My wife and I have decided to spend this New Year’s in New Orleans and are now making accomodation reservations. Question for any NO Dopers:
Where would be the best place (part of the city) to stay? We’re thinking of somewhere that’s central to a lot of what goes on, especially if there are any New Year’s traditions or specific festivities. Though we’ll have a rental car, walking distance from places might be nice (although safety would also be a consideration; how’s NO in that respect?). And finally, is there anything else we should know or plan for in anticipation of going?
I’ll post sooner to the date for restaurant & club recs and the like. Right now, we’re looking more for logistical/practical info. Thanks!
I can’t see any reason not to stay in the French Quarter.
I’m also interested in suggestions of cool guest houses/inexpensive but nice places in the Quarter, as CrazyCatLady and I are getting hitched on the 30th down there and we need to put folks up.
I am in NOLA and I too would stay in the Quarter or the CBD. When, IF DMC ever gets out of bed I will ask him for more specifics. He knows the city better than I do.
Definitely visit the Fairmont, if only for drinks, because they have a spectacular lobby. They have Christmas lights that stay up through New Year’s. It is about 3 blocks from the Saenger theatre. This isn’t far from the French Quarter area.
I don’t know how to post links, but here are some things to check out.
I’ll second (or is that sixth?) everyone else in saying that the Quarter is probably your best choice. My favorite place to stay down there is the Maison Dupuy, which is in Quarter, but a couple of blocks off of the rowdier streets. They also have a very pretty courtyard and an excellent restaurant (and I normally hate hotel restaurants).
It would help us make suggestions once you give us more info about yourselves, such as age, interests, favorite food types, musical tastes, length of stay, etc., of course sometimes the best way to visit is to just pick a centrally located hotel and decide everything else on the fly.
I dunno if it’s an annual thing or just something they did this past year (my family just moved near NO)… but they had a nice light festival in city park last Christmas. You should remember to pack both sweaters and shorts - you never know how the weather may turn!
I just spent the last 30 minutes typing out all sorts of advice, and now it’s all gone! My careless fingers hit just one button, and I closed down my entire internet connection. There is no way I’m retyping all of it. So here it is in list form. I know you wanted to save advice on entertainment for later, but I’m throwing that in here too.
Stay in the quarter. Lots of luxurious hotels hidden behind unassuming streetfronts.
Since you’ll be close to interesting sights, feel free to walk. Just use your common sense. Deserted alleys = bad. Well-lighted, busy streets = good.
See Christmas in the Oaks, the light festival mandielise decribed.
Eat at Cafe Du Monde. Do NOT breathe while biting into the begneit.
Beware the drinks! New Orleans has some wonderful alcoholic concoctions (mmm, hand grenade…hurricane…), but they are sneakily strong.
If you go down Bourbon Street while it’s even the least bit crowded, know that, in all probability, your wife (and maybe you, too) will be groped/harrassed. Them damn tourists think they can come here and act disrespectful just because we allow drinking in the streets… They’ll never learn. Anyways, she should not cry or act upset even if she does feel that way. She should turn around screaming and cursing, ready to swing. Trust me on this one.
Other than that, relax and have a good time. I’m positive you’ll enjoy yourselves.
On a similar note, if you for some reason you have a panic attack or feel a bit nauseous, don’t use the beignet bag to breathe into. That would really mess up your day.
It used to be the murder capitol of the U.S., but, IIRC, the murder rate has declined a bit. Maybe it’s because of the giant billboard near the Superdome that simply says “THOU SHALT NOT KILL.”
It’s a good thing you have a rental car, too. You don’t have to worry about the plethora of potholes as much. Just don’t keep a cup of hot coffee between your legs and you should be fine.
I’m glad to see this thread. UncleBeer and I will be visiting New Orleans over Thanksgiving weekend - we’re staying in the French Quarter, but aren’t getting a car. We’ve both been there before (separately). When the time gets closer, I’ll be starting an MPSIMS thread to see if any locals might want to get together for dinner and/or drinks.
I love New Orleans. I wish I was still living down in Mississip’. I’d hie myself there… even though the vast majority of the Quarter’s charms seem to be wasted upon those too young to drink.
[To further the hijack]
Damn, racinchikki, that sucks. Guess I was lucky to have older friends rather than older siblings. I was getting into the 21+ clubs when I was 16. I figured everyone else did too.
But you know what they say about assuming.:rolleyes:
BTW, it took me 2 years of being registered plus time lurking before that, but this was my 100TH POST!
My sister didn’t think I was old enough to drink in the city yet. However, on the way HOME from the city (she lived in Biloxi) she bought me a chocolate daquiri at a drive-thru place in Slidell. So go figure.
I hope that place is still there. I’m gonna drag Gunslinger to New Orleans some day, and I have two Gotta-Dos on my list: beignets at the Café du Monde, and a chocolate damn daquiri from a drive-thru.
My careless fingers hit just one button, and I closed down my entire internet connection. There is no way I’m retyping all of it. So here it is in list form. I know you wanted to save advice on entertainment for later, but I’m throwing that in here too.
Anyways, she should not cry or act upset even if she does feel that way. She should turn around screaming and cursing, ready to swing. Trust me on this one.
