New Orleans, not impressed

[jgmpuma]

Flood insurance isn't the problem. Ours was renewed for just a few dollars more than what it had been the previous year. It is Federally subsidized and guaranteed for anyone who wants it.

 

The problem is with homeowners' insurance. Many carriers (including ours) took the position after Katrina that even if wind caused certain damage, the flooding that followed was the actual cause of the damage, and they refused to pay. As a small example, our fence was blown down. The flood waters later covered it. Homeowners refused to pay for the repairs. It took a lot of persuasion (and threats of litigation) to get them to change their minds.

 

Most of the major carriers will not issue new policies for homes in coastal Louisiana (and Mississippi). This is hugely slowing the redevelopment of neighborhoods like ours. There are people who want to buy flooded homes, demolish (or reconstruct) them and move in, but they can't get homeowners' insurance and that makes financing impossible. Some carriers are rasing rates by 25% - 50%, making it unaffordable to many people. Others are threatening to puss out of the market completely.

 

A Federally funded program is supposed to provide homeowners with grants of up to $150,000 for repairs not covered by insurance. This program has become a beaurocratic nightmare. Out of about 90,000 applicants, only about 25 have actually received assistance.

 

Enough venting for now. Keep coming to New Orleans. Unless you take one of the disaster tours, you probably won't even notice the difference. The tourism industry is still struggling. I can't describe how much we missed New Orleans during the five months that we were evacuated. As for the OP: no one in their right mind goes to Bourbon Street to listen to music (unless you are trying to relive the disco experience). If he had asked, I (and lots of others) could have given him the names of lots of places where you can hear good local music and enjoy a $4.00 beer.

[pxy cda]

If he had asked, I (and lots of others) could have given him the names of lots of places where you can hear good local music and enjoy a $4.00 beer.

 

Sounds good to me - Please share your tips. My DH and I are anxiously anticipating our visit April 26-28 pre-cruise and jazzfest will be on. Any tips you want to share and must sees would be greatly appreciated. I have always wanted to visit your city and this will be my first. We are booked in at the country suites on Magazine street.

 

Looking at the devastation is heartwrenching - no comment on the progress to rebuild - its a travesty but also such an amazing sample of resilience and spirit and I hope NO comes back better than ever! I actually have no interest in picking through your bones of devastation by touring the badly hit sites (I honestly dont think my emotions could handle it)

 

I am looking forward to seeing the new casino, exploring the FQ, Garden, bonding with some locals, checking out some sidewalk art, picking through antiques, doing the graveyard and voodoo museum tours, sipping a hurricane, listening to some good live music, sipping a cafe au lait with a beignet, taking a ride on a streetcar and just letting it all wash over me.

 

Go Saints!

[map70065]

Sounds good to me - Please share your tips. My DH and I are anxiously anticipating our visit April 26-28 pre-cruise and jazzfest will be on. Any tips you want to share and must sees would be greatly appreciated. I have always wanted to visit your city and this will be my first. We are booked in at the country suites on Magazine street.

 

I am looking forward to seeing the new casino, exploring the FQ, Garden, bonding with some locals, checking out some sidewalk art, picking through antiques, doing the graveyard and voodoo museum tours, sipping a hurricane, listening to some good live music, sipping a cafe au lait with a beignet, taking a ride on a streetcar and just letting it all wash over me.

 

You may have to prioritize. You're not going to be able to do it all in 2 days!! Especially if you plan to attend Jazzfest.

[CrusingJoe]

I was there two weeks ago and found they had made great strides considering the damage they had a year ago. Much of the work to do is private, not public.

 

I took a cab from the cruise ship to the French Quarters and was charged the correct amount. The fares are on the windows. $16 for 1-2 people, which I paid w/luggage. I believe it said $28 for four people. Were you a party of four??

 

We're in our 60's and did not feel out of place as there were all ages in the Quarters. Had some great food.

