Be in the know… read these top New Orleans Travel Tips for the French Quarter, Beignets and more before you head to New Orleans!
So are you planning or dreaming of a trip to New Orleans?
With so much to see and do in New Orleans, it’s always the right time to dream about your next visit to New Orleans. From great eats to fun shopping, and jazz music to scenic sites, there’s something for everyone in New Orleans.
So don’t leave home without knowing about the very best things to do in New Orleans!
Read these creative New Orleans Travel Tips, and start planning your trip to The Big Easy today…
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New Orleans Travel Tips
A special thanks to frugal friend Andrea for sharing this fun New Orleans photo!
So You’re Planning a Trip to New Orleans?
To keep your vacation budget-friendly, you’ll need to plan ahead. One of the first things you’ll want to do is start stashing cash away for your ‘New Orleans Trip Fund’. Need to increase your travel fund stash? One of the easiest ways is to make extra money on the side in your free time! Here’s my favorite trick for ramping up the vacation budget…
Easy Side Hustles to Save Money for Vacation
How to Get Cheap Flights to New Orleans:
Wondering how to get cheap flights? My favorite trick is to load up on free mileage points and airline gift cards, then use them to dramatically cut the cost on airfare! I’ve scored so many free flights this way! Are you ready to start earning your free airlines miles and gift cards? Here’s what you need to do…
Best Travel Hacking Credit Cards! {How to Get FREE Flights and Hotel Nights}
25+ Southwest Airlines Hacks! {What To Know Before You Fly}
18 American Airlines Flight Hacks {Weird Tricks Everyone Should Know}
17 Delta Airlines Travel Hacks {Savvy Travel Hacking Ideas}
Where to Stay in New Orleans:
Wondering How to Earn Free Hotel Nights for your next vacation? It’s so much easier than you think! Here’s how I travel the world and stay at nice hotels for FREE…
How to Earn Free Hotel Nights {7 Secret Tricks}
In addition to hotels, be sure to also check out VRBO for lodging on your trip to New Orleans. They have so many vacation rentals listed by owner. I’ve personally stayed at multiple VRBO rentals, and loved every one. Not only were they often significantly cheaper than the nearby hotels, they also came with a full kitchen. One even had in-room laundry!
Now do you want to know my favorite tips and tricks for saving BIG on a VRBO? These little known hacks will save you SO much money! Check this out…
How to Slash The Cost of Your Next Trip Using VRBO
Now keep reading for all the very best New Orleans travel tips and things to do shared by myself and your frugal friends…
Stephanie said: “Take a carriage ride through the French Quarter, they are lined up in Jackson Square. Eat at Felix’s for Oysters & Crawfish (across from Acme Oyster House). Walk down Royal Street for the unique shops and go to the French Market. Walk through the Garden District and look at all the houses (Mansions). If you get a chance to go during St. Patricks Day, go to the parade… it’s fantastic!”
Desiree said: “I heart New Orleans!! French Market, French Quarter, eat Beignets, take a tour, ride the trolley, jazz bar, gator farm, plantation. So much to do. Oh and take me with you!!”
Marcy said: “Go to the Court of Two Sisters for their Jazz Brunch. Crazy good and pretty if you can get a table in the courtyard!”
Joni said: “Love New Orleans! I have been once a year for the past three years! Take the trek down to the 9th Ward. It will put life in perspective, and you can see the houses Brad Pitt is building. Sure Bourbon Street is OK, but walk around a bit and find the artists and street performers on Decantur! They are worth the time!”
Score a Deal on your New Orleans Car Rental! There are so many beautiful places to see and explore around New Orleans… and you’ll need a car to see most of them! There are a few easy Rental Car Hacks to slash your costs that you’ll want to put to use! Here are my favorite tricks to save BIG on car rentals…
20 Ways to Save Money on Rental Cars
Tricia said: “I’ve been several times. All prior to the hurricane. Cafe Du Monde for the delicious Beignets. So many restaurants that are delicious. I loved driving around looking at the plantations, especially Oak Alley, it’s my favorite! The night life was fun, walking down Bourbon St and Decatur St. Taking the trolley through the Garden District and looking at all the beautiful structures. Love It All!”
