First trip to New Orleans
 

We are planning first trip to NO end of March. Would like to stay in French Quarter but not break the bank-just soak up some atmosphere. It's just my husband and I. We want to see the gardens and eat the wonderful food. ANY suggestions as to a B and B or small hotel would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

New Orleans is wonderful! Have lots of fun. Chateau Motor Hotel is inexpensive. Le Richeleu and Hotel Provincial are nice and are some of the lower priced lodgings in the Quarter. There are a few B&B type places in the Quarter but I have never stayed at any of them. The Quarter is a blast-The Jackson Square area is nice- Bourbon St is a waste of time. If you have time go uptown-the trolley ride is a great way to do that.

We stayed at Le Richeleu last summer. It was very nice and we will stay there again. We could walk anywhere and it had secure parking lot. We took a cajun cooking class which was alot of fun. We also went on a swamp tour and saw all kinds of alligators and wildlife. We enjoyed it. Have fun!

I was in New Orleans 2 years ago for the Mardi Gras, and loved the city so much, I plan to return in June. I hope your plans aren't for anytime before June if you wish to travel inexpensively. All of April and May are booked up with conventions, so you're looking at about $150 per night in the quarter. The first part of June is looking pretty clear, but still expect to pay anywhere from $75 and up. The Inn on Bourbon Street is great - friendly staff, and an excellent location. I would also recommend the Cornstalk Hotel...true New Orleans style. If you decide to take in some night life, don't miss "The Cat's Meow" - it's a kareoke bar, and a great time is assured. Also recommended is "Pat O' Reilly's". More sights to see - "The Audobon Zoo", "Aquarium of the Americas", and if you're a shopping nut like me, be sure to take the St. Charles Streetcar to Magazine Street - great shops and bargains. New Orleans is my second favorite city - Calgary, Alberta, my home, is my favorite. Take Care, and I hope you love the city as much as I.

Don't really want to give away a good secret, but.. the Dauphine Orleans is agreat place, ask for room across the street from main building. we have stayed there several times, and at several other french quarter hotels. this one is the least expensive of hotels we have stayed and comes with a nice breakfast in a beautiful sun room. we have also liked the monteleone, but it is a "big hotel" atmospehre , Dauphine is much more quaint! Both have a lot of charm. HAVE FUN!

A lot of good info is available about N.O. at:
http://www.nas.com/~westg/BizOp/Tyler.html

CORRECTION! CORRECTION! Sorry I gave the wrong email above.
I should have written:
http://www.bizport.com/neworleans/la.../la_hotel.html

CORRECTION! CORRECTION! Sorry I gave the wrong email above.
I should have written:
http://www.bizport.com/neworleans/la.../la_hotel.html

Touristy but worth a visit: Cafe Du Monde on the waterfront. Crowded, busy but great coffee and bagnettes(light fluffy doughnut type delicacies coated in powdered sugar) for breakfast, yum! They have great gift ideas as well, particularly the canvas bag filled with all sorts of goodies including chicory roasted coffee.

Good to hear your going for the food-that's the best part! A don't miss is the Commander's Palace in the Garden district-take the trolley ride in, it's a beatiful ride. Reservations a must and it is pricey, but worth it! Have the bread pudding with whiskey sauce-it's to die for. If your a seafood lover, most of the restaurants prepare it wonderfully. As someone else mentioned, don't miss bagnettes and chicory coffee for breakfast one day! Just a little warning-some areas of N.O. are a bit shady and you do need to be careful. The cemetary by the Commander's Palace is potentially one of them. I didn't have a problem when I was there, but I was warned. Except for that, the people are wonderfully friendly and helpful. Have fun ya all!

