NEW ORLEANS/GETTING THERE/UPON ARRIVAL

New Orleans is one of the world’s busiest ports and the cultural capital of the South, yet the city is remarkably compact and easy to navigate. Visitors are always pleasantly surprised to learn that many of the city’s attractions, accommodations and event venues are within walking distance of each other; in fact, “hoofing it” (in New Orleans’ case, translated as walking or grabbing a mule-drawn carriage) is a favorite means of transportation in the Crescent City.

But, if you prefer wheels to legs, New Orleans has a very accessible and reasonably priced public transportation system, too. It only costs $1.25 to take an RTA bus . . . or one of the city’s famed streetcars, which travel the Riverfront and Canal Street. Where else can you actually ride on a historic landmark?

Of course, as one of the world’s top convention and meeting destinations, New Orleans also has a range of national car rental agencies as well as taxi and limousine services. A number of the city’s hotels and attractions offer free shuttle services, and there are a great variety of guided tours throughout the city and its environs.

"By land or by sea," getting where you are going in New Orleans is half the fun. Riverboats go rollin’ on the river, just like they’ve done for more than a century. If street traffic is tight, you can always take a ferry to Algiers or a river shuttle to Audubon Zoo!

Even the Louis Armstrong International Airport is convenient; just 15 miles from the Central Business District and French Quarter, it is a quick ride away, whether you go by bus, shuttle, taxi or limousine. If you come by Greyhound Bus or AMTRAK train, Union Terminal is, of course, centrally located and served by RTA buses, taxis and limos.

Taxicabs: A cab ride costs $33.00 from the airport to the Central Business District for one or two persons and $14.00 (per passenger) for three or more passengers. Pick up is on the lower level of the airport, outside of the baggage claim area.

Airport Shuttle: Shuttle service is available from the airport to the hotels in the Central Business District for $20.00 (per person, one-way) or $38.00 (per person, round trip). Three bags per person limit. Call (866) 596-2699 or (504) 522-3500 for more details or to make a reservation. Ticket booths are located on the lower level of the airport in the baggage claim area.

Local Area Transit

Maps

Parking
Valet parking is available at a rate of $32.00 per day. The hotel regrets that they are unable to provide other parking options in the immediate area.

Weather
New Orleans has a subtropical climate with pleasant year-round temperatures. Temperatures range from 72 degrees to 90 degrees during the day in June with a 67% chance of sunshine and an average of 4.6 inches of rain. Nightlife
When the sun goes down, New Orleans comes alive with a magical energy all its own. New Orleans’ nightlife is back in full force and continuing to earn its legendary status – a diverse offering full of music, color, flavor, fun and excitement. This city never sleeps . . . and gives you an unmatched range of reasons to stay awake with it.

New Orleans nightlife is the neon, noise and revelry of Bourbon Street; but it is also the shadows of moonlit couples walking hand-in-hand along the Mississippi. It’s the abandon of red-hot live music and the gratification of all-night coffee and beignets. It’s beer, bands and bowling – all together, all night long. It’s the clinking of chips, the ringing of slots and cheers of the lucky at world-class casinos. It’s unforgettable performances – from street music to opera, comedy to cabaret, and cinema to theater.

It’s just about anything you can imagine and many more things you can’t. Wild and unbridled or relaxed and subdued, nights in New Orleans will always be unforgettable.

Music & All That Jazz
“I’m not positive, but I think all music came from New Orleans.” – Ernie K-Doe
New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and the place some of the world’s most popular musicians – from Louis Armstrong to Lenny Kravitz – have called home. A melting pot of musical inspirations and innovations, New Orleans has embraced music as an indelible part of its history, an important facet of its identity, and one of the most colorful threads in its cultural tapestry. From street performers to intimate clubs, jazz funerals to festivals, and symphonies to headlining rock concerts, music continues to permeate – and enrich – every day of life in New Orleans.

Walk the streets of New Orleans today, and you’ll still hear it: the hum, the beat, the rhythm. It’s everywhere. It pours out of nightclubs and concert halls, rises from churches and theatres, fills the streets, echoes across festival grounds and permeates our neighborhoods. Jazzy and jubilant, soulful and spiritual, rocking and rolling – New Orleans music tells the story of the city and its people to anyone who will hear it, and in the most eloquent ways imaginable. Come and listen.

Click here to see a Calendar of upcoming Musical Events.

Music Festivals
What would a New Orleans festival be without music? And, what would the world of music be without New Orleans festivals like Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, Satchmo SummerFest and so many others.
>> French Quarter Festival
>> Satchmo SummerFest
>> Voodoo Music Experience

Live Music
You can find the best of every sound for every musical taste in New Orleans, with once-in-a-lifetime live shows happening daily and nightly.
>> Video Progress Report: Preservation Hall Re-opens                   >> Cajun/Zydeco
>> Live Music Venues                                                                   >> Gospel
>> Jazz Clubs & Music Halls                                                          >> Opera
>> Blues                                                                                     >> Symphony

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
The LPO continues its exciting season line-up of classics, casual classics and pops. more...

About New Orleans Music
Learn more about the roots of New Orleans music and how it has both assimilated and influenced musical styles around the world.
>> Background Rhythms: Music of the City
>> New Orleans Notables

Gaming
With a flick of the wrist and a roll of the dice, New Orleans’ flourishing casino scene has sprung back to life. Whether part of a day’s itinerary or an out-of-this-world nightlife experience, time spent at any of New Orleans’ three area casinos is a guaranteed thrill.

Any level of gaming enthusiast will appreciate the wide range of slots, table games, poker rooms and more. Beyond the games, New Orleans casinos offer a fantastic array of world-class entertainment and dining options. In Downtown New Orleans, check out Harrah's New Orleans Casino on Canal Street near the French Quarter or visit one of the riverboat gaming hotspots or Treasure Chest Casino.

For more information or to make plans before arriving in New Orleans, visit The Convention & Visitors Bureau.