First time in New Orleans

I will be visting New Orleans first time with my wife and 11 year old son for the weekend of Nov 2. Few questions

1.Cab or rent a car from airport

2.How is weather at that time

3.Any good hotel recommendations?

4.What is a must do, French market?, swamp tour? haunted??

5.Other advice? Much appreciated

First time in New Orleans

1. %26amp; 3. I%26#39;d strongly recomend staying in the French Quarter. A few times I%26#39;ve stayed outside of but ';close to'; the F.Q. to save a few bucks, but it%26#39;s just not worth it. Everyone seems to love Hotel Monteleone. It%26#39;s on my favorite street (Royale St) and if you stay in the French Quarter or close to it, you do not need or want a rental.

2. For that week: Avg High = 75°, Avg Low = 56°

4. Many people like the ';swamp'; tour. I thought it was more of a swamp-boat ride through a very %26#39;civilized%26#39;, somewhat swampy- looking canal (not like the beautiful pictures of the Atchafalaya swamp that look like you%26#39;re on a different planet). But if you do not have Atchafalaya-level expectations, and if you%26#39;ve never been on a fan boat, you should like it and may love. I%26#39;d say a must do is ride the ferry back and forth across the Mississippi river, it%26#39;s FREE. Also, try to eat as much of the local dishes as you can, they are EXELLENT!

First time in New Orleans

The hotel montleone is wonderful. I would take a cab, driving in new orleans can be very confusing.

Your son might enjoy the aquarium of the americas, the riverwalk, and the Audobo Zoo.

Check out the french market and have beingets for breakfast.

Most tourists enjoy the walking haunted yours but I have not done any of the ones running now so I can%26#39;t say fore sure which are best.

Cab. If you rent you have to pay to park at the hotel. You won%26#39;t need a car anyway.

Weather is cooling down but it is still warm. Dress lightly but bring a sweater or a windbreaker for evening.

You have a big selection of hotels and price ranges. Try to stay near the FQ or convention center. There are also some nice hotels on Poydras.

WW II Museum, Civil War Museum, Aquarium, Zoo, swamp tour, Katrina tour, Cafe du Monde for coffee and people watching, Central Grocery for a muffelatta.

Cab, nice weather,Place D%26#39;armes, walk the French Market, Cafe DuMonde, carriage ride around the Quarter, check out Jackson Square, K-Pauls or Muriels...try a forum search for topics you like.

Lord Chaz or Haunted History ghost tours. The swamp tours will be winding down a bit then as the end of October usually is when the gators are chowing down to go into hibernation. We saw this at the Zoo one October and talked with an attendant there.

The aquarium is excellent and just a riverfront streetcar ride from Jackson Square. Too bad it just a weekend,

I am bringing my granddaughters to New Orleans in December. Here are some of the things we have planned for them. French Market for shopping, Mardi Gras World (definitely!), Mulates (music and dancing), Preservation Hall, Haunted History Tour, streetcar, plantations (Oak Alley and Laura), Cafe DuMonde, eating muffalettas at Napoleon House.

As others have said, a car is not necessary is New Orleans, and is actually a nuisance. The only time you would need one would be if you want to go to the plantations, and if you are only in New Orleans for the weekend, you probably won%26#39;t have time for that anyway, or you would take a tour if you decided to do that.

There are many wonderful hotels in the French Quarter...what specifically are you looking for - beautiful? Quaint? Small? My favorite is Royal Sonesta but is probably isn%26#39;t the best for a child since it is right on Bourbon Street.

Have a wonderful trip to this beautiful city!

Hi Stuabrams, I was born and raised in Louisana here%26#39;s a few suggestions:

1. Cab%26#39;s fine for a short weekend. A lot of the hotels charge a high fee for parking 15 to 25 per day. There is a trolley available and walking is great to see everything. The horse drawn carriage ride from in front of Cafe du Monde is fun and informative about the French Quarter.

2. Sometimes this time of year the weather is very unpredictable.

Bring at least one pair of shorts and a tee. But also bring clothes for cold weather. Pull up weather on your computer 1 day before you leave. Bring your umbrella and a poncho or raincoat too!

3.Prince Conti at 830 Conti St.800-366-2743 nice and good location

Marrriott NO 555 Canal St.800-228-9290 nice and good location.

4.Pat O';Briens Irish Pub Courtyard since you have your son with you is a must for good food and fun drinks. Nice early evening with a lite up fountain and atmosphere. Piano bar and rock bar 21 an above. Acme Oyster Bar and Rest. great PoBoy Sub. and seafood.

The Court of Two Sisters authentic fabulous French food but pricey.

Mike Anderson%26#39;s Seafood Rest. on Bourbon St. wonderful food.

Cafe du Monde french coffee, hot chocolate, beignets a must !!

5. NO Paddlewheel or Steamboat Natchez up the Mississippi is fun.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is neat.

Pull up www. louisianatravel.com 800-99-gumbo for more info. Enjoy yourselves! Bonne Appetite!!

Not to be a spoilsport but I%26#39;d skip a couple recommendations posted such as Court of Two Sisters (read advisor reviews), Mike Anderson%26#39;s is closed; and unless you are really into the fact of going on a paddleboat and getting out on the mississippi there are better uses for your limited time rather than looking at warehouses and docks. A nicer change would be getting the free Algiers ferry at the foot of canal street and going over to Blaine Kern%26#39;s Mardi Gras World and see the floats and construction of the floats. Theres a free shuttle at the ferry boat landing. ANd the return pickup is around the corner of the museum at the Voodoo shop which is pretty interesting in itself.

Thanks to Cajunyank he is more up to date about the area then I,since I do not live their anymore. The ferry sounds like fun to the Mardi Gras building. Court of 2 sisters i';m sorry to hear they are not as good as it us to be. I am sad he relayed Mike Anderson%26#39;s has closed. By the way cajunyank, if you read this what rest. do you recommend for great seafood now? I will be in NO Dec.19.

Thanks BDBC

Many like Deanies and I like the grilled redfish at Muriels and for an international seafood menu you can%26#39;t beat GW Fins. For a lower cost alternative is Maspero%26#39;s on Decatur. Maybe CajunWave can add to this. So many restaurants do great seafood dishes.

Also the Bourbon House is pretty good and good oysters as well as Acme for oysters.