Message: In New Orleans, I stay at Soniat House, one of the most utterly romantic hotels anywhere in the world. It's in the
quarter (as is the Bourbon Orleans) and you can check it out at this URL: http://www.soniathouse.com/ The Windsor Court is
a splendid hotel but has one drawback -- it's not in the quarter and, in New Orleans, you really don't want to stay anywhere
else. If, however, I were to travel there on business, I'd definitely stay at the Windsor Court. The NUMBER ONE BEST
THING TO DO IN NEW ORLEANS: Go to the Camelia Grill and have a coffee freeze at the counter. This is a New
Orleans institution. Camelia Grill is at 626 South Carrollton, just after St. Charles Ave. turns into Carrollton in the area known
as Uptown, sort of near Tulane University. Another must-do: have cafe au lait and begniets at Cafe Du Monde near Jackson
Square in the Quarter. Go early in the a.m. or late at night to catch locals in their native habitat. Other fun tours: plan to take a
cemetery tour, fascinating! And, the gardens and plantation house at Longue Vue are both gorgeous and interesting. Good
intro to New Orleans: http://www.tiac.net/users/naughti1/travels.htm Galatoire's is my fave restaurant in the city although it's
preferable to dine there early because they don't take reservations and the line can be long between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Check
out Galatoire's at this URL: http://www.nola-market.com/business/...rt/galano.html Other great places to eat: NOLA,
Emerils, Bayonna. Commander's Palace for Sunday Brunch is a must but I wouldn't dine there. Best bar in the Quarter is the
Napoleon House.

Unfortunately, Soniat House (which IS wonderful) and Windsor Court are in the bank-breaking categories! Le Richelieu, mentioned above, IS very nice tho and more reasonable. It's a block away from Soniat House and at a quiet end of the Quarter, so you can walk to everything, but not have all the street noise and hub bub of some other places. For a good lunch and TONS of local flavor, hit the Acme Oyster House for lunch. Magazine Street, as mentioned for shopping (antiques and other fun shops...) and while there, another local spot Joey K's for lunch -- the BEST onion rings ever! Mulates, to watch (or join) the Cajun dancing -- great, great fun!!!

Just got back from NO! We LOVE it there! Do check out www.neworleans.com/ They have some great internet bargains. In Dec. we stayed at Le Meridian in a beautiful $300.00 a nite room for only $99 a nite, with an internet coupon! This last time, we stayed at a lovely little place called the Queen & Crescent Hotel. I just checked and they have a special going on for $59-$89 a nite!! A good deal. It's just 2 blocks off of Canal St.(where the french quarter begins) For a little more, $120 & up, Le Richlieu is always lovely, but usually full.---Do you like music? Then do take an evenings stroll thru Bourbon St. (Not during Mardi Gras!! That's not a stroll, that's more like drunken wrestling) All the little bars have live music. Stop and listen from the street. If you like it, go in and buy 1 watered down drink and nurse it thru the set. The music is wonderful and people watching is fun! ---Then there is the food! Ahhh, the FOOD! The ACME OYSTER BAR has the best oyster po-boys on the planet! And the gumbo -poopa is fabulous (gumbo served in a small bread bowl, over rice) For some campy fun, try Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville! They are one of thr few places that have live music in the daytime. Check out their website! They even post their menu. The Red Fish Grill is a lovely and wonderful place to have a late diner. ---The people of New Orleans are freindly and glad to give you directions and their eating favorites! ---Do splurge the $40 for a private donkey cart tour of the quarter! The guides are great and very knowledgable about their city. Ask all the questions you'd like. They are even more informative than the best conceirge! ---Most importantly, relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Let the informal, let-your-hair down, cajun flavor of New Orleans entice you, relax you,& entertain you! I hope you have a wonderful time and fall in love with New Orleans!

Well I tried the New Orleans website and was unable to get even ONE of almost two dozen advertised specials. The whole experience was rediculous as far as the ads went, HOWEVER, turbotrip did have some fabulous rates.<BR><BR>The Inn on Bourbon St. (which I have heard mixed reviews on, but more good than bad) does have a coupon on the Louisiana Tourism site, stay 2 nights get the third free (good til May 15). And it was in fact the best rate we could find with a pool, which is a necessity to us. We may hate it ;) but so far we can't find anything that looks any better for 7 of us the first week of april.

