New Orleans Travel Guide
Fly Like a Super Pig to Any One of the below page Sections:
Top Attractions
Cheap Flying Tips
Where to Stay
Things to Do
Your Guide to New Orleans
New Orleans holds one of the most beautiful and historic places in the United States. It is the destination for many tourists of all ages and types. With New Orleans’s vast variety of things to do, you might want a little help planning your trip, especially if you’ve never been to NOLA before! There are so many things you will have to take into consideration when planning out your trip here.
Top Attractions in New Orleans
New Orleans is so diverse, with no shortage of opportunity for adventure. You will never find yourself bored here
The options for things to see and do are endless, but here are a few of our favorites. The top attractions that you should visit are:
- French Quarter
- Mardi Gras
- City Park
- Preservation Hall
French Quarter
This is the largest and most popular attraction that New Orleans has to offer. With one look at the architecture, you will recognize it immediately. It is a historic place housing the iconic attraction “Bourbon Street.” Although this is one of the most famous places, it is not necessarily the only thing the French Quarter offers.
The French-inspired style was created about 300 years ago. It is one of the oldest and historic areas of the city. The French Quarter is a melting pot of culture with origins from the French, different religions, languages, food, and traditions. It is amazing to see all the diversity in one city!
If you are a music lover, the French Quarter has plenty of live music venues, both big and small. New Orleans is known for its jazz music. Just head to Frenchmen Street and see for yourself.
Mardi Gras
New Orleans trademark celebration is Mardi Gras. You have never experienced true Mardi Gras festivities until you’ve been to NOLA for the event. This is a two-week long ceremony that ends the day before Ash Wednesday… aka, “Fat Tuesday.”
Some events happen daily that jam pack the streets in the French Quarter. You can find yourself lost in a sea of people! You’ll experience parades of decorated floats and an atmosphere almost like a never-ending party.
City Park
The large, 140,000-acre park houses many attractions you can do with friends or family. You can spend an entire day here without ever getting bored! There is a garden, golf course, amusement park, water park, and so many more.
You can even just go for a walk and take in the scenery. You have to visit the iconic oak trees that house one of the oldest still alive. It’s said to be around 800 years old! That’s pretty amazing!
Preservation Hall
Although one of New Orlean’s smaller attractions, you must stop by here and absorb the history and culture of jazz music. This hall holds concerts almost every single day of the year and shows off local artists. It is a great way to immerse yourself in the local community.
This place also is full of heart and soul. It has had jazz legends like George Lewis, Sweet Emma Barrett, The Humphrey Brothers, and many more! You will not regret visiting this establishment.
The Experience Flying into New Orleans Airports
New Orleans is a high-traffic location for incoming tourists to the nearby airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
You will have many different options on how you will make the 11 mile trip from the airport to New Orleans. You can even make a few stops before checking into your hotel or Airbnb, whether it is to get a bite to eat or see some of the historical landmarks.
Top 3 Tips to Fly Cheap to New Orleans
Everyone is always searching for the cheapest options. Who wants to pay full price for flights when you can find a bargain?! Here are three tips to take into consideration to find affordable rates for flying to NOLA:
1. Book your flight in August.
This is out of season, and not as many tourists come during this month, which means cheaper tickets.
2. Book your flight about one week before your trip.
This is usually when ticket prices drop before going up again.
3. Book your flight for a Tuesday or Wednesday.
More people travel on other days, so tickets cost more.
There are many other tips you can take into consideration when scheduling your flight and finding the best deals, but these are the best ones to follow.
Popular Areas of the City to Stay
New Orleans provides so many things to do that the entire city is quite popular, but there are a few locations that get most of the tourists. These locations provide easy access to popular hot spots and attractions:
- French Quarter
- Marigny and Bywater
- Warehouse/Art District
- Central Business District
- Uptown/Garden District
These popular areas have their unique sense of style and what type of tourists they entertain.
Popular Hotels in Those Areas
There are many hotels that you can find in all of these areas. With so many tourist attractions, there needs to be plenty of places to stay. Here are the most popular spots for each area.
- Hotel Monteleone: It is a beautiful hotel with an elegant and breathtaking atmosphere. It has housed many historical figures in the past, including Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner. And if you are looking for a little excitement, some even say that it is haunted.
