New Orleans for Sugar Bowl, How safe is the area I'm staying?

[eastontracks]

12-15 miles or something like that right?
yeah i can deal with that. i'm pretty used to those kind of drives here in san antonio.

[IloveNOLA]

Originally Posted by darylwi

I'm not sure where exactly you are staying, but a lot of hotels in NO East (or even near Lakefront Airport) are on Chef Menteur. I've stayed on Chef Menteur a few times. It's not downtown. The hotel may look a little suspect on the outside (and inside too). It gets pretty deserted at night and I wouldn't consider it a great area of town. I wouldn't stay there at all now post-Katrina. Having said that though, I've never had a problem there. Just use common sense. You say you'll be with a group. Don't leave anything in your car, at all.
And be aware of your surroundings. I know it's not fun, but someone in the group needs to be sober and aware when you get back to the hotel from the Quarter because that's when any problem will occur, if it's going to occur. If you see something that you don't like, don't stop, just turn around and head back the other direction. And don't answer any knocks on doors. New Orleans East isn't exactly the best area of town.

He doesn't want to be staying in that part of the city.

[darylwi]

Oh, the drive from the airport is nothing when you're used to it. It's a straight shot on the I-10. Or if for some reason it is backed up all the way across Metairie, then take the Earhart Expressway in. You practically end up at the dome at the end. Granted it goes through a little shady area at its terminus (quickly and painlessly I might add), but it's an easy way to get all the way across Metairie and into the CBD.
Coming from the east though, make sure you take the Williams Blvd exit (heading south) and not the NO International Airport exit, because you'll head all the way to the airport terminal if you do (which is longer than you think, and you can't turn around before Airline Hwy).

[Ronald120]

lol @ "IH-10" You must be from Texas.

The East isn't as bad as some of these posters are making it out to be; however, Chef Menteur and some of the side streets near its junction with the interstate are some hotspots for crime (murders has happened along some of the side streets there recently).

On the other hand, the hotel chains along I-10 around Crowder/Read/Bullard aren't bad as one may think. For one, those spots where the those hotels are located are pretty well-lit (compared to the rest of the area). I think the Best Western in the East has 24/7 security guard that manages who enters the hotel. I know for a fact that NOPD and millitary police do patrols around the hotels there. It's a damn shame that the East isn't at the recovery level like Downtown is, but, minus a few parts, it isn't a crime haven neither.

[lionofjudah]

I almost hate to say it but since hurricane katrina there is really no safe place to stay, I would definitely change my hotel plans. Try Harrahs Casino, its walking distance to everything and for the most part you can reach most restaurants and a little night life inside the hotel, and if you decide to go on bourbon street dont walk down to far if you see the crowd starting to die down turn around, dont turn down any side streets! If I were you I wouldnt stay an any of the hotels in the east they were all under at least 20 feet of water. If you dont find a closer hotel to the city try the westbank,but like I also said beware of your surroundings wherever you go.

[eastontracks]

new update:

i was unsure who was going to go with me, and now its going to be me and my dad meeting up with a lot of friends in new orleans. the good news is that hes in the military, and we will be staying in some lodging at a naval air base in new orleans about 5 miles from the superdome.

i mean, you need a military ID to get into the place, so i know for sure we will be safe when i park my car at night there. i feel wayyy better about the trip. thanks for all the info though. now i know what areas are better than others. i plan on making it to a casino, so im guessing harrah's will be the place to go maybe?

[Doogie]

Harrah's is fine and you shouldn't run into any safety issues downtown. Plus it's within walking distance of most places.

[geno722]

What really makes the most sense is Metairie. From there, only about 8 miles to the Dome and Downtown. Much, much safer than anything on Chef Menteur, which wasn't nice or safe before Katrina, and closer than Kenner, though on the same side of town. Metairie is an older but thriving suburb that has recovered very well from Katrina and is very well policed. I'd recommend the hotels off the Causeway Blvd. or Clearview Pkwy exits off I-10, like Extended Stay, Sleep Inn, or, if you're looking upscale, the Marriott Lakeway (formerly the Doubletree.) Have stayed at all three and never had a problem. Unlike a lot of major cities, New Orleans' suburbs contain many restaurants that are still family-owned, not chains, and serve the cuisine N. O. is famous for, without the Quarter's tourist prices!

[eastontracks]

thx for that info geno, ill see if i can make any restaurants you mention of. plans got switched out again and we'll be staying at the la quinta as i mentioned initially. im sure glad im not staying in chef menteur though! didnt know what that area was like until you guys said how it was.