Some questions for the experienced travelers!

Hello,

My husband and I are visiting NO in January for few days. We are so excited and want to make the most of our time in NO. I haven%26#39;t been to NO since 1997 and my husband has never been there!

We would like to catch a very early flight to NO, but we cannot check into our hotel until 4pm. We don%26#39;t want to carry our luggage around for hours!

Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas? I don%26#39;t think the hotel does early check-ins.

Also, has anyone done those swamp boat tours? Any reviews?

Thanks so much! This forum has been so helpful!

Some questions for the experienced travelers!

every hotel I%26#39;ve stayed in NOLA has allowed me to drop off my bags and then check in later. I always try to take an early flight there too to get the most time there as possible.

I%26#39;m not sure about the swamp tours but I%26#39;m sure someone here can answer that for you.

Have a great time!

Some questions for the experienced travelers!

Hotels will have a safe place to store your luggage until you can check in. In 27 years of visiting, I%26#39;ve only waited it out once. I%26#39;ve always been able to get into a room earlier than check-in so you might get a pleasant surprise.

I am excited for you. Have fun!

Hotels will check your bags but for swamp tours in January there won%26#39;t be much to see as the big attraction is in hibernation (alligators)

I recommend Dr. Wagner%26#39;s Honey Island Swamp Tour near Slidell, LA.

I agree with the others. Contact the hotel and ask about luggage storage for early arrivals. Also ask if they will allow early check-in IF the room is available/clean. If they say no, change hotels. For whatever reason, some NOLA hotels (the Astor Crowne Plaza has been mentioned in several posts) refuse to budge from the published ';check-in time'; even if rooms are available.

I don%26#39;t know that I would take a swamp tour in January. My husband and I went once in March, and even then it was too chilly for the alligators to be out. Plus it was a very cold trip for us on the boat.

Thanks so much - that is great advice. Maybe we will skip the swamp tour! Or we will just have to come back and visit again in the warmer months!

I have never come across any hotel anywhere in the world that doesn%26#39;t have luggage storage for early arrivals, but I suppose it would be worth an email or phone call to confirm...

One advantage of touring a swamp during Jaunary is that there%26#39;s very little foliage and you can see things you%26#39;d normally miss because of the dense vegetation. One disadvantage is that alligators are in hibernation during that time.

Don%26#39;t forget the most hotels will also store your baggage after check-out for a late departure. That way you can spend even more time in New Orleans.