- Hotel Peter and Paul: A famous hotel in Marigny and Bywater has quite the back story you won’t ever forget. It once was a church, school, and convent. It was a church until around the early 2000s and then restored into a hotel.
- Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel: One of the better hotels in the Warehouse/Art District, you will find the atmosphere of jubilee with this hotel. It has beautiful architecture but still has a modern appeal. You can stay in wonderful rooms and when you have downtime after all those fun attractions, spend some time in the casino.
- Hyatt Regency: You will find that this hotel, located in the Central Business District, is majestic and modern with such a breathtaking open space. With it reaching into the sky, you can reserve a room that oversees New Orleans at its finest.
- Alder Hotels: This hotel is wonderful for everyone, including families. It is located at the center of Uptown and Garden District. It is close to several universities, and it is great for when you visit those college students.
Popular Airbnb Places in those areas
If you can’t decide on a hotel and want something a little homier, you can search the local AirBnBs to find something suited to you. Often these are a little bit higher in price, but you can get accommodations or privacy that you may not get with a hotel.
- French Quarter Condo: Decorated in a simple yet elegant fashion, it will feel like a home away from home with full amenities. It is great if there are more of you than just a traveling couple because of its extra rooms.
- Marigny Apartment: This renovated shotgun home is in the Marigny neighborhood. You will get the historic feel while the privacy that many of the hotels don’t have to offer. You can walk just a few blocks and be in the French Quarter. You will have easy access to any of the attractions the city has to give that you won’t want to stay in.
- Secluded Getaway: You will find this secluded rental near the historic Aglier’s Point in Alger or the Art District. The host here is considered a “super host” because of the quality stay you and/or your partner will have when you rent this room. This home is right across the street from the Mississippi Trail that runs along the Mississippi River. It is a great way to relax and wind down after a full day of fun and excitement.
- Renovated 1830s Residence: In a modern apartment, you are greeted with a great mix of the present and the past. When they renovated the home, they made sure to include the 200 pieces of reclaimed wood. This is located in the Central Business District, which only blocks away.
- Irish Channel Guest Suite: In the Garden/Uptown District, this quaint home is available to reserve. It is great for a single couple and is quite charming. It has such a personality with its colorful accents within the interior. It is a perfect place to get a little romance while walking down the street to enjoy the attractions. Top Things To Do In New Orleans
Top Things to do in New Orleans
New Orleans has so many things to offer you that you will need to make another trip just to experience everything you may have missed. It may even become a continuous cycle as you realize there is more and more to discover!
Here are some of the most popular things or events you can partake in while you are touring the beautiful city.
- Swamp Tours: New Orleans is surrounded by acres upon acres of swamps. If you are a nature enthusiast, this is one attraction you will need to add to your list. You can do different types of tours, including a sunset ride at which you end your tour under the blanket of night. You may just find yourself staring face to face with a wild alligator.
- Ghost Tours: New Orleans is known for its heavy spiritual presence, whether it is the haunted cemeteries and houses or the practice of voodoo. You can schedule a tour at many different places where you can experience the realm of ghosts and the dark history behind it.
- Steamboat Jazz Cruise: If you want to step back in time and get a taste of New Orleans’s history, this is the way to go. You can soak in the sun as it falls behind the horizon and listen to the soulful aroma jazz has to offer. These tours last about 2 hours long and vary in price, but you will not regret it.
Coolest Airbnb Experiences in New Orleans
With New Orleans having so much history and unique personality, you can stay in so many different types of AirBnBs that provide you with an experience you won’t forget, but there is one that hits the top of the lists.
You can rent a room in the Parks-Bowman Mansion. This place is not only located in a beautiful area with a balcony you can peer out at New Orleans from, but it is considered one of the top haunted places to stay at. What an experience!
It captures the classical style with massive, elegant chandeliers and stained-glass windows. You will be astounded by the beauty of the entire establishment, almost like you have been transported to another world!
Final Thoughts
You will find that New Orleans has a lot to offer for everyone. If you want a classy and elegant style, you got it. If you want something fun and friendly, you got it. If you want something fun and more adult-friendly, you got it. New Orleans will give you so many options.
