Is Gretna, New Orleans, a safe place for tourists to stay in?

Question

I will be in New Orleans in Nov 2-5. I've always been fascinated by this city, and would like to see as much as possible, but I'm not very sure which are the safe areas to go to.

Answer 1

Gretna is a safe but uninteresting and not very attractive suburban city. It is also on the other side of the Mississippi River from New Orleans and staying there will require lots of travel to go anywhere.

Stay in or near the French Quarter if you can.  There are lots of hotel choices for almost every budget.  Check www.frenchquarterhotels.com and travel sites like Orbitz and Travelocity for ideas.  Also check the hotel websites.

You don't need a car to get around in the city center.  The FQ is walkable and there are lots of taxicabs.  The Regional Transit Authority sells single and multi-day passes that offer unlimited use of buses and streetcars for the day(s) you choose.

Hope you have a great time!

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Gretna is literally a suburban city within the greater New Orleans area, and it is in the Parish (same as a County) next to New Orleans.  I think rockominal2000 confirms my point that staying in Gretna will require you to travel to go anywhere.

Answer 2

Hey.

Gretna is alright, and it does put you pretty close to the central business district downtown. I don't know what's "safe" about this town because I've already been in the worst parts of this town ( presuming that there are any good parts ) so I don't really think about it. I preume you are female so that is of concern to you. Just try and find a couple people to hang with no matter where you go. That being said, Gretna is not a "suburban city" at all, but just an immediate area right across the river on the so-called westbank. I presume you have already found a motel there. This NOLA guy must be some kind of P.R. pusher for the french quarter or something because there is nothing "suburban" about this place. I don't get his term "suburban city."There isn't farm land stretched out far and wide where developers build neighborhoods far out of town like in other states. There is no land here. That's what most people think of the "burbs". There is nothing like that here.That's all well and good because the french quarter/tourism board is trying hard to get people to come here. In reality,  ALL of it is urban. You can easily see downtown from Gretna. Now, if you don't have a car, there is a Jeff transit bus that runs regularly on the West Bank expressway. That expressway runs completely across the buisiness/residential district of the westbank, but I presume you are only interested in downtown where the french quarter is and you would be pretty close to it. So you get on the bus at the expressway at the Stumph Blvd,  Manhatten, or wherever you are on the expressway. Keep in mind that the actual expressway goes over your head in the middle but I'm talking about the main drag of course. Anyways the bus will take you over the GNO bridge and as soon as you're over it, you're already headed into the CBD area. It's pretty much a wrap from there because all you gotta remember is Tulane Ave. , Canal Street, and Poydras. The mayor's office/city hall is on Loyola Ave.  I can pretty much walk all over this town. Believe me, it's not that big at all because of the lack of land. It mainly goes east and west because north of you will end at Lake (swamp) Ponchartrain. Speaking of the "lake", f.y.i. the Lakefront used to be the top night spot of this town probably more than the french quarter. Before the hurricane I'll admit it more appeal as far as looks, and some pretty good places to go. The Lakefront just looked better. Period.

Anyways, The House of Blues will be on Decatur Street in the french quarter and , as far as I know, that particular franchise location is partly owned by Dan Aykroyd. John Goodman and Dan Aykroyd do alot of P.R. for this place. Sorry about the dissertation but I could write about 10 times more than I already have. Any further questions please post on my squad's message board which can be located at the link provided below.

Answer 3

Gretna is OK - not my favorite part of town. I wouldn't stay there and it's certainly not very convenient for a tourist. It is across the Mississippi River from the city.

Best if you could stay on Canal St, Uptown (St. Charles Ave.) or the French Quarter.

I'd look for something in Metairie (on the west side of town and closer to the airport) if I was not going to stay in the city.