New Orleans "Mardi Gras" Honeymoon. What should we expect?

There's still A LOT of work that needs done in New Orleans, but it's still beautiful none the less. I'd recommend staying in the French Quarter and taking the Trolly or a Taxi any where you go. It may seem like a hassle but, it's A LOT safer than driving during the festivities. Obviously, I'd say to spend a ton of time on Bourbon Street. Also, if you get time one night I would recommend doing the Vampire Tour (sounds totally lame but it's really awesome!) and doing a horse-drawn carriage tour (they're like $10 bucks each during the say and they're all over the place) and maybe doing a fairy ride on the Mississippi. And of course, you would have totally defeated the point of New Orleans if you don't go to Cafe Du Monde AT LEAST one time. They serve one thing to eat and coffee/hot cocoa/ drinks like that. It's a huge part of New Orleans and if you ask any one they'll be able to point you in the right direction. There's also a Bubba Gumps restaurant which is a lot of fun. And there's

Jack's Brewery which is a lot of fun. It's a beautiful place and I'm sure you're going to have a ton of funn!

Ooooh, you just made me even more excited, thanx girlie

*bump* Still wanna hear some insight from those who haven't seen my post.

I went to Mardi Gras prior to the Katrina and have all the same suggestions as Ash-uh-lee. There's also a haunted cemetery you might wanna check out. As for other advice, DO NOT wear nice jeans/pants/shoes if you go to Bourbon Street at night. During Mardi Gras there's a good couple of inches of beer/vomit/urine/etc that you have to wade thru and it'll ruin the bottom on your pants and they'll never be wearable again. And wearing Uggs would be an even worse idea. Trust me.

I'm about to be completely honest. I really would not chose this for my honeymoon. I've been to Mardi Gras post-Katrina. It. Is. Crazy.

I frequent N.O., it's my second favorite city on the face of the planet (mine being first favorite). It's beautiful, full of culture and history, and it is SO much fun. Mardi Gras is the only time of year I *probably* won't go again. The only reason I say "probably" is because FS hasn't been for Mardi Gras, and I really feel it's something everyone should experience.

My biggest advice for Mardi Gras season is to get a hotel with a balcony on Bourbon. They are extremelly pricey and probably already booked up, but it is worth it. You can't walk down Bourbon after the parades are over for the night. You can, but it's so crowded that you have to go where the crowd goes, as you walk shoulder to shoulder with everyone around you. It's dangerous, people get trampled. Having a balcony over that would be much more beneficial. If you want to (cont.)

A bar, go before the parades end and then stock up on drinks for after the parades end. Grab a ton of beads and throw them from your balcony.

Okay- second advice: during the day, go do everything you CAN do. Most party people are asleep during the day. I love the zoo, and that combined with a ferry ride and aquarium ticket is only like $25. You can easily make a day out of that. There is the French Market, huge tourist trap. They sell tons of souvenier type items. The Riverwalk Mall is so-so. Same with Jax Brewery. The good shopping is on Canal. There's a shopping mall with tons of high-end stores, right near Harrah's Casino. There's also a butterfly museum there. Mardi Gras World is over across the river in Old Algiers, they make all the floats and what-not there. Cafe Du Monde is a must. The vampire and ghost tours are always fun, but I'm not sure that they run during that time of year. Near the French Market is where Brangelina live, on Governor Nicholl's street, I think.(cont)

Um, expect to show your ta-tas for beads?

And a couple blocks down from them is Nic Cage's old house, the LaLaurie Mansion. City park is way on down Canal, take the trolley there if you go. It is beautiful. It's actually where I always wanted to get married. It's where I began to plan the wedding until I realized I'd prefer save money on the wedding and have a great honeymoon lol.

What else...