 

We had a wonderful stay. Both my wife and I wish we had planned to stay a few days longer.

 

Can you tell me how far the cruise ship is fom the French Quarter and can I walk there? Thanks

[pxy cda]

You may have to prioritize. You're not going to be able to do it all in 2 days!! Especially if you plan to attend Jazzfest.

 

We havent 100% decided on Jazzfest - but if it's on we figure it will bubble over to the rest of town.

 

Here is what I am thinking for Itinerary:

 

Thursday noon - arrive airport, get bags and taxi to hotel (Country inn on Magazine street) and check in/drop bags.

Thursday afternoon: afternoon tour of the garden district (I've heard the cab drivers do fabulous tours - any recommendations?), maybe poke around the stores on Magazine street, figure out dinner plans and then off to the casino to try our luck.....:cool:

Friday morning: Breakfast of cafe au lait and beignets at Cafe Du Monde and then poke through the french market. Grab a quick lunch.

Friday afternoon: hopeful for a Voodoo/cemetery tour (recommendations?), after, tool around French Market, Jackson square

Friday evening - looking for a recommendation for dinner and a place to hear good live music. again, any recommendations? We are intrigued by John lafittes - but please recommend - we like live blues and "light" jazz(some of jazz is just too busy! :p ) - or even just a guy with a piano)

Saturday - check out of hotel, head to port for check in. We may have time to peruse the River shops while we wait to board! We sail at 5pm

 

I am so happy the Saints won!:D One step closer to superbowl!

[Globaliser]

Can you tell me how far the cruise ship is fom the French Quarter and can I walk there?

With good wheelie luggage, I think it would be about a 20-minute walk from the Julia Street and Erato Street terminals (both near Riverwalk) to the French Quarter.

[sea-u-later]

With good wheelie luggage, I think it would be about a 20-minute walk from the Julia Street and Erato Street terminals (both near Riverwalk) to the French Quarter.

I read that its not very safe to walk from one of the terminals. Do you know which one?

[steamboats]

sea-u-later,

 

Julia Street and Erato Street Terminals are next to each other. Erato is the new one just finished. The one I wouldn´t walk to is Poland Avenue Wharf. Anyway even with wheeled luggage I won´t advise anyone walking from the FQ to the cruise ship terminals.

 

steamboats

[map70065]

We havent 100% decided on Jazzfest - but if it's on we figure it will bubble over to the rest of town.

 

Here is what I am thinking for Itinerary:

 

Thursday afternoon: afternoon tour of the garden district (I've heard the cab drivers do fabulous tours - any recommendations?), maybe poke around the stores on Magazine street, figure out dinner plans and then off to the casino to try our luck.....:cool:

Friday afternoon: hopeful for a Voodoo/cemetery tour (recommendations?), after, tool around French Market, Jackson square

Friday evening - looking for a recommendation for dinner and a place to hear good live music. again, any recommendations? We are intrigued by John lafittes - but please recommend - we like live blues and "light" jazz(some of jazz is just too busy! :p ) - or even just a guy with a piano)

Saturday - check out of hotel, head to port for check in. We may have time to peruse the River shops while we wait to board! We sail at 5pm

 

You're right, the music and fun of Jazzfest does bubble over to the town. Your plans look good, but I wouldn't take a cab ride through the Garden District. Possibly a buggy ride or walking tour, but not a cab. MOST of the cab drivers don't know the history that a buggy driver or walking tour guide does. Of course you would need a cab or bus to get there.

 

I would encourage a walking tour of the French Quarter - that's where the history really is. There are many tour companies offering them - or there are do-it-yourself ones.

 

Lafitte's does have a piano player, so is a good choice. There will probably be lots of places with Jazz during that time. The Funky Pirate (on Bourbon Street) usually has good jazz then. Some of the people that play at Jazzfest "sit in" at different places. Many of the places in the Marigny have good Jazz playing. Pat O'Brien's also has a piano bar - with dueling pianos.

