New Orleans > New Orleans Experience

Advantages: Still the most beautiful city in the US
Disadvantages: Hurricane Katrina

...Katrina did its job on New Orleans. I've been back there several times since the storm, and have a few thoughts. I myself am an expatriate New Orleanian. Born and raised there, I've lived away for several decades, but still have ties and visit occasionally. As it happened, one of those visits was on the weekend before Hurricane Katrina hit. I've been back three times since then, and have seen the city slowly put itself back together. There's no ...
...still lives. In typical New Orleans fashion, Bourbon Street was one of the first areas of the city to get electricity back, and the first thing they did was to sell drinks to the rescue workers. It's also popular for tourists to book what are locally called "disaster tours" where they drive through the most devastated parts of the area: the Lower Ninth Ward, Gentilly, Lakeside, New Orleans East. and Saint Bernard Parish. Ghoulish as it sounds, it's ... Read review

Advantages: beer, boobs and beads
Disadvantages: smell

...smell and seedy side streets New Orleans and especially Bourbon St. are simply the best place to party in USA. A few years back i took a gamble on this place and to my surprise it had everything i wanted for a short break. The nighlife is legendary, the building are beautiful and there's plenty to do during the day. Nightlife: You can have a great time - straight, gay or both. A personal favourite is Razoo's on Bourbon that has awesome drink offers ...
...be careful those things can put you on your back. So dance like nobody watching, sing like nobody is listenting, drink like nobody is counting and you'll be in heaven here!!!! Culture: I did the odd tourist thing: A Ghost tour was very interesting and could be scary for little kids - not me of course:) The sea life centre is good but you can't spent more than a couple of hours there. Casino is poor if you've ever been to Vegas so I'd go for a swamp ... Read review

Advantages: Compact city, good food and music, friendly people
Disadvantages: VERY HOT during the summer months

...the southern state of Louisiana, New Orleans is like a good gumbo..... a little bit of this, a little bit of that and A LOT of Hot Stuff! History: Many first time visitors are surprised by the definate European feel of the city. The architecture alone provides days of touring in itself. The reason for this Continental flavour comes from it's close ties to France and Spain. Louisiana was claimed for French king Louis XIV in 1699 and is the only ...
...more than one century. New Orleans is often called the "Crescent City" because it was founded on the bend of the Mississippi River. This unusual shape causes locals and visitors to become confused occasionally, as there is no traditional "north, south, east, or west" mode of getting around. Some streets in the city begin at one end parallel, and end up perpendicular. What to do? Going to the French Quarter is a MUST! It can easily be toured by ... Read review

Advantages: Friendly, frenetic and fun.
Disadvantages: Too much partying can be harmful to your health (or so I'm told)

Your first New Orleans kiss will come as you step outside from the air-conditioned halls of Louis Armstrong Airport. The warm, humid kiss of Louisiana. The hot and sticky breath of your southern soon-to-be lover will caress your face, and within moments, you’ll be struggling out of your clothes. Try to keep some control. It may be a party town, but even in New Orleans, cab drivers would prefer their fares to be decently clad, at least part of the ...
...Finding a bed in New Orleans isn’t difficult, except during Mardi Gras (Early March for 2003). The city is full of hotels, ranging from the opulent to the offensive, from the heart-stoppingly expensive to the downright bargain-basement. The French Quarter, where much of the tourist action is to be found, has many hotels and guest-houses, but none of these is particularly suited to the traveller on a budget. If money is tight, have a look across the ... Read review

Advantages: Only one hour's flight from Tampa
Disadvantages: We found none

...about taking a trip to New Orleans to see the Mardi Gras and listen to some real jazz?” “Sounds like good idea, when do we go?” said I, lazily turning over to even up my tan. Harry had seen an ad in the local paper for a three night stay in New Orleans, flying from Tampa, at a very reasonable price. At the time we were staying with two friends near the Gulf Coast of Florida, well away from the razzmatazz of the Magic Kingdom and ...
...to “The Big Easy”, as New Orleans is known. Taking a taxi to our hotel, we were given a history of the city by the talkative taxi driver and a list of places to visit. When we complimented him on his knowledge, he said, ”No problem, it’s all part of our training.” As we were on an early morning flight, we arrived at our hotel in time for breakfast and a full day ahead of us. It is traditional to begin the day with coffee ... Read review