Dh and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary this summer. We have two young children and every year, the week of our anniversary, the grandparents pitch in & watch the kids for a few days so we can take a mini-vacation.

I used to live in New Orleans & love it - dh & I have been there together several times, most recently last July for our 9 year anniversary. Anyway, we had planned on going somewhere new this year but after the hardship New Orleans has experienced, we've been thinking we'd like to go back there. Even though we would be vacationing rather than volunteering, I figure the money we spend there on dinners, tips, cab rides, etc can only help.

Recently some friends/family have discouraged us from going to New Orleans. Saying it would be depressing and we won't really be helping those there that need it with out visit, so we might as well go somewhere new. I want this to be a happy celebratory trip since it is a special occasion. Any thoughts or feedback?

Quite the contrary, by vacationing in the city, you are helping to revive the NOLA we all know & love. We were scheduled to go last December & are now waiting to visit this Fall. The city is so dependent on tourists $$$, you are exactly what they need.

PLEASE - go to New Orleans! The city is magical and your visit (and $$$$) will be most welcome! The city has always been heavily dependent on tourists - and even more so now.

Go and enjoy!

Please come to New Orleans. All of the tourist related businesses are struggling and need you to come back. You can choose to see the devastated areas or you can stick you the French Quarter or Garden District or anywhere else. We would love to have you.

The advice they gave you might have been true 8 months ago, but not now. Our family and friends just celebrated a college graduation in New Orleans for a very special child. It was one of the most wonderful and magical nights I've ever spent in the city (Uptown and CBD). Go and have fun! You will get out of it as much, or as little, as you want to! And snowrooster, I know we can count on a travel report when you get back home. ;-)

Just curious where you plan on staying. I understand not all hotels have re-opened. Is this true?

Many of the hotels in the CBD, where I work, are re-openend. If you don't want to deal with the Hurricane debris, you could confine your stay to the FQ and the CBD and you wouldn't know that there was a hurricane.

We always stay at Royal Sonesta. It is a gem a tranquility in the heart of the city.

BayouGal - I believe you mentioned in another thread you saw some good rates for Royal Sonesta. I checked their website and the rates are same as always for July - I was wondering where you saw the discounted rates? I know we can probably get a good deal if we wait until the last minute, but it is the only place we want to stay and I would to get shut out if a convention should come to town & fill it up!

Only a few hotels (Hyatt, Ritz and Fairmont) are still closed. The vast majority have been opened since soon after the storm. As has been discussed already, most of the tourist-friendly parts of the city are A-OK and construction is finally getting into high gear in some of the other parts.

Wow, snowrooster, I believe that was in early spring when I was checking rates for friends and family coming in for a college graduation. With tourists returning to NO, I don't know if they'll offer those rates again anytime soon. Sorry!

Oops, forgot to mention that the rates were on their website.

snowrooster: Our usual hotel (Inn on Bourbon) has dropped their rates for September, when we want to visit, by almost $100 a night since we started checking them earlier this year. I'd suggest you keep watching and calling your hotel of choice to see if they have any discounts or promotions you'd be eligible for.

Well I bought the tickets yesterday so we are definitely going!!!

I did find discounted rates for Royal Sonesta on expedia averaging $111/night which is less than what the hotel is offering through their website so we'll probably do that. When we've stayed there before, they have always given us a free upgrade to a room with a walkout to the courtyard balcony (I don't think they are usually booked full in July even pre-Katrina). I'm just crossing my fingers we'll get it this time as well. Do you think hotels are less likely to give upgrades to people who book through other travel sites (like expedia) versus directly through the hotel?

Watch out folks, I'll be posting plenty of New Orleans questions in the weeks to come!!

Snowrooster, I'd definitely ask for any kind of coupons, discounts, upgrades, etc. N.O. needs tourism dollars and since this is the summer of good deals, persistance should pay off.

We love the Royal Sonesta . . . try to get a balcony over Bourbon. Such fun, and not nearly as noisy as one might expect, especially if you are out most of the evening enjoying the nightlife yourself. ;-)

snowrooster:

Check this website for the Royal Sonesta. You may be able to get the rooms even cheaper than Expedia and still work on getting an upgrade.

http://www.sonesta.com/neworleans_ro...sp?PageID=1009

ccolor - You are AWESOME!! That is a great rate - I'm going to call today and book it!!!! When I visited their website previously I just clicked on the reservations link and these rates did not come up! WooHoo - thanks a bundle!!

Wow, ccolor, those were the special rates when things were first opening back up! What a great deal for summer travel. Good job!

Snowrooster, don't forget to pick up a Gambit when you get here! For anyone traveling to N.O., this free magazine includes all events, bands, etc, scheduled for that week around town.

snowrooster and BayouGal:

Awwww, shucks you two - you're making me blush...

Anyway BayouGal, I'll be in town in September - where can I pick up a Gambit? Thanks!

They're usually in the hotel lobby and entrances to restaurants. If not, ask. Everyone knows about the Gambit around here.

Enjoy your trip to the Big Easy! Sept is a great month to visit (with last year being the rare exception!). We'll be visiting Wyoming and Montana during Sept. Great country we live in . . . you can see and do it all here!