These three websites offer vistitor guides with discount coupons and tons of good information. Besides, when you know you're going to New Orleans, half the fun is collecting "goodies" about the place, reading and dreaming about how much fun you're going to have. Enjoy!

http://www.neworleansonline.com/guide/gtg/

http://www.neworleanscvb.com/new_sit...visrequest.cfm

http://www.louisianatravel.com/cfm/travelkit.cfm

wolflady26,

I just returned from NOLA today. What a shame!!! I could stay there forever. We drove down for the first time, just to save a little money (We usually fly--not our first trip to NOLA). It was really an easy drive, but you don't want to drive around the Quarter. If you drive, park the car when you get there and don't move it till you leave. Note that you will have to pay to park, almost at every hotel. We spent about $100 to drive as opposed to about $400 to fly. That's $300 more dollars to eat!!! I would highly recommend Commander's Palace for your honeymoon. My husband and I went there this year in December for our 25th anniversary. It was great. I would also like to recommend Maximo's on Decatur Street. It is an Italian restaurant and I have never been disappointed. It is kind of cool and quirky, and the food is great with great Italian wines at a good price.

Hope you have a great time in my favorite city in the whole world.

My husband and I just returned from NO. We stayed at the Omni Royal Orleans. It was wonderful. I'm not sure how much you are looking to spend, but check hotels.com for prices. We used a travel guide called The Irreverent Guide to New Orleans. It had lots of "matter of fact" information. We picked it up at Barnes and Noble. Have fun and Congratulations!!!

Hi Wolflady!

I live across the lake from New Orleans (about an hour from the city). You will have plenty to do and see in a week. I probably would not recommend renting a car for a week. Maybe a day if you really want to go and see plantation homes along the river. Check with your hotel and see if anyone does tours in the area and would pick you up from your hotel or nearby.

Can't place the Cotton Exchange. I'm pretty sure the Quality Inn is not truly in the French Quarter. If I was going to stay in New Orleans without a car, I would want to be IN the French Quarter. I'm sure it will be more expensive. The hotels on St. Charles I'm sure are beautiful. But if you plan on walking through the Quarter at night and then walking back to your hotel, I would not want to be on St. Charles Street. It's too far away. Sorry, can't help you with the others!

I have listed a few of my favorite spots!

One of my favorite things to do for a history buff would be to visit the D-Day Museum. If you are a college student and bring your ID, I think the admission is free. You may want to check on that for certain. You could catch a bus or taxi over or maybe walk, depending on your hotel location. In that same area they have several hand blown glass gallaries. Some that you can go in and observe the experts doing their thing.

Also, it is the bicentenial of the LA Purchase. The New Orleans Museum of Art has a Louisiana Purchase Exhibit that is supposed to be wonderful. I plan to go this summer. Again, check that website for more information. You can buy tickets for that in advance. You would need to take a taxi for that trip if you are not interested in renting a car.

The Aquarium of the Americas and the Audobon zoo are both fantastic. The aquarium is nice for those unpredictable afternoon rain showers and air conditioned! They even offer a combination ticket where you take a riverboat cruise to the zoo for a while. Reboard and head back to the Aquarium. Check the Audobon Institute website for more info.


Enjoy your trip!
I hope you enjoy your trip!

Welcome! I'm sure that you'll have a fabulous time in New Orleans, I've been there several times and I think that it's truly one of the country's gems. They also offer an incredible selection of just fantastic hotels that really abide by the whole southern hospitality standard of living.

If you're still not set on where you want to go, I suggest you check out Orbitz...they run some pretty good deals pretty frequently on both flights and hotels. If I were you, I'd maybe hit up a beach in South Carolina and then head to New Orleans...Bilouxi Mississippi is also a great place for a nice beach, it's right on the Gulf of Mexico.

Just remember that you can be thrifty and live it up all at the same time

good luck!

I was in N.O. last year at the end of June. It was HOT!! (And I have lived in South Florida all my life) However, I can't wait to return. We stayed at a boutique hotel right on the streetcar route, called Royal St. Charles. Free continental breakfast. One block from the French Quarter and close to the Business District. Rooms are around $75-$80. Check out Orbitz & Expedia for good rates. If you stay in the French Quarter, the mentioned hotels all looked good. Go with what you can afford. The nice thing about the Royal St. Charles was that it was close to everything.... FQ, River, Casino, etc. If you want the best Po Boy in N.O., go to Mother's in the Business District. My Mom grew up in The Garden District and my brothers and I took her back home last year. We searched for the foods she remembered from her youth and Mother's won, hands down. Nothing fancy, not cheap, bur mmmm mmmm goooood. The food prices can break you, but there is alway Krystal's on Bourbon Street for a midnight snack (as far as safety, my brothers sent me, the younger sister, to get hamburgers at 10pm -- Mom even approved). I wouldn't walk down certain streets alone, day or night, but I have a sixth sense for safety and am always aware of my surroundings.
If you drive, I'd go to Savannah and/or Charleston instead of Atlanta. Much more "southern charm".
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best in your life together.