I'm thinking of staying in a guest house hotel that's a good 2.5 miles away from the French quarter at 4000 or so Canal Street. What's Canal Street like once you get out of the centre?

Rule of thumb: .38 caliber minimum past the 900 block.

You're scaring me. We are going to N.O. for 3 days in December. Do we need to be armed? (just kidding)

I made the mistake of staying at the Radisson at 1500 Canal. Definately needed to cab it to the Quarter as the only other option would have been a lovely nighttime stroll through the Storyville Housing Projects.

I don't even like to drive on that part of Canal. Forget staying there.

The 4000 block of Canal is far from the Quarter and is a totally different neighborhood. As long as you don't try to walk it it may be okay. I don't know the exact location of your guest house but the address sounds like the Carrollton-Canal area, which is okay. Not great, but okay. (If the rate is cheap but cabs aren't, you may still do better finding a higher-priced room near the French Quarter!)

Bea...shame on you with your advice on a .38 cal!

You know darn well that you need a minimum of a 9mm with hollow points!

This area is in an area that is slowly renewing, during the day is is airly safe, but at night, I would not walk from there to th equarter without my Glock in one hand and Uzi in the other!

You an grab a cab for 4 bucks to the quarter which is about 6 blocks away, but the hotel is surprisingly nice, and I think they are looking at the long term.

Considering we had 5 murders this past Saturday, don't walk in areas outside of the Quarter.

Of your town's 5 murders, Dave, how many involved tourists? I'm guessing zero, if New Orleans is like most other places. In Miami, our murders are nearly all drug-related crimes and fights between male teens.

Sorry to get off track, Martin.

The 4000 block of Canal is more like 20-30 blocks from the French Quarter. Certainly not six!

The point was, don't go into areas you are not familiar with.

If you are from here you will know that there have been plenty of innocent victims of crime this past year, and you are wrong with your comparison to Miami. CHeck out the crime stats Miami is WAY down the list, and New Orleans is # 1 in the nation.

THis SHOULD NOT scare anyone from coming, as all the tourist areas are heavily patroled, and are quite safe. Even the area where the Radison is well lit and not too bad. The poit again is don't walk in areas that are obviously troublesome, adn that would include about a 5 block area between the hotel and the quarter.

THis is what I was referring to as being about 5 blocks away, not to the 4000 block!

Dave, New Orleans is NOT #1 in the nation. Check your stats again!! If you find something that suggests this, please give us the source.

If you want a comparison of the two cities, by the way, check out the link: http://www.bestplaces.net/html/crime...ty=9000&view=T

Ok, I'm sorry I ever brought this up, lets not turn this into a crime forum.

The link above however speaks for itself. It has been a very bad year here in New Orleans, but the new Chief and new DA are on the fastrack to improve things. ALready NO has surpased last years murders for the entire year. The 2001 stats had put NO #1 in the nation for murders/capita. Only SanJuan PR beat New Orleans. A lot of the crime has been related to a increasing heroin problem, which spills over to people robbing for the cash to support the habit.

As a tourist you will be fine, so come on down and have a great time, and just stay out of bad areas.

Dave

I'm going to NO in late March, and it seems that everything I've read either online or off always has some mention of crime in NO. I have to admit that I'm beginning to think twice about going and am considering another destination at this point.

Here's what I would like to know. I'm staying in a hotel in the FQ. I understand this is safe. That's cool. I would like to spend some time outside of the FQ and not necessarily on a tour bus. I had planned on taking some walking tours of the Garden District, as well as over by the universities. I will have my mother with me. (I've been trying to hide much of the mention of crime from her, but she is a little skiddish at the moment)

I live in So California and go to LA frequently, so I'm not exactly a stranger to the big city. Can NO be that much worse than LA? I know that within every city there are the places tourists shouldn't go, and I would intend on following that advice in NO. But from what I keep reading on these forums, I'm beginning to think the Big Easy is a battle zone.

Can anyone truly set the record straight? Is NO any worse than any other large city? And would it be safe to walk outside the FQ along routes designated within tourbooks as being safe? Or should I simply do the tour bus route? (Really hate that option and would rather avoid, if possible)

Thank you!

Michele, as has been stated before, the vast majority of crime in New Orleans occurs far away from where any tourist would ever be. (Just as in L.A., I'd guess). You certainly need to be aware of surroundings but I think you'll find New Orleans to be much safer and nicer than some naysayers would have you believe.

Dave,
Thanks for responding. I suppose I'm taking some of the joking a little too seriously and just need to lighten up and enjoy.

Thanks, again.

We've been to NOLA 6-7 times and have never had a problem. It's like Wash DC, stay in the tourist/most frequented areas and you shouldn't have a problem.

But it never hurts to always be aware of your surroundings. Especially if you've had a bit too much of the good times and it may be a bit "noticeable".
Kal

I've lived here for over 30 yrs and have never been a crime victim. Thats not to say New Orleans is Salt Lake City by any means lol there certainly is crime here, but from I've seen its typically not tourists who are at risks, but there are exceptions. Certain cemetaries should be avoided unless you're with a guide. I would suggest you avoid Rampart street and stick to the more well travelled streets in the quarter after dark. Bourbon, Decatur, Chartres st.

I went to law school in N.O. and one word of advice -- be careful and aware of your surroundings. The areas of the French Quarter that are densely populated are fine to be in. If you turn down a street and it's deserted, go back. There are areas of the French Quarter that you need to be careful in. The Garden District should be fine and around Tulane is fine.

As to the original poster's question, NO WAY. Don't stay in that part of Canal.

We will be in N.O. mid-December. We have two nights at the Hyatt by the SuperDome. I understand they have a free shuttle to the FQ. Is that close to the canal street area that you are referring to? Is it safe to walk to the French Quarter from the hotel? We are from S.F. and walking is not a problem for us. Thanks.