Travel

Since I grew up not that far from New Orleans, I have gotten a lot of travel related questions regarding the “Big Easy” over the years.  So I will try to hit the highlights and if you have any further questions that I do not cover, feel free to contact me.

My best advice is leave the cell phone off, forget about work and enjoy yourself in NOLA.  Life is too short….

Where is the best area to stay?

Before I moved to NOLA in March 2010, I usually stayed in hotels in the Central Business District or the Warehouse District.  The hotels are usually a bit newer and cheaper and you can get a pretty good deal on the weekend unless there is a convention in town.  Click on the map below if you are not familiar with the area.

It is an easy walk to the French Quarter and there are cabs always waiting at most of the hotels.

Which Hotel is the best??

Well, this is certainly a question of your tastes and desires but just like any large city, there are a lot to choose from.  My stays were usually for JazzFest or some music related event, so I sought a place that was clean to crash for a few hours of sleep and had hot running water.

I have used Hotwire.com many times to find hotels in NOLA and other cities and if you have never used Hotwire before, here is a rundown on how it works:

• Pick the dates of your stay and area you would like the hotel to be located
• Hotwire will show you the prices for hotels with amenities and star ratings (without disclosing the names)
• You decide which, if any, you’d like to purchase (read this first)
• Once you agreed to purchase, the name and address of the hotel will be revealed

I have had some sweet deals over the years and never had an issue with the hotels.   I always pick the ones that were 3.5 stars or higher in quality.

If you would rather know what the hotel is before you hit the buy button, Orbitz is a good option that I have used in the past and have gotten great bargains.

If a Bed and Breakfast is your desire, then try here.  B&B’s are spread out all over the city and I have never stayed at any but heard good reviews.  If you need a 2nd opinion, I always use TripAdvisor.com.

Any other questions, feel free to contact me.

Best time of year to visit?

July through September can be a bit hot and humid but the rest of the year is usually quite nice.  If the weather is bad, find a place to have a drink.

Is it safe?

The easiest answer is “Exercise Common Sense“.  Or as a buddy of mine once told me “If you wouldn’t walk there in your own city, then don’t”. Enough said….

Do I need to rent a car?

If you are flying into NOLA, my answer is generally no if you are going to stay in the city.  The average price of a car rental is generally anywhere from $40-60/day depending on car type.

I have noticed in the past few years that taxes on rentals at the airport have gone up considerably.  So if you are searching for a car online, make sure you look at the taxes and fees.

Page 1 of 2 | Next page