A good diversion from the FQ/Garden District aspects of NOLA is to take in the aquarium. It's very well-done and worth a look. Two small FQ hotels we've used are Hotel St. Helene on Chartres and St Ann/Marie Antoinette Hotel on Conti. You should be able to research both properties on the Web.

Why would someone dredge up a thread from 1998?!?!?

To get a coupon?

Lori,<BR>What website did you find the deal for Inn on Bourbon St. on? Also, which Inn? The Best Western Inn on Bourbon St or the Ramada Inn on Bourbon St.??<BR><BR>thanks,<BR>tiffany

Tiffany, I went looking for that coupon and found it, although I cannot remember the address. What I did was search for the official travel Louisiana site and then searched that site under coupons or reservations. There were a few others listed for hotels in the area as well. Also the Inn on Bourbon used to be a Best Western and is now a Ramada if I remeber correctly.<BR><BR>Good luck and have fun!<BR><BR>Chazz

If you reserve a room in the quarter be sure not to get a room facing Bourbon St if you don't won't to be bothered by the noise. Soniat House (romantic)and Windsor Court (not small,not in the quarter) are both awsome but pricy. The Provincial is also a very nice smaller establishment. Iwas told you often have to make reservations well in advance for it by friends and have never been able to get reservations there myself. It is more in line with what you seem to be looking for. The Queen and Crescent (someone else mentioned)is nice and quiet. It is across Canal street several blocks from the quarter. We've stayed there for Jazz Fest a few times. Their restaurant Cuvee's is awesome. It is small and dimly lit. The service and food is excellant. Mother's, nearby (local favorite)is a fun place for breakfast. You have to wait in line to get in (like Galitoires, local favorite) if you don't get there early. They are known for their ham. Also for breakfast The Gumbo Shop...great eggs sardou. For evening you may want to try Christians (also local favorite). You will have to take a cab there. The restaurant is in an old pink or peach painted wood building that was once a church. It still has the stain glass windows. If you are feeling adventurous try Lucky Chens. The serving staff is mostly transvestites who are very entertaining. They dress mainly in evening attire and every so often strut their stuff down the center aisle of the dining room to music. Your husband may get pinched on the butt. Pat O'Briens piano bar is always fun. I also recommend a carriage ride, trolley ride (the homes on St. Charles are magnificent) shopping on Magazine Street, Coffee at Cafe Du Monde, exploring the flea market, a ride on one of the riverboats or take a trip across the river and back on the ferry by the Riverwalk. Everyone should consider having breakfast at Brennans once if just to have the banana's foster. Court of Two Sisters has a wonderful brunch buffet. Everything from standard breakfast fare to meat and vegetables, boiled shrimp, desserts and ice cream with a wonderful pecan praline sauce. The Audubon Zoo was nice the last time I visited it there and there is a botanical garden near. Most of the rooms in hotels are small. If you don't find something in the quarter look for something a few blocks on the other side of Canal Street. If you and your husband enjoy walking you won't mind the location. If you are too tired to walk back to your hotel you can always use some of the money you saved to take a cab. Be sure to make reservations in advance for any place you want to go for dinner. Enjoy your visit.

We stayed at Le Meridien and it was Wonderful! Close to everything. Must get to Cafe Du Monde and another great restaurant we loved was Court of Two Sisters. Eat outside in the courtyard if you can (weather). So Romantic! Did the tour of cemetery w/ a group - not alone. Was very interesting. Also did tour of old homes and went inside - they are so quaint. Have fun!

You might want to check out the rates at www.hotels.com. The prices are great, and they are also running a special where they refund you up to $100 for booking through them, depending on how long you stay. For my week-long vacation, I should get a $30 discount, which brings the rates into the super-reasonable level.