 

Magazine Street would also require a cab or bus ride, but the shopping is good.

 

The Rivercenter shopping center is connected to the port, so you should be able to do some shopping there either before or after you get on the boat.

 

If you do decide to go to Jazzfest you need to spend AT LEAST a half day there - if not the whole day. They usually have at least 8 stages with all different types of music playing. I don't think their schedule is out yet, so I don't know who is playing yet.

 

Dining recommendations are impossible to make. There are just too many good places to mention.

[pxy cda]

You're right, the music and fun of Jazzfest does bubble over to the town. Your plans look good, but I wouldn't take a cab ride through the Garden District. Possibly a buggy ride or walking tour, but not a cab. MOST of the cab drivers don't know the history that a buggy driver or walking tour guide does. Of course you would need a cab or bus to get there

:) Thanks for the tip - I'll research some walking tours

 

I would encourage a walking tour of the French Quarter - that's where the history really is. There are many tour companies offering them - or there are do-it-yourself ones.

Should we do this instead of the voodoo/cemetary? I have set the whole day aside for FQ. Do you know of a particular tour co that does both that you would recommend?

 

Lafitte's does have a piano player, so is a good choice. There will probably be lots of places with Jazz during that time. The Funky Pirate (on Bourbon Street) usually has good jazz then. Some of the people that play at Jazzfest "sit in" at different places. Many of the places in the Marigny have good Jazz playing. Pat O'Brien's also has a piano bar - with dueling pianos.

Sounds like Lafittes it is - is this in a safe area?

 

Magazine Street would also require a cab or bus ride, but the shopping is good.

We are staying on Magazine - at Country Suites. We will be cabbing at night. Is it a safe walk in the day from Magazine to FQ? - We are both good walkers.

 

 

If you do decide to go to Jazzfest you need to spend AT LEAST a half day there - if not the whole day. They usually have at least 8 stages with all different types of music playing. I don't think their schedule is out yet, so I don't know who is playing yet.

I LOVE harry connick - if he is playing we may go......:cool:

 

Dining recommendations are impossible to make. There are just too many good places to mention.

hmmmmm.....no worries - we'll find some good grub I'm sure.

[map70065]

I would encourage a walking tour of the French Quarter - that's where the history really is. There are many tour companies offering them - or there are do-it-yourself ones.

Should we do this instead of the voodoo/cemetary? I have set the whole day aside for FQ. Do you know of a particular tour co that does both that you would recommend?

 

The question of a voodoo/cemetery tour vs a French Quarter walking tour is a hard one. The cemeteries here are facinating to me and are an important part of our history. Cemetery tours by themselves are typically and hour. Save our cemeteries (http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/tours/index.htm) has one of St. Louis #1 every Sunday and several of Lafayette (which is in the Garden District) during the week. French Quarter walking tours are usually about 2 hours long and give you a more complete view of New Orleans and the French Quarter. Friends of the Cabildo (

http://frenchquartertour.com/) offer walking tours once on Monday and twice every other day. These two organizations are run by volunteers, so the people doing the tours do it because they truly LOVE doing it (not that other tour guides don't love it, but it is a job <G>.) I do volunteer for both of these organizations, so am a bit biased. If I (personally) had to choose one or the other I'd go with the French Quarter tour - but that's the one that I love. Others may enjoy the voodoo/cemetery tour because it would include some of the history of the French Quarter and some of the cemetery.

I really can't recommend other tours because IMHO they are all good (and I know most of them). Regardless of what tours you choose you will be in good hands. New Orleans is one of the few cities in the US that require their tour guides (both volunteer and professional) to be licenced, so all of us have to pass a test about New Orleans.

 

Lafitte's does have a piano player, so is a good choice. There will probably be lots of places with Jazz during that time. The Funky Pirate (on Bourbon Street) usually has good jazz then. Some of the people that play at Jazzfest "sit in" at different places. Many of the places in the Marigny have good Jazz playing. Pat O'Brien's also has a piano bar - with dueling pianos.