Nancy said: “Love the St. Charles St. trolley. Oh, and a stop at Cafe Du Monde for coffee (or chocolate milk) and Beignets! As a foodie, also have to have a po’boy for lunch and some Jambalaya or Gumbo.”
Carmen said: “Cafe Du Monde, Muffaleta, Johnny’s Po Boys!! I love it there!”
Coleen said: “Be a total tourist and drink coffee and eat Beignets at Cafe Du Monde.”
Becky said: “Cafe Du Monde for Beignets, Aquarium of America’s, Audubon Zoo, Mother’s Restaurant for the roast beef Po Boy, and of course Bourbon Street. Do Not venture off of the main thoroughfares… don’t go down alleys as a shortcut. When driving, watch for one-way streets. You will find yourself with a ticket very quickly.
Also pay close attention to parking. It is better to pay to park in a lot instead of trying to keep feeding a meter.”
Patti said: “I was just there in November. Go to Cafe Beignet on Royal St for the Beignets. Not as crowded as Cafe Du Monde, is a great little hole in the wall bar called Erin Rose on Conti, 1/2 block down from Bourbon St. The Erin Rose has frozen Irish coffee!!! Absolutely delicious! Acme Oyster House & Johnny’s PoBoys! Have fun!”
Adrienne said: “Been to New Orleans lots of times! Jackson Square, Cafe Du Monde, French Market. I’m not into paying for tours, I like just exploring the shops and watching the people. Lots of performers and artist in the square during the day.”
Nancy said: “It was fun to take a paddle boat ride on the river.”
Djuana said: “City park, River excursion on the paddle wheeler, plantation tour, zoo (in the morning during the summer), Insectarium, Aquarium, brand new motor speedway on the West Bank, Cafe Du Monde, Camellia Grill, museum, restaurants of so many different cuisines, antique shopping, art galleries, trolley car ride. I could go on – plus a water park less than 1/2 hour away.”
Beth said: “Just went this year! It was a blast! Cafe Du Monde is a must! It looks like a long line, but it moves pretty fast!! It’s worth the wait! Take the Garden Tour–beautiful homes. Also do a horse and carriage tour of the French Quarter!”
{Jackson Square in the French Quarter pictured above ~ 701 Decatur St, New Orleans}
Rachel said: “Yes all those things already mentioned, plus the D-Day Museum. St Louis Cathedral/Jackson Square. Riverboat cruise.”
Elisa said: “So many great things in NOLA. I’ve been three times for a week at a time. Have BBQ shrimp. A Muffaletta. A po’ boy. There is so much amazing food!!! The aquarium is great. There are some really neat swamp tours. Plantation Tours outside of town, cemetery tours, so many great things to do!”
Christy said: “The National Park’s French Quarter walking tour.”
Heather said: “Acme Oyster House had Po-Boys to die for. If you want Sunday brunch, can’t go wrong with Brennan’s, their bananas foster is the stuff of legend.”
Donna said: “Go to Pat O’brien’s and have a crab cake while there; WWII Museum and the Confederate Museum across the street; City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art; Cafe Du Monde; Rock & Bowl; St Charles Tavern on St. Charles (take trolley) – Best catfish; Have breakfast @ Trolley Stop Cafe (on St Charles, too!)”
Stephanie & Deborah both said: “Drago’s for the charbroiled oysters!”
Vashti said: “Camellia Grill in the French Quarter. This is where the local’s go and it is the best. The staff are very possibly some of the nicest people in the world.”
Angela said: “Eat at K-Pauls on Chartres. Never been disappointed.”
Rhoda said: “Ohhh my fave hole in the wall place which is a few blocks off Bourbon Street is called Port O Call – awesome burgers.”
Tricia said: “Used to live there… must go to Port O Call for a burger. Go to Tipitinas for some good music and shop on Magazine Street. Go over to the West Bank to see how the locals live… eat some great food and go dancing!”
Michelle said: “The New Orleans School of Cooking is wonderful!!!”
Pam said: “Eat at Nacho Mamas and the Creole Creamery on Magazine Street.”
Michaela said: “Mulate’s has wonderful food and awesome music! Its a must stop!!!”
Joanne said: “Preservation Hall. A MUST!”
