Search hotels in Louisiana, United States

The French Quarter was well worth seeing but to experience real local music, food and culture, you need to go further out. Plenty of things to see and do. Some places get very busy, such as Cafe du Monde. Would definitely return and see other areas. A great place to start a visit to Louisiana. Plenty of restaurants. Organised tours were conveniently located.

Frenchman Street is the place for great Music...The Spotted Cat, Cafe Negril, Le Maison has amazing food and music. Use the streetcars, too easy. The Ruby Slipper for Breakfast, and Louisiana pizza house at the end of the French Market at Frenchman Street was a great find. The Mississippi Boat tour a fun thing for an evening ...leaves at 7:00. Louisana Swamp Tour company the best.....We had Junior as our Captain and he found us a Big Gator for sure. We booked our tour with Tony right near Hotel Provincial, what a great guy! Stay at Hotel Provincial on Chartres St. Fabulous in so many ways. Verti Marte is a deli /store 2 blocks away. The Washing Well on Bourbon Street grea for bringing in Laundry. Belle's diner 2 blocks for breakfast.....Can't say enough about New Orleans besides that I miss it already!

Some good history here. Capital of Louisiana. Go to the top of the Capitol Building - the views are fantastic and it's free! We sat by the Mississippi in the grounds of Southern University and ate lunch. Walk around the lakes at LSU and explore the campus - watch out for parking restrictions! Numerous plantations within easy driving. Soooooo much choice for eating. Excellent shopping choices - if that's your dream!

New Orleans, as we all know, is unlike any other city in the U.S. The smells, the food, the live music, the coffee! Having lived these past 17 years in Paris, France, I really do miss going to "N'Awlins" 5 or 6 times a year. When I have been there, my time is always too short….there is a "magic" that catches hold of you. You do not want to leave! What I do NOT like is hidden charges, and fees. You book a hotel room for $98. We-e-e-e-ellll, actually the final price will be $128. NOT 98. They add N.O. tax, state fee, French Quarter fee, exaggerated parking fee PLUS tax on that! It is the "RyanAir" deception method, which I do not like. New Orleans and her citizens were hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Many left and didn't return. Others came in to help clean-up and renovate. The city is doing well. I just hope it can retain its originality…and not become a "Fake version" of itself, with 12 souvenir shops in a row, selling the same things, OR a city with the same old chain stores that have taken over New York, Dallas, London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Dublin… Who wants to see those everywhere you travel? Will the City Hall let New Orleans live who she is? I loved the 1990's ad for Louisiana: "Come and say things you've never seen before!" "Come as you are, leave different."

Magazine Street was great. Bourbon Street was party central, but can only really do that scene for a night at most. Jazz was little disappointing - expected to see more Louisiana style jazz than young guys playing more rock than jazz.

Bourbon street is a must - such an eye opener with brilliant atmosphere. We ate at Seafood at Pier 424 and it was lovely. For a local speciality head one street down to Royal Street for a Beignet and a coffee and Café Beignet. Also on this street is Mr B's Bistro which is wonderful for a classy evening meal. Try the Mississippi Rabbit! New Orleans is easy to walk round. We saw all the big sites and landmarks by foot in the 4 days we were there. Down by the waterfront check out The Corner Oyster House. Great food, quirky and good for people watching. Take a walk down Frenchman street for local music and traditional architecture. Book a trip through Tours by Isabelle and get to see more of Louisiana by seeing the swamps and famous Oak Alley Plantation house. We had Muriel as a guide and her knowledge of the area and it's history was very impressive.

Don't expect posh, as most of it certainly is not, but the music, the cultural activities, the history - incredible. Most all of the eateries had fabulous Louisiana cuisine, but our favorite was a place called Oceana near the corner of Bourbon and Conti. Best seafood gumbo in the city, but the fried or blackened catfish, etouffee.......everything on the menu was unbelievably good and the prices were so reasonable. Ate there several times. We bought the 3 day 'Hop on Hop Off'' double-deck bus pass because we wanted more of a tour with narration and optional walking tours, but we also could have just bought a 3 day trolley/bus pass for $9 per person and checked out the routes to places ourselves, but for first timers, a tour is probably the way to go. Don't just check out Bourbon St. Frenchmen St. has another 25 places for great music, food, etc as well. Just follow Decatur behind the French Market and you can't miss it. I all New Orleans an 'experience' and of course, you haven't experienced New Orleans unless you have beignets at Cafe du Monde, hop on a street car on Canal and/or St. Charles, and ride a paddle wheeler on the Mississippi. Best place to stop first is the Tourist Information, 529 St. Ann, right at Jackson Square.

New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA) has been my second home; I used to work in NOLA during both pre- and post- Katrina. The bustling city is again reviving to its original grandeur. It has a different cultural touch. Situated on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi, it is a wonderful blend of cultures, and not a conventional modern American City---still has its French flair (thankfully, the language is English!). Amicable people, great areas to take long walks!

I am sorry to say that New Orleans was the place we enjoyed the least during our stay in the US. Everything that this incredibly city has to offer - great Louisiana food, cultural diversity, richness of its history, jazz, etc. - is drowned in the overwhelming insanity of Bourbon street. I'd go back there only if I am spring-breaker ever again... Sorry, New Orleans :(

Natchitoches is truly one of the most absolute beautiful cities in Louisiana and the history it holds is simply extraordinary. Must experience Cane River Historic district and make a point to visit the Melrose Plantation. Such a fascinating history.