughly enjoyed both plantations, for completely different reasons. Laura has a very good guide who does not 'gloss over' the slave issues and gives a great history of the site and makes it come alive. The house was fairly modest in relation to Oak Alley. Talk about 'wow factor'! Oak Alley is beautiful, and I second the opinion about the view through the Oaks to the house. The guide was very pleasant, but it was a more 'romantic' view of things back in those days. (ie. she referred to the slaves as 'workers').... I think I would have missed out if I hadnt seen both.

We didnt do any night tours, so I cant help you on that.

We did the Gray Line Super City tour which included St Louis Cemetery (english spelling!)No. 3. This tour was a good basic tour and was interesting, although my partner (who enjoys looking around cemeteries! - oddball) was not happy with the 10 minutes the tour allowed as a stop here. Therefore, on our last day, we went on a Cemetery Tour by Save Our Cemeteries to St Louis No. 1. This was facinating and very in depth info given by a well informed guide. It is a charity and you give a donation.

Please feel free to email me with any other questions [email protected]

My full trip report will follow very soon!

Swamp tours are fun, as are air-boat rides. I can't remember which we took, sorry, but I do remember them both as enjoyable.

My first piece of advice is this. Do NOT, under any circumstances go on the small van tour. Ask some other travelers who are there in new orleans if they have been on any tours and take their advice. The van tour guide started the tour and then picked someone else up 20 min. into the tour. the tour was $40 pp. it lasted 4 hours. We only spent about 10 min. in the garden district and about 15 min. in the french quarter. the other 3hrs 35min. were spent on the outskirts of town listening to how water was pumped out of the city and looking at random inanimate objects the guide pointed out. It sounded like he was making things up as he went. I actually dozed off a few times. then when the tour guide told us mardi gras came from france, all of the tour guests looked at each other like "get me off this van now!" my advice would be to go on a couple of tours in one day. then spend your time walking through the city. taking the trolly to the garden district and exploring it yourself is great. There are a lot neat places to check out (jackson square) and the locals are more than happy to answer questions you have about different areas. As for food. We were only there for a couple of days so the only place we really had a sit down meal was at Pat O'brian's. It is a tourist trap but no trip to NO is complete W/O a stop here. Get a hurricane of course. Their menu is pretty basic pub grub but they have a muffullata(sp?) sandwich that is incredible. One sandwich will easily feed two people. Have Fun!!

kmart0087,

Just curious who was your small van tour with? I have reservations with Hidden Treasures for the Garden District and I read some very good reviews about Hidden Treasures.

I'm really not sure. I didn't book the tour and the van had no logo. But if the tour you have reserved is strictly the garden district then it probably isn't the same one I went on.