USA – New Orleans: THE BIG EASY CITY BREAK

TO & FROM New Orleans

Plenty of travel options from Dublin, nothing direct but best to break the journey in USA, taking the hassle out of immigration by clearing at Dublin Airport. Make sure you have valid ESTA—you can check status or renew:

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American Airlines fly via Philadelphia to Louis Armstrong Int airport New Orleans MSY, prices can vary wildly on time of year and around major festivals—Mardi Gras in February. Alternative could be United airlines via Newark but expect to pay around € 700 per traveller on basic economy, adding bags will nudge up the fare as will carbon offset, but not going via London cuts down on air miles.

Climate also plays a part in this sub-tropical region, November to May probably best -oppressive humidity/heat and hurricanes fill the rest of the years calendar. Mosquitoes reign supreme during our summer months –so beware and pack sun cream, bug repellent and an umbrella

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Woke Tip: Clear customs in Dublin and fly one stop through USA. Bags will finish at destination.
Awake Tip: Careful of the climate.

Quick enough taxi ride in from MSY with fixed fee of less than $ 40.

We had picked the Intercontinental Hotel: modern luxuries meet the city’s historic charm. Luxurious rooms, plush amenities and breath-taking views at the rooftop pool, great connectivity with street trams on St Charles street directly outside.

Great location and both close enough and yet far away enough from the epi centre and conundrum that is Bourbon street.

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Arrival New Orleans Airport:

Most flights arrive early PM, and exchange to hotel normally takes about an hour.

Leaves just enough time to enjoy contemporary Cajun-Creole dishes at Trenasse restaurant, or more casual dining in Pete’s bar.

Night cap, early bed and early rise (jet lag will ensure you wake early first morning)!

Day 1:

Warehouse & Historic Arts District through Canal Place to French Quarter.

After great buffet breakfast, you can hop straight on the streetcar towards Lee Circle –short walk then to the National WW11 Museum, it’s an easy 15-minute walk also and you pass Lafayette Square with its Benjamin Franklin Monument, and iconic Lafayette Hotel.

Exceptionally well laid out museum depicting the USA’s engagement in the second world war—Pearl Harbour to Hiroshima over three buildings

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Allow 3-4 hours to explore the full museum and then head into the warehouse and arts district, check out St. Patrick’s church and then lunch- plenty of quirky options but we enjoyed the funky chilled out bar that is the Retired Surfers & Restaurant off Girod St.

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With skies threatening we headed for the largest fashion outlet in New Orleans Riverwalk

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Three options present themselves at this juncture: trip up the Mississippi on the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, Audoban Nature Institute, or Harrah’s casino. Click on links 7-9 under Useful Websites to make that all-important decision.

Being pragmatic we opted for Harrah’s and after that failure to win big, strolled along the Riverside

Walking through Woldenberg Park adjacent to the mighty Mississippi we cut off at Jackson Square to catch the action and plan the route back to our hotel

Running parallel to Bourbon street, Royal street runs behind the Cathedral from Esplanade Avenue to Canal Street, providing a great variety of art and alternative type boutique shopping.

Crossing Canal Street back towards the Intercontinental and some calm, to prepare for the evening’s entertainment

Bourbon street is party street, there is no gentle way to immerse yourself into the madness, you need to bravely launch headfirst and grasp the spirit, hand -grenades balconies and beads sum it up.

Large police presence keeps things under some control but as the night skies darken and the neon brightens, with an eclectic bustle and beat intensifying –this is no place for the youngest or oldest.

That said adjacent streets are less crowded and some great restaurants and bars provide some temporary relief to the hedonistic happenings always within ear shot.

The French Quarter is alive at night but south towards Marigny may not be worth exploring until the following day. Some great Irish bars to quench the thirst before choosing a restaurant –everything is available but shame to miss the Gumbo and Jazz on offer on Bourbon.

Best of the Rest:

City Adventures

No trip to New Orleans would be complete without visits to the local cemeteries, best do an escorted tour for the local lowdown.

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Other tours worth considering are the walking tours – contribution make sense to fit any budget.

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One other area worth exploring is the bottom end of the French Quarter and if you like Jazz, head for the Jazz Museum housed in the old Mint.

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Also, in the area is the French market plenty of memorabilia for sale combined with some fine gastronomic experiences.

Heading behind the Museum you will encounter the more off beat New Orleans

Great to explore but not sure how safe at night, so tread carefully after dark.

Wrapping up a long day what better than heading to the Roosevelt Hotel on Canal Street for a cocktail :

No New Orleans dining experience would be complete without a trip to Mulate’s the original Cajun Restaurant on Julia street, 10-minute walk from the Intercontinental Hotel, great way to end a hectic few days.

The Big Easy should be easily enough conquered in 3-4 days on foot, plenty further afield – see our Deep South Blog.

We hope you have enjoyed our look back at New Orleans & to keep up with our travels you can follow us on

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