Would you recommend a 26 year old girl to travel alone to New Orleans?

Question

I would like to go early September but i'm having second thoughts... what do you all think?

Answer 1

Eh, I lived in New Orleans alone at age 20 but I made friends and only went out with them in groups.  It is a dangerous city and even moreso after Katrina so be careful.  The crappy thing is that a lot of the fun stuff happens at night and that is when you shouldn't be out alone.  Find somebody to go with you if you can! :)

Answer 2

Sure have a great time.  Stay near the quarter and you probably shouldn't walk around at night alone.  Also NO isn't the best in September.  It kinda smells like pee and vomit seriously.  I went to school in Dallas and we would go down for Mardi Gras each year had a fun time.  Make sure you go to Pat O'briens for 1(one) hurricane.  As with any large metropolitan area keep your head up and pay attention to your surroundings.  Take a taxi if you are in doubt.  Have fun good luck.

Answer 3

You'll be fine, as long as you follow a couple of basic rules:

1) Don't advertise that you're a tourist. This means no beads, no "I Got Bourbonfaced on !@*& Street" T-shirts, and no painfully obvious intoxication.

2) Familiarize yourself with the city. New Orleans is amazing and one of the best cities in this country, but like any big city, you simply must be careful. Knowing where not to go is very important. For example, I don't really recommend going lakeside/"north" of the French Quarter at night, nor into the cemeteries alone, etc.

As long as you have a good idea of where you're going and don't make yourself a target, you should be fine. New Orleans is just like any other big city--only better.

Answer 4

sure, I'll meet you at the airport

you should call me and let me be your tour guide ;)

Answer 5

The answer from chucksright is exactly correct. Use the basic common sense needed in every city in the world and you will be fine.

New Orleans made the news after Katrina because drug dealers returing to the city were fighting over turf, and the competition was literally deadly. However, almost 98 percent of serious violent crime in New Orleans happens within the illegal drug community (mainly crack cocaine) and almost all the rest are domestic incidents.  That doesn't make the crimes OK but the average tourist or resident doesn't have to worry about it.

Things to do in New Orleans:

Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year:  www.nola.com/festivals

The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right.  It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines:  www.norta.com

There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.

Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can't be any confusion at the end of the evening.

An incomplete guide to bars & clubs:   http://www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com/

About certain alcoholic beverages:  Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor.  They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.

Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).

Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).

The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com).  The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.)

The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com).

Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.

The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel [phone] (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year.

Maximo's Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, [phone].

All of the famous restaurants (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Brennan's, Commander's Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends.  Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices:  http://www.tujaguesrestaurant.com/

Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).

The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes:  http://www.napoleonhouse.com/

Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome:  www.preservationhall.com/

New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:

www.nobadance.com

www.neworleansopera.org

www.lpomusic.com

www.lepetittheatre.com

There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ca

Answer 6

New Orleans is no worse or better to travel alone than any other place in the world.

If you don't get drunk and wonder around by your self at night, you shouldn't have any problems at all.

they have several tours and places to visit during the day that you can just blend in.

just keeps your wits about you, don't wear expensive jewelery or flash a wad of cash around and no worries.

Answer 7

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now if you got a friend to go with you it would be a different story but alone........NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Yes, you'll be fine, I'm 22 and don't even have a car, I get wasted and ride the streetcar around all the time. Just use common sense

Answer 9

As much as I'd recommend a 26 year old girl travel anywhere by herself. I think you'll have a blast. It doesn't take long to meet up with some fun people. I go to the city by myself sometimes. It's fun. Just like everyone else said and take the normal precautions you would take anywhere else.