03-29-2012
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#1 (permalink) |
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aņejo
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 8,090
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Last year Nashville, this year New Orleans!
I think Steve and I are going to plan a long weekend trip to NOLA in May, probably Memorial Day weekend.
 We've never been there, so any tips.... what to do, where to go, etc.? Tappy, don't you live in NOLA??I will probably try to bid for a room using Priceline.....if I'm successful, it will save a ton of money since airfare is a little high. The Marriott in the FQ is winning a lot of bids and looks decent. |
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03-29-2012
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#2 (permalink) |
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aņejo
 Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 25,637
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We stayed at Place D'Armes. Great location and awesome rates.
Place D'Armes : New Orleans, Louisiana : French Quarter Love love love New Orleans. Food is amazing. Street musicians are fantastic. Such a happy place to visit. We'll be going back. |
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03-29-2012
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#3 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Far North Dallas
Posts: 3,211
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03-29-2012
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#4 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 25,637
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Quote:
Hey, Mercy. You need to go on that big party bus and report back to me. boom boom boom......hurricane....boom boom. I want to do that next time we go. |
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03-30-2012
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#6 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 21,154
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Quote:
What is so nice about NOLA is you dont have to make plans, it is a nice walk around city. Spend the day in the french quarter just taking it all in. I always like to get a "drink to go" and ride the Trolley all the way down to the zoo and back. I have heard the riverboat cruise is nice and of course do a horse and buggy tour. Come hungry ! Check the NOLA website and see who is playing in town that weeked...you may be able to see some great concerts in small venues around town. Last edited by TAPPY; 03-30-2012 at 06:07 AM.. |
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03-30-2012
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#7 (permalink) | |
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party machine
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul
Posts: 3,569
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Quote:
I've stayed at close to 25 hotels in New Orleans (mostly during Mardi Gras), including the previously mentioned Place de Armes, which has a distinct NOLA flavor right in the heart of the French Quarter. My favorite hotel has always been the Hotel Saint Marie (formerly Marie Antoinette Hotel) on Toulouse, about a half block from Bourbon Street. In about 3 weeks, I'll be heading to New Orleans for the Jazz Festival (first weekend) with some lady friends who have never been to the crescent city. Unfortunately, they had already booked a hotel that appears quaint on the internet but is rather rough in reality. Luckily, we'll only be there for a long weekend!! If you do a search here... you'll find several threads with recommendations by myself and others. One great thing about New Orleans is that it really doesn't change much and always seems to have a mystical magical charm about it. Jimmy |
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03-30-2012
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#9 (permalink) | |||
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aņejo
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 8,090
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Quote:
 boom boom!Quote:
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If we had thought of this sooner Steve said he would really have liked to go to the NO Jazz Festival, but I did some checking and everything is sky high in price for that now. But since this will be our first time there, I'm sure we will find plenty to do and see!! I love going to new places!! What about tours, are there any tours that are worth doing? If anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know. |
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03-30-2012
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#10 (permalink) | |
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party machine
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul
Posts: 3,569
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Through Priceline, I've landed a number of excellent properties in the French Quarter and CBD (Central Business District). Kind of got lucky getting the Omni Royal Orleans during Mardi Gras season for $75, so you really never know.
Like Mardi Gras, room prices are mostly sky high for the Jazz Festival. I've showed up without reservations on several occasions and got some incredible deals but it often meant moving every couple of days. I enjoy the adventure of the unknown and it gives me a chance to sample... certainly not something most people would be willing to try. As for Jazz Fest, it's not really that great of an event. It's just another big concert that's held out at the Fair Grounds but it does fill up Bourbon Street at night, although it's not nearly as packed as Mardi Gras. If you want to experience New Orleans at it's best, try the French Quarter Festival which is held in mid-April. Otherwise May would be nice or sometime in the fall. I'd avoid New Orleans in the summer... too hot and stinky. As for tours, you'd probably like the historical walking tours, the ghost tours or the cemetary tours but I think you'll do best on your own if you're an explorer. I'll try to dig up an old NO thread and link it here tomorrow. Jimmy Quote:
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03-31-2012
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#12 (permalink) |
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party machine
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul
Posts: 3,569
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This thread has lots of good comments and recommendations for New Orleans.
