New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the world’s most fascinating cities – it’s home to a truly unique melting pot of culture, food and music. Louisiana’s very colourful city of New Orleans is overflowing with history, culture and an energy that reverberates throughout the city. Visit any time of year and you’ll find live music, amazing Creole and Cajun cuisine, fresh seafood, farmers markets, shopping, nightlife and more.

During Mardi Gras season, the city becomes the world’s centre. Downtown transforms into an adult playground, while parades in residential areas provide children with thrilling entertainment. Each spring, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival moves the focus to the charming Gentilly area and the Fair Grounds Race Course. But no matter the time of year, New Orleans’ calendar overflows in celebration.

There is a wealth of experience for all the family in New Orleans – paddlewheel steamers, the Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, the Voodoo Museum, Mardi Gras World, air boat swamp tours, street car rides, French Quarter people-watching, Bourbon Street night life and the National D-Day Museum, for starters.

French Quarter

The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré – or the “Quarter” to local is intimate and unique. Take a horse and carriage through the area and see the elcelctic shops and the architechtural gems. Bourbon Street is steeped in history and extends 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue. At night it is known for its all night partying.

Canal Street is the traditional starting point for any tour of New Orleans. Head off in any direction from this downtown hub – including west toward the Mississippi River – and you are bound to see or find something of scenic or historic interest.

The Warehouse District which was once a 19th century storeage district for coffee and grain is known today as the New Orleans Arts District filled with amazing art galleries, fine restaurants, and world-class museums.

Life in New Orleans

When you have seen and heard enough of Bourbon Street experience life in New Orleans the way the locals do. Great music and food any day of the week, Faubourg Marigny has all the life and vivaciousness of a real life New Orleans neighborhood.

Algiers is a short ferry ride from the foot of Canal Street in busy downtown New Orleans to Algiers Point, but the transition is dramatic. Algiers point is New Orleans’ Brooklyn without the bustle- the place with great views of the city skyline and the Mississippi River.

Getting around New Orleans by streetcar is a great way to see the city. There are three different lines: St. Charles, Canal Street, and the Riverfront, each of which originates downtown but takes you different parts of the city.

New Orleans Cuisine

Creole cuisine in New Orleans is a celebrated culinary tradition that reflects the rich cultural tapestry of the city. Originating in the 18th century, Creole cuisine embodies a fusion of French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Native American influences, with contributions from the Italians and the Germans.

Key characteristics of Creole cuisine include its use of sophisticated French culinary techniques paired with robust and diverse ingredients. These dishes often incorporate seafood, andouille sausage, rice, and local spices such as cayenne, paprika, and thyme. Creole cooking is known for its bold, layered flavours, achieved through meticulous seasoning and slow cooking processes. Iconic Creole dishes include gumbo, a hearty stew often made with seafood or chicken and andouille sausage, thickened with roux or okra; jambalaya, a one-pot dish of rice, meat, and vegetables; and red beans and rice, a Monday staple traditionally made with leftover pork.

Mardi Gras

In New Orleans they celebrate Mardi Gras! Its translation from French is Fat Tuesday, from the custom of using all the fats in the home before Lent in preparation for fasting and abstinence.

Beginning on twelth night, this period is filled with elaborate revelrous parades, both day and night, building up to Mardi Gras and the Rex parade. Beads of yellow, gold, green, and purple are commonly distributed, and the eating of king cake is an iconic part of the celebration.

Click here to see our Mardi Gras Celebration package – a five-night itinerary, dedicated to the New Orleans Mardi Gras festive.

Hotels In New Orleans

Superior Deluxe	Among the finest the world has to offer, hotels in this category are exclusive, lavish and indulgent. Needless to say, you will enjoy the highest service levels, superb accommodation and outstanding facilities and public areas.
Deluxe	This will be an outstanding hotel, offering many of the features of Superior Deluxe, though on a scale which will be a little less grand.
Moderate Deluxe	This will be a Deluxe standard property, although some of the accommodation and public areas may offer a less pronounced degree of luxury. In other instances, the hotel may be a famous name with a well-established reputation.
Superior First Class	More often than not, this will be a superior modern hotel or an older property which is exceptionally well maintained. All offer very comfortable and well-furnished accommodation and public areas.
First Class	A dependable and comfortable hotel with standardised rooms. These are the ideal choice for travellers who don not require deluxe facilities or special services.
Moderate First Class	Essentially a First Class hotel with comfortable but sometimes simple accommodations. Public areas may be limited but generally provides all the essentials a guest requires.
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New Orleans

French Quarter

Life in New Orleans

New Orleans Cuisine

Mardi Gras

Hotels In New Orleans

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