New Orleans is a city where history and modernity blend seamlessly. The city’s unique culture fuses French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences, evident in its spicy jambalaya, powdered beignets, and distinctive architecture with ornate ironwork balconies. The New Orleans Guide is for art lovers, food lovers, and vintage shoppers.
The 411
All the information you need for first timers to New Orleans or those who haven’t been in a while.
Transportation
Airport: MSY (Louis Armstrong International Airport)
Is there a train from the airport?
No. There are express buses, but those take 45-1 hour to get you to Veterans and Causeway, and you still need to get yourself from there to the French Quarter. A taxi will take around 30 minutes and get you the whole way.
Train Travel
Amtrak has two routes that serve New Orleans.
- Sunset Limited—Los Angeles to New Orleans with stops along the way
- City of New Orleans—Chicago to New Orleans with stops along the way
If you want to go on an Amtrak vacation, reach out to me. I love train travel and can help you get where you want to go.
Public Transit
If you are staying close to the French Quarter and want to explore that area as well, this is a place public transit can’t reach. The streets are too narrow and labyrinthine to accommodate buses and streetcars.
If you want to explore outside this area, there are the famous trolleys that cover long distances, but take their time.
I would give New Orleans Public Transit a C+.
All bus and trolley information is available on the Jefferson Parish Transportation Website. I am linking to the Le Pass app, which is on the page, but harder to find. The app on the main page is for a live bus tracker. I don’t find it more or less reliable than Google Maps or Transit, but it’s not as useful outside of New Orleans.
Currency
The official currency of New Orleans is the United States dollar.
Language
Although the official language of the United States is English, there are still people in the city who incorporate French Creole into their daily conversations. New Orleans also has large Vietnamese, Honduran, and Haitian populations.
The Best Time To Visit
Winter is the best time to visit. It is the sweet spot between hot and humid months.
New Orleans is a popular location for bachelor and bachelorette parties, and you will find these pre-wedding celebrations all year round.
The Worst Time To Visit
New Orleans gets steamy in the summer (literally) and figuratively on Halloween and Mardi Gras.
How many days should you stay in New Orleans?
No less than four exploration days.
When is New Orleans open?
24/7
What should your hotel budget be?
I would average $250 per night for the hotel with taxes and fees. There are many historic and iconic hotels that cost more, like The Hotel Roosevelt, where the Ramos Gin Fizz and the Sazerac were invented.
Do you need to rent a car?
No. Rideshare is readily available.
The Three Bs
Here are my picks based on my budget categories—Budget, Bonus, and Bougie. It is a combination of my visits to the city and client recommendations. If you want to stay in any of these hotels, please contact me first.
Budget
- Where to stay: Virgin Hotel New Orleans
- Where to Eat: Willie Mae’s
- What to do: NOMA Sculpture Garden
- Where to drink: Sneaky Pickle/Bar Brine
To me, the Virgin Hotel New Orleans is a perfectly designed hotel. A door that shuts off the bedroom, blocking any hallway noise, a vanity to get ready, and a full shower door. The staff was so fricking nice, giving us some of the best recommendations for what to do in the area. I have eaten a lot of fried chicken in my lifetime, and Willie Mae’s is my hands-down favorite. They are now in a new location since the fire, but I am happy they are serving the city again. Order the fried chicken, butter beans, and rice. The NOMA Sculpture Garden is free to roam every day. It is also part of the larger City Park. With the Sneaky Pickle/Bar Brine, you had me at savory martini.
Perks at the Virgin New Orleans (only if you book with me.)
- Breakfast for Two Daily
- $100 Hotel Credit per Stay (to be used on services such as spa, dining, or selected amenities valued at $100 or more)
- Hotel Welcome Amenity and Welcome Note from me
- Room Upgrade (subject to availability)
- Priority Check-in and Check-out (subject to availability)
Book with me to get these perks.
Bonus
- Where to stay: Hotel Henrietta
- Where to Eat: MaMou
- What to do: Toulouse Theater
- Where to drink: Jewel of the South
The Hotel Henrietta is a boutique hotel in the Garden District, close to the beautiful and historic homes, cemeteries, and walkable from Commander’s Palace—go for the twenty-five-cent martini lunch. MaMou is a French restaurant located just on the edge of the French Quarter. It was my favorite restaurant of the trip. Order everything. If you want to see local music, I recommend the Toulouse Theater. When we were in town, we saw New Orleans’ own Tank and the Bangas. Jewel of the South has one of the best cocktail programs in the United States. You can’t skip this—even as a mocktail drinker.
I’ve also stayed at the Kimpton Fontenot and really enjoyed it. Located in the Financial District, it is close enough to the French Quarter to walk to, but far enough away not to feel like a 24/7 party.
Perks at Hotel Henrietta (If you book with me)
- Upgrade to the next room category, based upon availability at check-in
- Guaranteed 1 pm late check-out
- Welcome treat in the room on arrival
- 25 USD hotel credit per room, per day (valid towards incidentals)
Contact me to book.
Bougie
- Where to stay: Maison Métier
- Where to Eat: Herbsaint
- What to do: VIP Tickets to the New Orleans Jazz Festival
- Where to drink: The Roosevelt Hotel’s Sazerac Bar
If you want to stay in New Orleans in style, you need to book at Maison Métier. It is a small hotel with a concierge at your fingertips, guiding you to the best New Orleans has to offer. Walkable from the hotel is Herbsaint, serving New Orleans classics in a modern way. Their wine list is pretty spectacular. The top event of New Orleans may be Mardi Gras, but the Jazz Festival is a close second. Getting a VIP ticket is the best way to see the show. Although the drinks at the Roosevelt’s Sazerac aren’t terribly expensive, the history and credentials make it a must-do experience.
Perks at Maison Métier (If you book with me)
- Welcome letter from hotel leadership on behalf of the travel advisor and their agency.
- A welcome amenity is provided to guests upon arrival.
- Daily complimentary full breakfast at a hotel restaurant for up to two guests.
- Property credit
- Priority for room upgrade
- Early check-in/late check-out/connecting rooms
Contact me to book.
Other Cities to Visit
The Montreal Guide
If I didn’t live in Los Angeles, I would love to live in Montreal. There are many reasons it is in my top five favorite cities. It has a great art and food scene. It is a pedestrian city with excellent public transit.
This guide provides all of the information you need to know about visiting this city.