Sounds like Lafittes it is - is this in a safe area?

 

Lafittes is on Bourbon Street, although considered to be in the Lower Quarter, it's still busy enough to be considered a safe area. This is in the gay area of Bourbon Street, so if that would bother you that's a consideration. Lafittes itself isn't a gay bar, but you will have to pass several to get to Lafittes.

 

 

Magazine Street would also require a cab or bus ride, but the shopping is good.

We are staying on Magazine - at Country Suites. We will be cabbing at night. Is it a safe walk in the day from Magazine to FQ? - We are both good walkers.

 

The Magazine street you're staying at (if I'm thinking of the right place - 315 Magazine St) isn't the shopping part of Magazine. It is in the CBD (central business district). Definitely a safe walk during the day - and not that far at all. The shopping area of Magazine Street is in the Garden District, which would be a couple miles from where you're staying and would require a bus or cab ride. You would be closer to the shopping on Royal Street, Decatur Street, Canal Place and Rivercenter - all which would be within walking distance for me (and I'm NOT a walker).

 

 

If you do decide to go to Jazzfest you need to spend AT LEAST a half day there - if not the whole day. They usually have at least 8 stages with all different types of music playing. I don't think their schedule is out yet, so I don't know who is playing yet.

I LOVE harry connick - if he is playing we may go......:cool:

 

I'd go to see Harry Connick, too. We usually try to get to Jazzfest at least one of the days and at times it's hard to choose 'cause there are SO many great artists playing. I'm looking forward to seeing this year's lineup - should be out soon.

[pxy cda]

Wow - you are certainly a plethora of information. Thank you for taking such time and care in responding - I am really impressed and I can't wait to visit.

 

I will definitely research the tour links you provided.

 

We have no issues with gay areas - in fact they usually are a good sign to "upgrading" a neighbourhood with great culture and colour (think key west) - so I am now really leaning towards Lafittes.

 

Thanks for the tips on Magazine st. We will do more research on this - maybe take a bus to garden district on the thursday and poke around head back to hotel and then do the casino that night.

 

I just read that the jazzfest line up will be released Jan 25th - cant wait to look it over. Looks as though Harry will be closing the fest on May 6 (so we will miss him - darn!)

[pxy cda]

Wow - you are certainly a plethora of information. Thank you for taking such time and care in responding - I am really impressed and I can't wait to visit.

 

I will definitely research the tour links you provided.

 

We have no issues with gay areas - in fact they usually are a good sign to "upgrading" a neighbourhood with great culture and colour (think key west) - so I am now really leaning towards Lafittes.

 

Thanks for the tips on Magazine st. We will do more research on this - maybe take a bus to garden district on the thursday and poke around head back to hotel and then do the casino that night.

 

I just read that the jazzfest line up will be released Jan 25th - cant wait to look it over. Looks as though Harry will be closing the fest on May 6 (so we will miss him - darn!)

[arby70]

When you return can you please let us know how you liked the Country Inn and Suites. I am interested in the amount of people walking around there at night (9 to 10 pm at the absolute latest). We have read where it's well lit and busy enough to be safe to walk back to at night. We've also read where people are planning only to take a cab after dark. Let us know what you thought of the area for evening hours. I'd like to be able to walk a bit in the evening, but may consider a less expensive hotel if I have to take a cab every night. I liked the Country Inn's location to Decatur and the FQ and it got really good ratings on tripadvisor. It also got a lot of good comments about safer area for pedestrians. But taking a cab every night might be a bit spendy if we plan to stay 4 or 5 nights. Thanks pxy!:)

[Down-Unders]

Hi All

Just finished a cruise in New Orleans, sorry but I'm not that impressed although we only had one day and a night there, the city is interesting but not very pretty, went on a trip arround the City and saw the devastation, the American government should be ashamed at how little help it has given.

