New Orleans in United States of America

Hurricanes

Katrina alerted the world to the danger of hurricanes in this part of the world. However if one visits a place vulnerable to natural disaster, at least hurricanes give warning. During the height of the hurricane season, from July through October, be sure to check with the weather service before going to New Orleans, and if a large storm is threatening the Gulf Coast, consider a change of plans. If one threatens the city while you're there, play it safe and leave early; don't wait for an evacuation order to head away from the coast. If you cannot get out of the area you should at least be sure to get to a hotel located on high ground.

Health

Worries about health risks in New Orleans remaining after the post-Katrina cleanup were fortunately unfounded. In the main sections of the city, those of most interest to visitors, the main health concerns are the same for the rest of the U.S. South: If you're not accustomed to the sub-tropical heat, drink plenty of liquids and pace yourself in the sunshine. For the record, the tap water has been declared safe again since early October 2005, and New Orleans is one of the few cities where one can be sure that every restaurant and cafe has had a recent health and sanitation inspection, as this was required before the businesses could reopen after the storm.

No shots or other unusual precautions are required or advised for New Orleans visitors unless they plan to do volunteer work gutting and repairing homes in devastated areas like the Lower 9th Ward. Volunteers should please contact the charity you plan to work with in advance; Habitat for Humanity, Common Ground, Loyola University, or other such organizations can advise you on current projects and recommended precautions for participants.

Crime

Following the widespread displacement of people, destruction of property, and general disruption of city services following Katrina, the city has been experiencing a spike in violent crime, even increasing from 2006 to 2007. The majority of this is away from the parts of town of interest to most visitors, but no part is as safe as it once was. The Central City neighborhood (see New Orleans/Other parts of town Other parts of town ) is having the worst problem, and at present should be avoided by casual visitors. The New Orleans/Bywater Bywater area has also been having serious problems, and visitors are advised to check on current local conditions before visiting that neighborhood and take extra care if they go.

While the French Quarter and attractions most visited by tourists are some of the safest areas from violent crimes, beware opportunistic thieves looking for a chance to snatch something from visitors who are not keeping an eye on their valuables. A famous 19th century sign from the Quarter reads: Beware Pickpockets and Loose Women. Not much has changed. Tourists can be so distracted that they are separated from their common sense... and, theoretically, other things. Keep things in your front pockets, and be careful with your digital on Bourbon.

Around parts of the French Quarter and nearby areas with many tourists, visitors can encounter hustlers who will try to get a few dollars from visitors offering anything from a flower to a hat, a foot massage, or even to clean your shoes. Remember you're under no obligation to talk with them.

Looking for drugs or illegal activities can expose you to danger; if someone you just met is trying to lure you into a strange part of town for something decadent, assume you're probably being set up for a robbery.

New Orleans/French Quarter French Quarter : the oldest, most famous, and most visited section of the city. Most tourists will want to center their visit here. Those who explore other parts of town as well will find the city offers additional treats. Many old-line restaurants are in the Quarter, along with music clubs, museums, antiques shops, and drinking establishments.

The best time to visit is between February until June. The weather is really nice in between this time, sunny days and expect temperatures between 20-32 Degrees. If you travel there during the summer month you have to expect humidity which is not very comfortable. You walk out of a house and are covered in sweat. During these month there are also periods of heavy rain. They can actually happen daily and are only for like an hour and the sun comes out afterwards.

By air

The city's primary airport is Louis Armstrong International Airport http://www.flymsy.com/, located in the suburb of Kenner. As of summer 2006, Armstrong will again be served by 202 daily flights to/from 37 destinations (approximately 76% of its capacity prior to Hurricane Katrina) thoughout North America. European vacation packages are available from the UK on several British airlines who offer charter/cruise services nonstop to the Crescent City.

To get into town a taxi ($28 for one or two people) is quickest; that's the flat fee from the airport to any spot in the French Quarter or Central Business District. Limo service is also available for rates starting at $35. Airport shuttle http://www.airportshuttleneworleans.com/ is $13, and Jefferson Transit Airport Express route E2 http://www.jeffersontransit.org/schedules/Airport-Map.htm only $1.10. See the airport website http://www.flymsy.com/ground_transportation.htm for other options.

Many major hotels have shuttle buses from the airport. Even if you're not staying at one of those hotels, the shuttles can often be a value for those getting in to town if their destination is near one of the hotels. There is a public transit bus from the airport to Loyola Avenue in the New Orleans Central Business District; the stop is a fair walk from the luggage pickup, and you'll probably have to ask at an information desk to find it.

By car

The main artery into and out of town is Interstate 10, going to the east and west.

