Getting around New Orleans and Baton Rouge

[bettyboop1967]

OOPS - I left off the rest of my message above...

What I was trying to say is - ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, the crime is mostly drug related in the residential neighborhoods, NOT the French Quarter. So don't let that deter you from visiting!!!

By all means, go see it. It is one-of-a-kind. The rule is to stay where the people are, and as someone said before, don't wander off.

One thing to remember, about cabs - I have noticed that some tourists here think think you can hail a cab as in New York City or other places. That's not the case. Most cabs will pass you right up. You must use the phone to call a cab, or have the bar call you a cab, or just walk to the front of most any larger hotel and there are cabs lined up waiting for passengers - that seems to be the best bet.

If you make it there, make sure you walk over to the river by Jackson Square to see the St. Louis Cathedral, and to see a great view of the river and the bridge from the Moonwalk or even just the stairs there. And to the left of the stairs is Cafe Du Monde which serves beignets (a square donut with powdered sugar) and coffee. They are open 24 hours (last I checked). These are a must for any New Orleans visitor. Also, if you want to be adventurous - go underneath those stairs - there is a little restaurant hidden there. They serve red beans and rice with alligator sausage. Seriously - don't knock it till you try it. I am from here, so of course I love red beans and rice, but I'd only tried alligator sausage once before and didn't like it. This place proved to me that you should always try things twice, not once. The first may have been done poorly. Then again, you can always ask them to keep out the sausage. Anyway try the beans for dinner and go get beignets for dessert next door. Both of these places are not expensive.

One more thing... If you should happen to come during Mardi Gras, and you want to go to the French Quarter, make sure you ask your cab driver to drop you off as close as he can and make sure he puts you on the right side of the parade route. I have seen tourists get dropped off with their baggage in hand who cannot get to their hotel because it is impossible to cross the street during a parade.

Good luck to ya, and have fun!

Good luck on your trip!

[Trekkie]

All your advice is very helpful indeed. Thank you!

[1nicecouple]

Originally Posted by Trekkie

Thanks for all your reassurances. I just get freaked out by all the reported gun related and random violence. Shooting deaths are almost unheard of here in NZ - hunting accidents would be the most common cause.

The thing is I have prior engagements in Metairie during daylight hours and I was planning to visit the French Quarter and the other tourist areas in the evening. But the advice seems to be to not go there at night alone. Has crime settled down a little over the last couple of months to the point where this advice is no longer valid?

I suppose I could try to use some free time during the day to do a few of the tourist spots. Is it safe to wander from the French Quarter to Canal Street and St. Charles alone, or would it be best to use a cab to go everywhere? I'm only hiring the car for Baton Rouge. I'll need a cab the rest of the time.

Regarding cabs, are all the companies operating in NOLA pretty reliable?

Be sure to Take United Cab in NOLA Enjoy the food, where are you staying?Soniat House-1133 Chartres St is very nice-Down the block from Brad and Angie-Say hi

[guavajellyfish]

First of all, the Greyhound trip from Baton Rouge to NOLA is $15 and brings you right into downtown, no need for a cab. The comment about crowds in downtown BR was a fib I think-- there's really nothing to do there, and nobody doing it. I guess it's pretty safe, but I can't imagine why you would ever want to go there. It's pretty much a ghost town.
Sorry to break it to you but I don't think there's any public transportation that goes from the French quarter to Metairie-- you'll have to take a cab. The streetcar line ends at the cemeteries though, if it's close to MidCity N.O. you could walk I suppose. I would not be worried about the crime in the quarter, but do keep an eye on your wallet like any crowded area full of drunks.
Oh yeah, and United Cab really is the best cab company.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by guavajellyfish

First of all, the Greyhound trip from Baton Rouge to NOLA is $15 and brings you right into downtown, no need for a cab. The comment about crowds in downtown BR was a fib I think-- there's really nothing to do there, and nobody doing it. I guess it's pretty safe, but I can't imagine why you would ever want to go there. It's pretty much a ghost town.
Sorry to break it to you but I don't think there's any public transportation that goes from the French quarter to Metairie-- you'll have to take a cab. The streetcar line ends at the cemeteries though, if it's close to MidCity N.O. you could walk I suppose. I would not be worried about the crime in the quarter, but do keep an eye on your wallet like any crowded area full of drunks.
Oh yeah, and United Cab really is the best cab company.

The Freyhound terminal is off the beaten track. 10 blocks away would have been the "nightlife" of downtown BR.

[darylwi]

Talk about scary, the greyhound bus terminal. Plus, how do you intend to get around town after you get here? City transit isn't the most reliable (it runs on a very lax schedule especially on the weekends).

Also, RTA may not operate much in Jefferson (except the airport route) but there is transit in Jefferson Parish. How reliable it is, beats me.
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