It would be nice if the tram cars lines could be built up and extended as that would be good for the tourists as well as locals.

We also had a night out, and the taxi drivers were ripping the passengers off by charging passenger + luggage fares from the Cruise terminal to the town center about $28 each way I think.

We were not impressed with the famous Burbon St, over run with teeny boppers and loud disco noise, I only found two jazz band bars where we were ripped off by the price of the beer $8 for a small bottle or can, got back to the ship about 12:30 much lighter in the wallet and half deaf, I would need a good excuse to go there again when there is pretty places like Fort Lauderdale to go to.

 

 

We had a wonderful first time in the South and it is true what we had heard about southern hospitality. I got into a lot of trouble with my dear wife, those southern ladies kept calling me honey. Honestly we can't

wait to get back to this wonderful city where people take their time to say hello. :) :)

[A Sixth?]

You needed to do more research before you went.

 

Even just reading CC, you'd have discovered that Bourbon Street is a bit on the seedy side.

 

We had three nights staying in a hotel on the corner of Bourbon Street and Canal Street. Preservation Hall and the piano bar at Pat O'Brien's were two places that were well worth visiting, neither of them ripoffs.

 

Was your hotel the Astor? How'd you like it?

[Down-Unders]

I read that its not very safe to walk from one of the terminals. Do you know which one?

 

We walked everywhere in NO day and night it is a great way to get to know a city. We always felt safe, noticed there was a lot of police everywhere we went. :) :)

[map70065]

I just read that the jazzfest line up will /be released Jan 25th - cant wait to look it over. Looks as though Harry will be closing the fest on May 6 (so we will miss him - darn!)

 

Schedule is out - http://www.nojazzfest.com looks good as usual. But they don't have the time schedule out yet - so they don't say who's where when. You're right Harry's closing the show in May.

[Down-Unders]

Hi All

Just finished a cruise in New Orleans, sorry but I'm not that impressed although we only had one day and a night there, the city is interesting but not very pretty, went on a trip arround the City and saw the devastation, the American government should be ashamed at how little help it has given.

It would be nice if the tram cars lines could be built up and extended as that would be good for the tourists as well as locals.

We also had a night out, and the taxi drivers were ripping the passengers off by charging passenger + luggage fares from the Cruise terminal to the town center about $28 each way I think.

We were not impressed with the famous Burbon St, over run with teeny boppers and loud disco noise, I only found two jazz band bars where we were ripped off by the price of the beer $8 for a small bottle or can, got back to the ship about 12:30 much lighter in the wallet and half deaf, I would need a good excuse to go there again when there is pretty places like Fort Lauderdale to go to.

 

When you visit another country it is extremely bad manners to express personal opinions against the government of the day. I think New Orleans deserves positive comments which will help the good people get back to normality. :mad: :mad:

[Globaliser]

Was your hotel the Astor? How'd you like it?

It was, and it was fine. It's a chain hotel, so it was never going to be anything special, and so it proved. But the location is good, and we'd have to struggle to find much to complain about. The worst thing was the air conditioning plant outside our window, but it didn't bother us enough to ask to move. Also, the Bourbon House restaurant did not serve breakfast as advertised - but the hotel barman directed us to Petunia's, which was probably much more fun anyway.

[Globaliser]

When you visit another country it is extremely bad manners to express personal opinions against the government of the day. I think New Orleans deserves positive comments which will help the good people get back to normality.

On the contrary, people should say it how they find it. Rose-tinted spectacles never fed or housed anyone, or reduced the crime rate.

