HELP with September trip to NO
 

What will the weather be like in September?
I am planning a surprise anniversary trip for me and my husband of 37 yrs. We are very young seniors.

Where can we hear good jazz? My husband is a jazz musician.

Which is better Cajun Cabin or Oliver's restaurant?
How is brunch at the Court of two Sisters?
Is the Natchez steamboat cruise worthwhile?

Is it safe to walk near Lafayette Square after dark? Planning to stay at the Lafayette Hotel on ST. Charles at that square.How is the hotel and are the rooms as nice as on their website? I am hoping to book a special with them that includes these restauarants and cruise plus a walking tour of the FQ and a carriage ride.


I love this site and always follow the advice given here and have never been disapppointed.

Thanks in advance for your help.
I

The beginning of September is very uncomfortable with high heat and high humidity. It is possible at the very end of the month to get the first cool front.
Good jazz is in the Marigny on Frenchmen St. There are lots of great clubs to choose from.
The Court of Two Sisters is a beautiful restaurant with not the best food, but definitely go for the atmosphere.
Never heard of Oliver's. Cajun Cabin is very touristy meaning overpriced since it's on Bourbon.
Lafayette Square is in the Central Business District, so it is desolate at night with poor lighting.
September usually has low hotel rates until first day of fall. Check into staying at the Royal Sonesta, ask for a room overlooking the Courtyard. You will be in the French Quarter, close to restaurants, in a great hotel and not have to worry about walking there at night.

Natchez steamboat ride is fun, but don't bother with the dinner cruise - there are plenty of better places to eat in New Orleans. Here's a website for a Good Times Guide that usually has a 2-1 coupon for the Natchez in it (along with other great deals). Have fun!

Cajun Cabin = Yuck. Ditto for Court of Two Sisters. And for the Natchez, as well, at least foodwise.

The Lafayette is in a weird area. As mentioned, somewhat dark at night and the park has lots of homeless at times. Just be on guard and you'll be fine. The hotel itself gets good reviews.

Hi Funjione!

We went two years ago mid-Sept for our twentieth anniversary. I guess we lucked out because the weather was fantastic! Warm, but not unbearable. Our favorite night was dinner at Marisol in their romantic courtyard, followed by fabulous jazz at the Spotted Cat down the street. Also, "tea" (with champagne of course! ) at the Windsor Court is lovely, along with their very elegant Sunday jazz brunch.

Congratulations and have fun!

I think you mean Olivier's instead of Oliver's--if so, Olivier's is very good Creole cuisine. It's not too upscale, but is certainly no dive. Located on Decatur Street near the House of Blues. Is there any particular reason why you're not staying in the Quarter? There are many lovely hotels such as the Royal Sonesta, as mentioned, the Bienville House, the Monteleone, etc. There might still be good summer rates then. Also be aware that Labor Day weekend is the time for the Southern Decadence party --a HUGE event that is very interesting. Do a search on it if curious.

I picked the Lafayette because of a nice package offered on"Fine Hotels of New Orleans". They have other hotels closer to the FQ but they don't look as nice as the Lafayette. Include Parc Royal, St.James, Chateau Dupre, French Market INN, the Pelham,and a few others. I read poor reports on the French Market so went with Lafayette but I am willing to change if the deals are as good or better. $498 for 2 includes 3 nights hotel, Oliviers for 2 dinners, Court of 2 sisters Brunch, walking tour and Carriage ride in the FQ,Cafe du Monde, discount book, champagne and Natchez River Jazz Cruise. PLEASE ADVISE ME. I don't want to be away from the Action or have to walk 30 minutes, but I want a safe, quiet area. THANKS !!

ttt

Well, I'm guessing you did not hear back because that seems like a pretty good package. I don't think you'll beat that price, but you are sacrificing location for it. Plus the fact that two dinners (x2 people), a brunch for two, and tours are included makes it pretty much unbeatable without a huge amount of research. Even bidding for travel has Priceline 4* FQ rooms going for around $100/night. The package is $500 for both of you, right?

If you still want to consider being closer to all the activity, maybe someone could post which hotels they'd recommend that are particularly safe and quiet but in the FQ. Then you can research the prices. Try doing a search for old posts on Fodors, so you can find out some of the hotels with good deals in the past.

We loved the Windsor Court, but it is not in the FQ, and although we got a pretty good discount, it was still pricey. It is about a 10-15 min walk to Cafe du Monde or in the other direction to the Riverwalk, and is across the street from the Casino. But is was very elegant, quiet, and plush.

Good luck! Maybe someone else has more tangible ideas. Congratulations again on your anniversary.

Was in NO in late March, the Natchez cruise is basically a infomercial. The food was very good. But as you board the boat they ask you to fill out a form for a prize. When it asked for yearly income, I became leary. So all persons in the $75000 and up won a prize. It was a coupon book and a free trip to several locations if you listen to their "buy our condos" speal. We said no thanks and gave away the coupn book. Best apart of the trip was we drove down to the bayous and took an airboat ride. Pricy at $75 per person for 2 hours but worth the $.

We went to the Court of the Two Sisters on a press pass and it wasn't even worth the deeply discounted price we paid. There are SO many better places in New Orleans. Atmosphere, yes, but the advertised musical entertainment was very brief and the food and service were awful.
Vera

Thanks for all your help. I still am not sure what to do. I have a room reserved at the Lafayette in case nothing better pops up. I am finding mixed revies on Court of two Sisters and great reviews on Oliviers the carriage ride and steamboat cruise without the meal. Thanks again Fodorites !!!

Funjione,

Since you are still debating...