By bus or train

Bus and train stations are next to each other at 1001 Loyola Avenue, by the edge of the Central Business District and within walking distance of the Super Dome. Both Greyhound http://greyhound.com/home.asp and Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com service the terminal. Three Amtrak routes pass through New Orleans: City of New Orleans, Crescent, and Sunset Limited.

If you are visiting the French Quarter, casinos, or just the Central Business District, a car may be more of a burden than an asset. Most hotel parking is valet/remote/expensive/difficult at best. New Orleans is ready for visitors, and the rapid transit, trolley cars and buses are plentyful 24/7. Walking is fun and healthy during daylight and early evening. After midnight, you may want to call a taxi, but likely it will be a short trip at reasonable cost.

With a car

Be alert that the streets of much of the city were laid out before the automobile, especially in the older parts of town of most interest to visitors. There are many one way streets, and in some neighborhoods two-way side streets may be so narrow that cars going one way may need to pull to the side to let vehicles going the other way pass when someone has parked on the street.

Potholes are common and road condition is often poor for a developed country.

Street signage is sometimes unclear or missing, although the city has improved this situation significantly in recent years, but Katrina set the situation back, with much signage yet to be replaced.

Parking is often hard to find around many areas of interest to tourists, but there are generally pay lots in the area.

Those who don't know how to parallel park may wish to just leave their car in a pay lot when visiting much of the city.

Without a car

Those staying in or near the French Quarter can easily get around by foot, with optional occasional trips by streetcar, bus, or cab if they wish to visit other parts of town. Bicycle rentals are available on Frenchmen Street in Marigny among other places.

After Hurricane Katrina, public transit has been curtailed. Some buses run infrequently, and some routes in the most devastated areas have been discontinued. The Riverfront and Canal Street streetcars are running again, and the St. Charles streetcar now back running up to the Carrollton Riverbend. Fares for buses or streetcars are $1.25, 25 cents extra for a transfer (good only on another line, not for a return trip on the same line). Express buses are $1.50. Have exact change ready, please.

Public transit is by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority ( RTA ). RTA website: http://www.norta.com/index.php

Visitors can find out more information about what is available via the New Orleans Streetcar Lines at: http://www.ridetheroutes.com

Knowing which way is up

The older neighborhoods of the city, the ones of most interest to visitors, were laid out along the banks of the Mississippi River. Except for the grid of the French Quarter, streets were laid out either following to the river's curves or perpendicular to them, not according to compass directions or a grid.

For this reason, locals in these parts of town often don't give directions according to north, south, east, and west. The four directions, instead, are up (or up river or up town ), down (or down river or down town ), river (or towards the river or sometimes in ), and lake (or towards the lake or back or sometimes out ). Don't be daunted, this makes sense when you take a moment to understand it.

Look at a map of the city. If, for example, you are taking the streetcar that runs along Saint Charles Avenue from the French Quarter to Carrollton, you see that the route starts off going south, then over some miles gradually turns west, and winds up running northwest. This is because Saint Charles reflects a bend in the river. From the local perspective, the entire route goes one way: up (or on the return trip from Carrollton to the Quarter, down).

Know that Canal Street is the up river boundary of the French Quarter. (Keep going further up away from the Quarter and you'll be in Uptown. )

Some streets are labeled North and South, this reflects which side of Canal Street they are on (despite the fact that Canal Street runs from southeast to northwest). The part of Rampart Street on the French Quarter side is North Rampart Street; the part on the Central Business District side is South Rampart. Also, a good map of the entire city is a must, as people from out of town may have to learn to simply match letters on signs to letters on the map. You see, most street names are French and Creole in origin and may be hard to pronounce. For instance, try to pronounce these example street names : Urquhart, Rocheblave, Dorgenois, Terpsichore, Tchoupitoulas, Burthe, Freret. (For the record, locals say Urk-heart, Roach-a-blave, Der-gen-wa, Terp-sic-cor, Chop-a-two-lis, B'youth, Fa-ret. ) Now you understand.

Many major New Orleans streets are divided, with a neutral ground (median) running down the middle. For this reason, the traffic lights have no dedicated cycle for a protected left turn. On streets with a wide neutral ground, there is a solution. Imagine turning from an avenue to a street; the solution is to turn left on green, queue in the stretch of the street between the two halves of the avenue, then proceed once the traffic light on the street has turned green. On streets with a narrow neutral ground, there is not enough room for cars to queue. In these situations, left turns are often prohibited; the solution is to go straight, take the next U-turn, then take a right turn when you arrive back at the intersection. Streets such as Tulane Avenue famously have No Left Turn signs posted for miles.