Even though it's a few years old the information is still relatively current... Click Here |
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03-31-2012
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#13 (permalink) |
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aņejo
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: on an island in the sea.....
Posts: 7,993
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We LOVE New Orleans- we'll definitely be going back someday
 Don't worry about missing Jazz Fest- there's great music to be found any given day of the week We would wander around at night (and during the day) until something caught our ear. Fantastic street musicians, as well- we were serenaded by a wonderful brass band while eating beneigts at Cafe du Monde one evening It's great advice to come hungry- we ate our way across the city! Another piece of advice- if you guys aren't monster eaters normally, I'd recommend splitting food sometimes (rather than ordering 2 entrees). We did that most of the time, which meant we got to try more places If you're looking to save a few bucks, there are some great mid-week (and some weekend) lunch deals at excellent restaurants across the city- chowhound is a good resource for that. Also, if you're into nature at all- we rented a car for a day and drove out to the Barataria National Park to hike around in the morning, and did a swamp tour in the afternoon. There was a coupon in the NO guide book for $10 off the tour, I believe (you can pick one up at the Visitor's Center in the FQ). Really, really fun day for a couple of nature-lovers like us I think I posted pictures of that day on here somewhere....I'll have to go look for them. Have fun planning- you guys will have a great trip!!
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03-31-2012
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#14 (permalink) | |
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aņejo
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MD
Posts: 8,090
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Quote:
Thanks Buggirl for your info too!! I can't wait! |
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04-02-2012
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#15 (permalink) |
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life=playa
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Southern Alabama
Posts: 735
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Bourbon Street is a nice place to slam some drinks, but once you've seen it once you've seen it, except for special events (Mardi Gras, Sugar Bowl, BCS). So much more to see. Beer drinkers, you have 3 x 1 at the Cat's Meow every day, from app. noon till 7 or 8 p.m. FUN karaoke place, you'll see all types, it's on Bourbon. Across the street and down a few yards check out Pat O' Briens, it's a 'deueling piano bar' and lots of fun as well. Go ahead and get the Hurricane there, you'll curs--, I mean thank me the next day.
The glass makes a nice souvenier. I agree w/ Tappy, take the Trolley down St. Charles Ave, beautiful mansions from antebellum area here. Buy the DAY PASS, only $3.00 and you get unlimited off-and-ons the trolley until 2:00 a.m. (They also sell a 7 day pass, not sure about a 3 day). One of our favorite places to eat, the Trolley Stop Cafe, most food in the Garden District you will find to be less expensive than in the Quarter, this place is very reasonable and big portions. Also check out Camellia Grill at the end of St. Charles. Diner food, but like stepping back in time, the way the employees dress, the food, great hamburgers here. Also a location in the Quarter, not sure what street. "Yo Mama's" has BIG burgers, no fries, rather they serve the burgers w/ a baked potato and a choice of many toppings. Magazine Street makes for an interesting 1/2 day (more or less) shopping and window shopping. A shop called 'Fleur de Girlz' is one of my wife's favorite shops, they have nice (but cheap!) pendants and such. We ate at "Juan's Flying Burrito," and yes, it's Mexican, but they advertise as 'trendy' Mexican, but it was good neverthess. Ask for a go-cup and they'll give you a plastic cup with their logo on it, or they did last month. Don't miss the Carousel Bar in the lobby of Hotel Montleone on Royal Street. Drinks are pricey, but worth it to have one and cool off, worth waiting on a seat at the bar, as it rotates around the room, built from an old merry-go-round. One of our favorite restaurants to eat while IN the Quarter is Oceana Grill, located at the corner of Conti and Bourbon. (Try the blackened catfish, very good!) Will list some more items as I think of them, we're going back over in a couple of weeks, one of our favorite cities. Oh, Acme Oyster House on Bienville, just off of Bourbon near Canal, seafod and burgers, gumbo, etc. "Mother's" on Poydras is popular, and good Po' Boys there, but pricey, very little space to eat, and usually a long line of tourists. All of these places have a website, most with the menus on them. Enjoy New Orleans!!
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