I can no doubt find some info on this subject via online sources, however I find that when you guys respond with personal experience it is much more useful.
I want to go to Mobile to visit a friend. The cheapest way to do it is by Southwest from Ontario to New Orleans, which I guess is only a few hours away from Mobile. Are there any shuttle services or maybe a transit bus between those 2 cities? I don’t want to rent a car, don’t need it once I get to Mobile. Also, is the airport in New Orleans close to town? I have never been there and would like to stay over night either on arrival or departure, so that I could see the city. That brings up another question - how safe is the French Quarter for a middle aged woman who would be travelling alone? Any recommendations for a place to stay?
And most importantly, are there really drive thru shacks where you can purchase a daiquiri in LA.? Or is that an urban legend?
Hi beckwall, I can answer some of your questions though I’m sure others will come along to help as well. (I live in the New Orleans area.)
I am unaware of a shuttle service between Mobile and New Orleans though it is possible there is one. I know you said you didn’t want to rent a car; however, if that ever became an option, it’s just a two hour trip from New Orleans to Mobile.
The airport is west of New Orleans proper in the suburb of Kenner near the Jefferson Parish/St. Charles Parish line. Howver, it’s maybe 10-15 minutes from downtown – not far at all.
As far as the French Quarter goes, you should always be aware of your surroundings. You should generally stay where the crowds are. No telling who is out and about. Just be careful is all.
And the drive through daiquiri places are NOT an urban legend. They do exist! I live across the river on the Westbank and there’s one on Terry Parkway in Terrytown. But I’m sure there are many more.
Mobile is about a two and a half hour drive from New Orleans, and I think without renting a car, you will need to decide between Amtrak and Greyhound, as there are not any regional shuttles (that I have ever heard of) between the two cities.
The airport is about a 20 min. drive from the Quarter, and I think you will be just fine exploring on your own, but of course common sense is always required, as in any large city.
New Orleans is one of the world’s greatest cities, its music, food and culture are true National Treasures, and the city depends on visitors and tourists to help it renew and revitalize.
(and finally YES, drive thru daiquiri stands are a very real and very beautiful thing----when they hand you your drink, there is a straw in it, with the top of the paper straw wrapper still on. As long as the paper wrapper is still in place, it is not considered an open container of alcohol.)
If you want suggestions on hotels and restaurants, feel free to ask, and have a wild and wonderful time!!!
You would have a whole lot more fun if you just got your friend to meet you in New Orleans. It is a world-class entertainment and historical city and Mobile is not (no offense to any Mobile residents but I think anyone would agree on the difference). The New Orleans airport is not all that close to New Orleans. It it is in Kenner, LA and it takes a while to get into the city proper. I think it is possible to get to Mobile from New Orleans via the Amtrak Sunset Limited but I have never heard of anyone doing it.
I don’t think the type of thing you are proposing will make a good trip and you should look at other options, some of which could be extremely great.
I am from Louisiana and used to live in New Orleans BTW. I don’t know if they still have drive-through Daiquiri shops there now but they certainly did in the 1990’s when I lived there. That city has an unusual attitude about drinking that doesn’t follow the rest of the country or most of the world. If you are going to travel all that way, it would be dumb to blow some chances at some experiences at a lifetime.
The French Quarter is not truly safe although it seems a little safer to me post-Katrina. However, there is a certain amount of lawlessness that is built into the system and allowed. Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Decatur Street and the rest of the really touristy parts of the French Quarter aren’t very dangerous although it may look that way when you first see them. The real danger is when people just wander around drunk at 4 am in some backwater part of the French Quarter. That can get you in trouble. American norms don’t really apply in the French Quarter so you have to be aware of that but most people have the time of their lives and do just fine if they stick to the patrolled areas but you always have to be aware of your surroundings and realize that you aren’t at home anymore.
I’ve never been to New Orleans - what do you mean by “American norms don’t really apply”? Are you saying it’s different from any other place where a lot of tourists go to get drunk?
If you want to see hedonism in action in a real city, New Orleans is the go to place for that. People tend to abandon all pretenses once they get there even if they didn’t plan on it when they arrived. Temporary alcoholism is expected, excessive drug use is tolerated, and nudity and bizarre sexual situations are not uncommon at all even in public. We are just talking about the middle-class and above here alone. That place warped my mind badly and drove me to the point of exhaustion to the point that I needed to get far, far away which I did and sort of regret now. There isn’t anything else like it in the U.S. except possibly Las Vegas but that is scripted and business controlled.
Thanks for the info, although a lot of it doesn’t apply to me since I don’t drink alcohol. I would have to try a sip of a drive-thru daiquiri, though. Most of my time would be spent in Mobile, in fact I would probably only have a day (or less) in New Orleans. Would love to spend more time there but travelling alone with a disability is not easy, maybe some other time when I have a companion.
Yes, very much. The place is a Disney Land for fine food and some of the best restaurants in the world are in New Orleans and the critics agree. I have had to stand in line 45 minutes at 4 am just to get seats for live music and great food and it was worth it. The entire city is great and very, very unusual. I don’t see how anyone could not like New Orleans. It is truly a world-class city.
Let’s see, having lived there for two years a while back…
There are some good seafood places on the causeway. Our favorite was a place called, I think, the Crab Shack. Not too far from the battleship, which is a nice thing to tour if you’re into that sort of thing. There is also a WWII submarine you can go in to as well as some airplanes.
This is the wrong time of year probably, but Bellingrath Gardens is really nice to visit. Lots of flowers and growing things.
We liked living there, wasn’t a bad place at all, but nothing really spectacular; nothing comparable to N’Awlins anyway.
I live near N.O. as well. getting to Mobile from N.O. will not be easy unless you rent a car. Too few people do that to make the process easy. 10-15 years ago it would have been possible using the Coastliner limo service-but that closed before the storm. So, to complete your trip-plan on a rental. My suggestion is to choose a nice hotel downtown-you have your choice of almost any type of hotel you can imagine. Take any shuttle from the airport to the hotel, rent the car from a downtown rental location coordinated through the hotel, and enjoy yourself! The weather has finally turned fall-it is 50 degrees right now (9AM). October and November are the best months of the year around here weather-wise. Bring a coat for the evenings. The drive from New Orleans to Mobile is straight and easy. I-10 east, then I-10 west to return. There won’t be any traffic congestion unless you are leaving N.O. during rush hour-that could add 15 minutes to the trip. Traffic and directions aren’t a problem.
As for Mobile, I like the city. It is a (much) smaller version of N.O. without the bawdy bars. Sightseeing in Mobile is nice-and you see everything in a day.