[pxy cda]

When you return can you please let us know how you liked the Country Inn and Suites. I am interested in the amount of people walking around there at night (9 to 10 pm at the absolute latest). We have read where it's well lit and busy enough to be safe to walk back to at night. We've also read where people are planning only to take a cab after dark. Let us know what you thought of the area for evening hours. I'd like to be able to walk a bit in the evening, but may consider a less expensive hotel if I have to take a cab every night. I liked the Country Inn's location to Decatur and the FQ and it got really good ratings on tripadvisor. It also got a lot of good comments about safer area for pedestrians. But taking a cab every night might be a bit spendy if we plan to stay 4 or 5 nights. Thanks pxy!:)

 

I will definitely let you know. I did a fair amount of research on Tripadvisor and Fodors and here before booking. I like the location as well. I am yet to read a bad review on the place and I've read quite a few!:D This is a dream trip for me as I've always, always had NO on my list of places I'd most like to see. I am so looking forward to the trip.

 

I watched "when the levee broke" documentary (spike lee) It was heartwrenching to watch. :( I hope the city recovers but it will take time... I hope my tourist dollars help infuse the local ecomony.

[CalgonCruiser]

Want to know how New Orleans is doing? Try booking a room for Jan 2008. We wanted to do the Fantasy. After days of research for a hotel, finding none available, we had to change cruise ships. Triumph, here we come (be advised)

[iHartVacay]

I'm sorry you were not impressed by New Orleans. I truly am impressed.

 

After one of the strongest hurricanes passed over, an entire city was underwater for weeks and had hundreds of thousands swimming for their lives (vs. drowning in their attics) with little more than the shirts on their backs. It took MONTHS to restore basic infrastructure like sewage, electricity, garbage disposal. Not to mention many people rebuilding their houses on their own. You'd have to wait months for a contractor to be available. Of course it's not pretty, Did you not see the signs on the way in? "We're remodeling, Sorry for the inconvenience."

 

Your itinerary and expectations are the problem. Katrina tour, night out at a teeny-bopper disco on Bourbon, then off to the ship? To be impressed, try leisurely streetcar ride along the length of St. Charles to see the historical plantation homes. There's great local music and $2 beers at Tipitina's-be warned, it's not "pretty" (that's what the teeny-bopper disco's are for). Next time try beignets and cafe-au-lait at Cafe du Monde, or better yet, Sunday brunch at Commander's before boarding the ship. Then on your way to the ship, happily supporting the local taxi-driver trying to recover from devastation you can consider yourself impressed by the recuperation that has occured from one of the worst storms to hit the US.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by pretty places like Fort Lauderdale, but it's possible you wouldn't have liked New Orleans before Katrina either. New Orleans was never like Fort Lauderdale, or any other city in the world, really.

 

Hi All

Just finished a cruise in New Orleans, sorry but I'm not that impressed although we only had one day and a night there, the city is interesting but not very pretty, went on a trip arround the City and saw the devastation, the American government should be ashamed at how little help it has given.

It would be nice if the tram cars lines could be built up and extended as that would be good for the tourists as well as locals.

We also had a night out, and the taxi drivers were ripping the passengers off by charging passenger + luggage fares from the Cruise terminal to the town center about $28 each way I think.

We were not impressed with the famous Burbon St, over run with teeny boppers and loud disco noise, I only found two jazz band bars where we were ripped off by the price of the beer $8 for a small bottle or can, got back to the ship about 12:30 much lighter in the wallet and half deaf, I would need a good excuse to go there again when there is pretty places like Fort Lauderdale to go to.

[IheartPrincess]

You needed to do more research before you went.

 

Even just reading CC, you'd have discovered that Bourbon Street is a bit on the seedy side.

 

agree with Globaliser...One has to realize going into Bourbon Street area, you are going to a place where they are catering to tourists. so yes, prices are higher, but I am betting no one forced you to buy drinks or souvenirs. Not to offend, but if you were 'lighter on the wallet', thats all your own doing. Even if you went into a place with a cover charge, no one forced you to go in. I wish you had done a little research too, because you would have found beautiful places to visit. i love just riding the street cars up and down St. Charles or going to Jackson square and eating beignets at Cafe Du Monde or walking in the French Market or checking out the Zoo... I do hope you will give it another chance. that is a city that offers everything, i KNOW you could find something you would enjoy.;)