Visiting New Orleans in mid-April (Houma: appointed, rentals, hotels)

[BigCityDreamer]

I will be in New Orleans with my family during the French Quarter festival next month.

We want to stay at a bed and breakfast which is centrally located, rated well and accessible to all major amenities. We're thinking on Bourbon Street.

Any general suggestions?

[confusedasusual]

Forget Bourbon St. Too crowded, too crazy and too touristed. I would suggest something smaller and a little more "out of the way" like the Richelieu Hotel. Its not a B&B (they are hard to come by in the Quarter-- usually they are a little ways outside) but its reasonably priced, charming and nice. It has a cute little pool and is within walking distance to where you need to go. The Quarter is small-- pretty much anywhere you stay won't be out of the way.

[point80]

By no means do you need to stay right on Bourbon to be 'close'. You could even stay on the other side of Canal St. and be within easy walking distance. Just find a good deal on a hotel and that will leave you with extra money to party with. Sorry to say that the good B&Bs I believe are booked for that weekend...at this point.

[hey teach]

You said "mid-April" will you be coming for French Quarter Festival. If so, I hope you have booked a reservation. I would definitely consider something away from Bourbon. Really depends on what you want to do while there. If you want the "Bourbon Street Experience" during your entire visit then get somewhere close. If you are planning to hear some music try in the Mariany Triangle area. If you want to gamble and casino stay on Canal.

[Bluesmama]

YIKES! You may be hard-pressed for choices this late. The FQ Fest has become almost as large as Jazz Fest. I really, really suggest checking out the Marigny area. It isn't in the middle of the FQ but it's convenient enough (and VERY convenient to Frenchman Street, which you are better off checking out at night for music over Bourbon, anyway).

If you do book a room in the Marigny you will find that you'll do a lot of walking during the festival (depending on the stages and where you go ~ it is SO spread out). But you can do what we do, and that's to take the streetcar to the other end where most of the stages are clustered.

Try the Lamothe House on Esplanade.

[BigCityDreamer]

I didn't find any B&Bs available in the French Quarter area. Only a few in midtown and garden district. I don't want that. So now I have to look at hotels.

Any suggestions?

[Mildlily]

I would llike to travel through whole New Orleans!I envy(((That is all because of Ann Rice, if you know what I mean)

[Bluesmama]

I really, really don't know if this will help you but it won't hurt to look, anyway. And don't let the rates to the first several places scare you. Keep paging down and you'll notice some that are reasonable.


New Orleans Vacation Rentals, French Quarter Rentals, Mardi Gras Rentals, Vacation Rentals by Owner (http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/louisiana/new-orleans - broken link)

[BigCityDreamer]

My first impression of New Orleans is that the food is great. The people are friendly and welcoming. Most of the musicians in the French Quarter fest are pretty good, although I haven't heard anything that blows me away.

I expected it to be somewhat classier, like Houmas house classy. Any ideas about places like that in the French Quarter?

[BigCityDreamer]

So I was sitting in a bar in the French Quarter ordering dinner. A young lady comes over and sits near me and starts making small talk. After a while, she said "I think there's something wrong with me." I ask her "Why?" She answered "I can't stop thinking about sex."

I laughed hard, talked some more and told her there was nothing wrong with that and that she was sexy. But my family was back in my hotel, so I hope you understand. She gave me a disappointed look and said "Yes, I understand, but thank you."

Seems like people in New Orleans are really casual. Lol!