Score Free Coffee at Starbucks! With so many things to do when your exploring all over town… you just might be needing a caffeine fix and a snack! There are so many Starbucks locations around New Orleans, so check this out…
Starbucks Money Saving Hacks
Liz said: “Just got back from there… Love NOLA!! After talking to some locals we went to Frenchman Street where the best jazz clubs are. We really enjoyed one called Balcony Music Club, kinda a hole in the wall, but heard awesome music both nights we were there. We also went to one called Maison that we really enjoyed. Then, we took an swamp tour through a company called Cajun Encounters that was lots of fun!!”
Andrea said: “Actually my girlfriends and I just got back from a trip to New Orleans about a week ago! 🙂 Must see places to go are: Mahoney’s Po Boy Shop (SO delicious and it was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”), The WWII Museum (but bring tissues),
The French Market and The French Quarter (Tons of awesome shopping), Audubon Aquarium of The Americas (Breath of fresh air in a chaotic city) and House of Blues (grab a reservation and pick a night with live jazz…and order their lobster mac & cheese – you won’t be disapointed)… even after all of that we didn’t fit everything into our plans… but it was truly a memorable experience :)”
Jessica said: “Love, love, love New Orleans. I am actually going in July for another visit. A must is taking a walking tour of the Garden District. A good tour guide is Racontours, New Orleans.
The tour guide is funny and entertaining. He is chalk full of information of the history of New Orleans. The last stop on the tour is at Commander’s Palace for lunch, which is another must see in New Orleans.”
Karen said: “We visit once a year and stay at the Drury Inn & Suites. It is in the business section, but is a fantastic place. And not as noisy as French Quarter! (Close to the Quarter and has street access to trolley.) They have a full breakfast and an evening happy hour with light snack items. My kids love the rooftop swimming pool! The staff is excellent and rooms are nice.”
Linda said: “Frenchmen Street! That’s where it’s at. That’s the real NOLA experience for sure. Stay at the Melrose Mansion on Esplanade if you can, and eat a giant burger/baked potato at Port O Call. It’s worth the wait.”
Tara said: “The Windsor Court Hotel is the place to stay!”
Gloria said: “What everybody else said plus… don’t stay in the French Quarter. There is a decent Best Western in Bridge City just a few miles away. Drive to the ferry and cross over for $10 (and leave your car in their parking lot!) and then walk. SO much easier than looking for parking spaces and paying a fortune in the touristy places.”
Linda said: “Just got back! Take some tours like a Ghost tour and a cemetery tour. You learn some awesome history about the city and the French Quarter. Bourbon St is fun but NOT for kids. I still can’t believe how many parents had kids out at night there!
If you are flying in don’t get a rental unless you plan on driving away from the French Quarter. Parking is outrageous and a car is useless, because its easier to walk everywhere. Trust me, we found out the hard way!”
Gretchen said: “Just got back. Stay in downtown. You can ride the free trolley to everywhere. French quarter, French market. If you have kids go on a swamp tour.”
Krissi said: “R&O’s in Metairie has the best muffattas in the south.”
Julie said: “Just got back! Cafe Beignet. Go to Marigny to hear great music at Snug Harbor. We liked Pirates Alley. Hotel Monteleone is great. French Market. Download free apps GO NOLA and Tvfoodmaps. Frommers has some self guided walking tours on the web for free. Tour a cemetery, Lafayette Number 1 is the best, I think that’s the one with Marie Laveaux’s grave. Steam Boat Natchez was nice. On previous trips I’ve done a swamp tour. Seek out cool courtyards to eat in.”
Angela said: “Walk around and go where the music takes you. Also Jogging Tours New Orleans”
More New Orleans Money Saving Tips:
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Free Gas Gift Cards + 9 Ways To Save Big on Road Trips!
What To Pack for New Orleans:
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Be sure to leave extra room in your suitcase to bring home some souvenirs!
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So now that you’ve scored all of these fun New Orleans Travel Tips, don’t miss out! Find more fun Frugal Girls Inspiration here…
So… have YOU every been to New Orleans before?
What are some of your favorite New Orleans Travel Tips for places to see, things to do, places to visit, etc?
Leave a comment & share!
