NOLA French Quarter open all night and safe?
Feb 3rd, 2014, 07:06 PM
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http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Louisiana.html
I would call and be sure it is wheelchair accessible, the picture doesn't look too promising in that regard.
I found this "Access: Some of the streets in the French Quarter are curb-cut to accommodate wheelchairs; for instance, Decatur street is cut all the way from Canal to Esplanade but *only* on the riverside of the street, not the lakeside. Chartres, Royal and Bourbon are also curb-cut, but only in the "upper Quarter," from Canal to St. Ann. Also note that all throughout the Quarter the sidewalks are very uneven, with the cement poorly maintained and broken up, and in places where the sidewalk is cobblestones it can be particularly awkward even for those who walk unaided. A note of caution to all, especially those who use canes or walkers: watch your footing. The Riverfront Street Cars that travel between the Riverwalk Mall and the French Market are lift-equipped, but the historic St. Charles Streetcars are not. Local RTA buses are all wheelchair accessible, but most airport/hotel shuttle vans, and all taxi cabs in New Orleans, are not. If you use a wheelchair and need a taxi, make sure when you call (or have your concierge call) for one that you tell them to send a van. "
And:
Safety/security: You'll note that some places on this list are indicated as being in an unsafe area. In general, remember that New Orleans is exactly like Los Angeles, Detroit, New York or any other urban city with high unemployment and a depressed economy, and it's worse post-Katrina. You need to be heads-up at all times, and don't do anything silly that you wouldn't do at home. If you carry a map, take a moment before leaving your hotel to look at it and get a general idea about where you're heading. Standing on a street corner staring at a map, or having one hanging conspicuously out of a pocket or purse, marks you as a tourist and therefore a potential target for pickpockets. Don't wear a lot of expensive jewelry on the street. And unless it's Jazz Fest or Mardi Gras, don't wear beads. Stay out of dark alleys late at night, walk with the crowds on the streets in the Quarter, and be very aware of scams. A common trick is the "spill," in which one person (sometimes a child or young adult is used for this) gets close to you (or to a member of your party) and spills something, like a cold soda or an ice cream, on your clothes. Amid apologies and the bustle to help you clean yourself off, a confederate vanishes with a wallet extracted from someone's purse or pocket in the crush. Don't let yourself be distracted by anything and you'll do fine. I know New Orleans has a bad rep, and some of it is probably deserved, but I have been going there alone two or three times a year for over thirty years, and because I use a mix of common sense and caution, nothing has ever happened to me at all. (Well, I got stuck in an elevator once, but that's a story for another time and place). "
I would call and be sure it is wheelchair accessible, the picture doesn't look too promising in that regard.
I found this "Access: Some of the streets in the French Quarter are curb-cut to accommodate wheelchairs; for instance, Decatur street is cut all the way from Canal to Esplanade but *only* on the riverside of the street, not the lakeside. Chartres, Royal and Bourbon are also curb-cut, but only in the "upper Quarter," from Canal to St. Ann. Also note that all throughout the Quarter the sidewalks are very uneven, with the cement poorly maintained and broken up, and in places where the sidewalk is cobblestones it can be particularly awkward even for those who walk unaided. A note of caution to all, especially those who use canes or walkers: watch your footing. The Riverfront Street Cars that travel between the Riverwalk Mall and the French Market are lift-equipped, but the historic St. Charles Streetcars are not. Local RTA buses are all wheelchair accessible, but most airport/hotel shuttle vans, and all taxi cabs in New Orleans, are not. If you use a wheelchair and need a taxi, make sure when you call (or have your concierge call) for one that you tell them to send a van. "
And:
Safety/security: You'll note that some places on this list are indicated as being in an unsafe area. In general, remember that New Orleans is exactly like Los Angeles, Detroit, New York or any other urban city with high unemployment and a depressed economy, and it's worse post-Katrina. You need to be heads-up at all times, and don't do anything silly that you wouldn't do at home. If you carry a map, take a moment before leaving your hotel to look at it and get a general idea about where you're heading. Standing on a street corner staring at a map, or having one hanging conspicuously out of a pocket or purse, marks you as a tourist and therefore a potential target for pickpockets. Don't wear a lot of expensive jewelry on the street. And unless it's Jazz Fest or Mardi Gras, don't wear beads. Stay out of dark alleys late at night, walk with the crowds on the streets in the Quarter, and be very aware of scams. A common trick is the "spill," in which one person (sometimes a child or young adult is used for this) gets close to you (or to a member of your party) and spills something, like a cold soda or an ice cream, on your clothes. Amid apologies and the bustle to help you clean yourself off, a confederate vanishes with a wallet extracted from someone's purse or pocket in the crush. Don't let yourself be distracted by anything and you'll do fine. I know New Orleans has a bad rep, and some of it is probably deserved, but I have been going there alone two or three times a year for over thirty years, and because I use a mix of common sense and caution, nothing has ever happened to me at all. (Well, I got stuck in an elevator once, but that's a story for another time and place). "
