Was just wondering if it is better to take some of the N.O. tours like through the Garden District, cemeteries, plantations etc. or can we save a little money and do them on our own? Would we miss out on things by doing this?...thanks again for anyones advice.

While in New Orleans, I took the GrayLine Tour of the Garden District and the Tours by Isabelle Plantation tour and can say that I'd highly recommend both. The tour guides were very informative and we were able to get far more from the tours than we would have ever learned on our own. It's also a more efficient way to see more of the city in less time, since there's no need to wait in lines at the plantations or need to read maps and use rental cars.

I think you can do the Garden District on your own with a good tour guide (many have walking tours of the Quarter & Garden District) and the streetcar.

The plantations are trickier because you need transportation to get there. A tour is recommended.

Cemetaries have a reputation of being fairly unsafe. I'm not sure it's the case anymore but I'll suggest being in a tour group for this as well. However, if you go to the Quarter-area cemetaries (the old ones!) at 10:30am, there are many tour groups already inside the gates!

We used either Fodor's or Frommer's tour guide book for some of our tours, but a guided one does give you more information. After we left I heard/read that the US Park Service does a free walking tour of the French Quarter. They are located near the Cafe du Monde.

Cathie, unless you want to ride a big
bus, I would definately recommend some
of the smaller tour companies like
Isabelle and Tour With Chris. There is
a lot to see in plantation country and
you would miss a lot of history if you
drove it yourself. For instance, on the
way to Houmas House or Oak Alley there
are other plantations privately owned
and lived in.
There are tons of walking cemetery
tours these days, mostly voo-doo and
ghost stories, mostly folklore and not
really authentic. Some people get a kick
out it. Bob Florence has a good one. Be
careful going to the cemeteries in the
back of the French Quarter. Layfette
Cemetery in the Garden District
(of Double Jeopardy fame) is
closed on Saturday afternoons and
Sunday for some reason (?),
so, that is not a good day for the
walking tour of the GD.
In any case, don't try to "save a
little money" by touring on your own.
Spend a little more and get lots more,
in my opinion.
Michael Brecker

Cathie
Take the tours! As in all the replys, it is so much easier to pay for the tours and have transportation and not worry about getting there.
If you are staying in the French Quarter I recommend you get up early one morn., and take a nice stroll through the wonderful streets before the crowd gets going. It was one of the nicest things I ever did. Head down to the market place and end your walking tour with a stop at Cafe Dumonde. Enjoy and Let the good times roll!

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I really enjoy this forum and appreciate all the help that everyone has given me in planning this trip.