Marcia says
Preservation Hall is a must visit and photos in front of their building are stunning! Great article from real visitors 🙂
Christine says
One word of advice from the child of a New Orleans native: it’s called a streetcar, not a trolley
Linda says
Have breakfast at The Ruby Slipper, chargrilled oysters at Acme on Bourbon, karaoke at The Cat’s Meow, and go on a ghost tour. You don’t have to wait until Mardi Gras to see the parades.. There is a parade schedule posted on the internet. The 4D movie at the WWII museum is very good. Manning’s is great on Sundays for football.
Melissa Love says
City Park is a MUST! Also, visit Magazine Street for shopping and dining, Frenchman Street for Dancing and Music!
Noah says
When visiting New Orleans, if you want to dine at Cafe Du Monde just walk inside the building itself where you can usually find a table and skip the line. Take it from a local!
Yaidi says
I was in New Orleans 3 years ago for work and was just a weekend, but I gotta say that I had the best time. We ate…ALOT! If you love to eat, you’ll love it too. Cafe du Monde is great, line goes fast. Walked around the Garden District, great artists; even saw a show of guys break dancing in the street. Walked the whole French Quarter. Check out the bar with the carousel bar. It’s amazing! I don’t remember the street but just ask locals. Ate at Acme’s in Kenner, LA (less packed than at Quarter). I ate broiled oysters, yum! Visited the Farmers Market, great buys. We hung out on Bourbon Street every night since our hotel was just blocks away. You can bar hop with out entrance fees. You can enjoy lots of dancing and drinking (for those that like too) at reasonable prices. I didn’t get to do too much traveling; however we did drive on the longest bridge, Lake Pontchartrain. You can see the fisherman searching for crawfish. I think everyone you should go at least once. I went in July and it was hot, but I’m from Miami,Fl so nothing new. Can’t wait to go back!
Alicen says
Great list! In NOLA right now and used this list as a reference. Mothers restaurant was delicious…although the line is long, you’ll be glad you stood in it. The food is amazing and the photos one the wall are worth seeing! The line at Cafe Du Monde is long, but goes super fast. Jackson Square is beautiful and the local artists there are worth a gander, for sure. French Quarter is all it’s cracked up to be…historical but so NOT boring. So much to see…I recommend walking as much as you can because there are so many things you’ll want to take pictures of! Don’t forget Bourbon Street…seriously, a MUST! Had a blast the last 2 nights and caught a ton of beads thrown from balconies…didn’t have to flash once! It’s not all drunks and flashers…Better than Vegas <3
Lana says
Ah, New Orleans – my favorite place in the whole world! I lived there for years and had my first child there. I would move back in a heartbeat!!! – – For breakfast; start out at Cafe Du Monde and get some cafe au lait and some beignets. For lunch go to Martin’s Wine Cellar in Metaire for great sandwiches, soups, and salads with a small glass of wine(of course). Then for a mid afternoon snack or after dinner dessert; you definitely have to go to Angelo Brocato’s in Mid City for Italian ice cream and desserts. (This was my favorite place, when I was pregnant!lol) For supper, you should go to Denny’s in Bucktown for seafood. I always get a seafood platter, that I refer to as a Christmas tree. The seafood is stacked up like a Christmas tree. A half order feeds 2 – 4 people. You won’t be disappointed! – – Things to do: My Children love to go to the Audubon zoo, the Aquarium, and the IMax theater. The Audubon zoo is wonderful. The mall in Metairie is wonderful! You have to go down to the French Quarter and walk around and look at the beautiful buildings and crazy sites. Be sure and ride the trolley! The French Market is a really fun place to go, also. Be sure to stay on the East bank of New Orleans for safety purposes and because this is where all the things to do are! The East bank is the side, where the airport is.(Kenner, Metairie, the French Quarter)- – I could go on and on about the city I love!- – Just go to New Orleans and enjoy yourself!
Theresa says
Go to Angelo Brocatos in mid city. They have the best ice cream ever!! The Childrens Museum and the Audobon Zoo are great for the kids. Dickie Brennans for a great steak or if you want to grill your own, pick up some yummy steak at Rare Cuts.
Karri Reiser says
New Orleans is on my bucket list of places to go to one day. Thank you for posting such an extensive list of places to visit.
LouisianaGirl says
Do NOT stay in Bridge City! I used to work in Westwego (right next to Bridge City). You do not want to stay there! You can find a cheap hotel in Metairie and rent a car if you want to save money, but you will pay for the car and parking.