If you can afford to stay closer to the FQ, I would do so. Although I am sure your hotel would be lovely, I think that for your first trip to NOLA, and such a special occasion, a little splurge might be in order if you can swing it. The upside is you won't have to pay for taxis! (We had a problem with public transportation there, and the trolley just pulled over and everyone had to get out and walk around 10+ blocks around midnight!) Plus, you'd then have the flexibility to just eat wherever you want, based on positive reviews.

If you stick with the package - enjoy it! At least you won't be running around trying to figure out all your own activities, restaurants, discounts...

This is just my opinion based on the way I like to explore a new place. Choose the plan that suits YOUR travel personality better. Maybe someone else has a better idea.

My husband and I have been going to NO annually for about 10 years and are also young seniors. Twice we stayed outside the quarter with good hotel deals but we will not do again. It is so much more convenient to stay in the quarter! Now we stay at the Iberville Suites which has a great location, 2 rooms in case one of us cannot sleep, and a full breakfast comes with the room. We have stayed there for the past 3 years. I would look for a hotel package in the quarter, rather than on St. Charles.

Yes, it will be very hot and humid in September, so bring very light clothing. The hotel rates are usually very reasonable then, due to the weather.

I use this site a lot before we go to find out about new restaurants. For a special occasion like your anniversary, do not miss dinner at Commander's Palace. We celebrated our 40th there and liked it so much, that we celebrated our 41st there too. You do need advance reservations there.

Have a great time-

The package might be a bargain, but if you don't want to stay in the area that they offer, and the restaurants aren't that great maybe it's not such a great package after all.

I agree that staying in the FQ is worth a few extra $. We like the Dauphine Orleans (1 block off Bourbon), Pretty, well appointed clean rooms. Quiet (ask for a room that does not face the street). Have always found it to be a good value. www.dauphineorleans.com

There are lots of good restaurants & tours to do sans package.

Have a great trip! NO is lots of fun.

I went to New Orleans last November. We got a good deal at the Omni New Orleans which was a great location, right in French Quarter off of Bourbon St, but quiet, really nice hotel (not like a "standard" Omni, this one is in a historical building with really nice architecture). Definitely eat at Commander's Palance - it will live up to all of the great reviews it gets. Best meal I ate down there. Also, go for Oyster Po Boys at ACME Oyster. Very good and an inexpensive meal. We went to Preservation Hall for traditional jazz music. Marigny has some night club jazz places - we liked Snug Harbor a lot and there are a few right next to each other in that area. Other must see's are the Garden District, obviously Jackson Square and wandering around the French Quarter. We also went on a tour of the plantations and did a swamp tour which was a great day. I really enjoyed New Orleans - a great mix of fun, architecture, AMAZING food, culture and history. You will really enjoy it...

just got back from NO yesterday, business, but stayed at the monteleone. rooms small but nice, bathrooms all just redone in almost all the rooms, staff very nice.

excellent location, a block from burbon, 10 minutes to the french market,

5+minutes to jackson sq. and cafe dumond (forgive all spelling) and, not usually found, a rooftop pool! good exercise room, on site spa.

Thanks so much for all your help. After rethinking your comments and my plans I have decided to change and stay at the Prince Conti in the French Quarter. Based on all the reviews, this fits in our budget and puts us in the center of it all. I chose Prince Conti first because of reviews here as well as Trip Advisor, neither of which has ever steered me wrong. Their price allows us to choose better restraurants and still do the cruise and carriage ride etc, and still will not be more than the package deal I had wanted. Thank you all. I do feel better staying in the French Quarter as that is where most of our activities will be and we can walk to all locations in safety. If anyone has any comments about Prince Conti please let me know so if I have to
change plans again, I can research it all AGAIN.

Thanks !!

OK. I need your help again.

Down to the Prince Conti hotel or its sister hotel the St. Marie. The basic difference that I see is the pool and courtyard at the St. Marie. Location wise, they are about the same.. Which is the better choice for September?

In September, I'd choose the place with the pool. I would plan to sightsee in the mornings, spend time in the pool during the heat of the day, and then go back out again when the sun is going down.

I like the Prince Conti and would stay there again. My only suggestion is that you ask about the type of room you will be getting. The room sizes vary quite a bit. Sometimes you can get a nice two-room junior suite for a small amount over a regular double.

I know the Ste. Marie by location and outside appearance, but have never been inside. If you are a pool lover, the pool might be worth it. I hope someone has been there lately and will offer some advice, because some hotels in this hotel family can be kinda poor--not to say the Ste. Marie is bad; I just don't know about it. Good luck.

THANKS !!
since we live in Florida, the pool is not essential, but I thought the pool and the courtyard might be nice for an afternoon drink, prior to napping so we can enjoy the nightlife. I called the reservation service and she was very helpful. She said the Prince Conti was renovated this past year and is more intimate than the St.Ann. Trip Advisor reviews put Prince Conti and # 19 in New Orleans and St. Marie at #34.
Between the reviews there and here, I think I will go with the Prince Conti unless I hear real negatives about it.

Thanks again for your great help. I cannot wait to go !

TTT

Snug Harbor and the Funky Butt are both good spots for jazz. SH is more upscale, FB a bit more bohemian. And Preservation Hall is always worth a trip.

Enjoy your trip. And happy anniversary. 37 yrs. Oh, my.

thanks for "Funky Butt" advice. I had not heard of it. We are going to Snug Harbor. What about Sweet Lorraines' on St Claude Ave.

Just had to chime in that we're going to Commander's for our 9 year anniversary in July - what better place to celebrate a special day!

We like Royal Sonesta as well. If it is really hot when you are there, you will appreciate being in the FQ where you can pop into your hotel easily.

We've only had the brunch at Court of 2 Sisters and thought it was pretty good.