NOLA is busy tourist town
Hotel Options
We have reserved a group of rooms at the Hotel Monteleone, please see the Hotel section of our website for details on that special rate. As an alternative, we recently enjoyed staying at the Hotel Mazarin. Often deals can be found on their website: hotelmazarin.com or at Hotels.com
We also recommend the Bourbon Orleans Hotel which is very close to both the ceremony and reception locations. www.bourbonorleans.com
Airbnb or Vrbo
If you are planning on staying in New Orleans longer than a few days airbnb or Vrbo may be a more economical option than a hotel. If you need help figuring out what part of the city is safe and convenient to stay in please let Kevin or me know and we'll help you out.
NOLA is a busy city
If you plan on extending your stay to or past New Years, it is even more important to book flights and hotel rooms early. The Sugar Bowl will be played in The Superdome on Jan. 1, 2020, so hotel rooms will be scarce.
Timing is everything
How far in advance should you buy plane tickets for the best deals? 70 days before expected departure, that's October 18-ish.
Walking tours
A great way to explore and learn about New Orleans is on a walking tour. You can find many different types that cover different areas of New Orleans (ex: Voodoo Tours, Cemetery Tours, Ghost Tours, Garden District Tours). We've linked the website to one highly recommended tour company below.
National World War II Museum
We visited this museum last year during a visit to New Orleans. It was unexpectedly awesome. There is so much to do and see here you should really allow at least half a day for your visit. It really is a must see.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
We stumbled upon this beautiful and newly renovated museum during our wedding planning trip in June. It is another very well done museum, full of information about the history of New Orleans, the French Quarter, even Bourbon Street. It is also FREE! So it's a great place to visit if you have limited time but want to get a bit of culture. The museum is made up of several buildings. The ones on Royal Street are open Tuesday - Sunday, the one on Chartres Street is open Tuesday - Saturday. The gift shop (next to the Royal Street location) is also worth a stop.
How to keep safe from shoe scammers & thieves
"In the French Quarter, con artists are active. If someone attempts to aggressively clean your shoes or bet on something obvious, leave the scene as soon as possible—tourists are often targeted by the New Orleans shoe scam and various betting scams. On Bourbon Street, scammers try to sell faux metals as gold, or distract travelers with fake petitions or strange behavior so that someone else can pick your pocket. Credit card scams are also common in the French Quarter, so only withdraw money from established banks." - from Smarter Travel
As in every city its important to keep an eye on your belongings. Don't leave things in your vehicle in view. Stay in populated areas, especially after dark. Don't go exploring cemeteries on your own at night.