I am going to NO in July. Starting to hear bad things. If you park your car it may get stripped. Pickpockets are really bad. Is all this true. What is the best way to protect oneself?

This is just silly. Park your car in a secure lot. Watch your pockets like you would in any city. Geez. I've seen the same things posted about L.A., New York, Miami, etc.

Pickpockets? I suppose there must be some in New Orleans but I've been going there for 40 years and haven't run into one yet. And as the above poster mentions, just park your car in a secure lot and you'll be fine.

Just got back from NO last week. We didn't have a rental car (if you're staying in the French Quarter, you won't need one), so I don't know about that. However, we were even surprised at how we felt pretty safe the whole time. We never had any strangers approach us (except for a few beggars and a street performer or two) and never had anyone following us or anything. Just hold on to your purse or bags good and you should be fine. No need to panick though, we had a great time and never felt in danger. We did generally get back to the hotel by 9 or 10, so that probably helped. Have a good time.

I have been to N'awlins twice, and going back for a third time this summer. Never had any problems with above mentioned. There are of course some areas you should be cautious with and in, but my general rule of thumb is as folows, if you go looking for trouble you will find it!

My mother was *almost* pickpocketed in a very crowded area of the French Quarter. But she saw what was happening and the guy dropped the wallet and took off. I have been there twice and had no problems whatsoever. I love NO and would go back every year if I could.

Of course you should always keep your purse close to you in any crowded area, any city. But no American city I have been to can compare to the pickpocketing I have seen in European cities.

Closest I've come to losing my money involuntarily has been from guys who will walk up to you on Bourbon St. and ask, "Bet'cha I can guess where you got your shoes." You're supposed to wager with them on whether or not they can guess where you bought your shoes? Nope. If you fall for it (I didn't, had to ask around), they'll say, "You got your shoes on Bourbon St." As in, your shoes are on Bourbon St. Yuk yuk. Gimme five dolla, whatever.

Other than that and the mime that yelled at me for not throwing him some change when I took a picture of him, that's about it! You WILL be able to tell when you're venturing to the outskirts of the FQ though, just don't walk where you feel it's creepy!

We parked in the Brewery's paid parking lot & our car was damaged by kids with a baseball bat. It was about half way down the lot towards the parking shelter. You could see the shelter but it wasn't near it. It took about 2 hours for a cop to come for us to report the incident. Since this incident we have parked our car almost beside the shelter. We have been about 5 times since then so the incident didn't stop us at all!

Just as an aside, my boss was in NO moving his son back to Tallahassee, he was hit in the side by a lady running a red light on Canal St. He said it took 4 hours for a cop to come by even though they were only blocks away from the precinct. The ones that did come by weren't working accidents!!!!!

I am in New Orleans several times a year including Mardi Gras and Southern Decadence and I park my car on the street in the CBD or French Quarter. It has never been disturbed. I have never been mugged, pickpocketed or anything. I go out all night until the sun comes up and I have never had a problem. I wouldn't worry about it. There are some bad areas, and these are to be avoided and hopefully your hotel won't be in one of them. You do not want to be near I-10. I know there are several newer hotels near I-10 near Downtown but that is a creepy area. Also, to the east Chef Mentuer Hwy has some hotels and that area is not very safe. I always carry pepper spray with me just in case, I would advise any woman to do this.

You'll have the time of your life. I went not too long ago and had a blast. Just be a little bit more cautious about some things. I wound up in the hospital with stitches one night just ordering a beer from the bartender. An ex-girlfriend got jelous and socked me in the lip. So just be careful who you talk to. But, otherwise you will have fun. Make sure you go on the ghost tours and eat at Bubba's!!