FOOD!! Mother's. It's world famous, but I hate it. There is a place behind Harrah's called Gordon Biersch Brewery which is one of my favorite places to eat there. There are also tons of hole-in-the-wall places that serve amazing food. If you're more comfortable with chains, they have a Margaritaville, Bubba Gump, and Hard Rock. House of Blues also has great food, and check out their line up before you go. FS saw Juvenile and the Bo Dean's all in one weekend once lol.

I've never actually stayed on Bourbon, but one of the best places I've stayed is the Prince Conti hotel, a block away from Bourbon. Love it. (cont)

I'm actually staying there again with my family on the 18th, for (I think) $75. Pretty good price!

Annnnd... I guess I'm done. lol I often rave about that city. I was raised loving it for it's history, and as I grew older I found out about their Hand Grenades (highly recommended, also). My whole life, I don't think I've gone a single year without visiting. For a while I'd make MONTHLY trips lol. So you can see my attachment.

But I'm just not crazy about Mardi Gras season. I personally went the weekend before Fat Tuesday, so it may be less crazy earlier in the season. But I wish you luck!!

It is alot of fun. Just remember you have so many young ppl looking to go there get trashed & get beeds. As a honeymoon if you are or he is the jealous type it could be an issue. But if not than all means have fun! My FH and I are planning to be in Mexico for Cinco De Mayo.

Definitely wear some tennis shoes, as the streets will be full of urine probably. We love a place called Tropical Isle for the Hand Grenades (I get them on the rocks, but the frozen kind is good too). You might be a goner after you've had 2-3 of them. I love Audubon Zoo- I have a photo of it post-Katrina that was kinda funny- a little cajun shack in the alligator exhibit had a blue tarp with spray painted count on the building of missing alligators. Immediately after Katrina it was a mess, but much improved since. I love to see the albino alligators there, and get some candy from the Roman Candy vendor. Port of Call is one of my favorite places but it is very much a hole in the wall place and can be chilly in the winter time- they are famous for their burgers, baked potatoes, and monsoons (drink). The monsoons are strong too...

I would also not suggest doing this for your honeymoon! It is one big crazy drunken, digusting party. Everyoen is half naked, and you can see prostitutes having sex right up against walls around the corner of buildings.

New Orleans can be fun, but not during Mardi Gras.

I also second that you should stop at Cafe du Monde for beignets. If you gamble and sign up for a player's card at Harrah's you can get FREE parking as long as you gamble for 30 minutes. When we visit the city, we often park in the Harrah's garage, and gamble a little and then head out, and on our way we will gamble some more. My husband will sometimes time me to make sure i've done 30 minutes but you have to keep your card in the machine. Since I like to gamble it's not a bad deal with parking for me and sometimes much cheaper than city parking, especially if you leave the vehicle there all day. The other day I saw that you could park for I think $8 near the Riverwalk if you had tickets from the aquirium, imax- not sure if it included the Riverwalk stores. I like Mardi Gras Parades in Metairie, LA (suburb) as they are a little more family oriented. Definitely buy some pralines! I had them as wedding favors.

Do not get a hotel on burbon street. You want to get a hotel on or near the French Q. but be prepared for all the loud noise to ruin the sukki sukki moment. I always recommend New Orleans because it can be very romantic but going during Mardi Gras is like going to Cancu Mexico during spring break.

Oh and you definitely have to get some king cake since you will be here during Mardi Gras We actually walk a good bit in the French Quarter but in recent years i've kinda stayed away during Mardi Gras within NO- I just go to Metairie. I have only really gone to a few parades like Endymion in all of my years- They are I suppose a little nicer but the parades in Metairie have some pretty big floats. During Mardi Gras the New Orleans website nola.com is pretty informative with parades everywhere. In the past couple of years they've had something called "Familygras" which involved some pretty nice concerts with a parade. Last year they cancelled it, in part because of the Superbowl Saints Not sure if they will do it again, but they've had some kinda big names- Taylor Swift but that was when she was kinda starting out. (I'm not a fan of her music, but like her as a person).

This link offers some tips:

http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/mardi1.html

As far as parking- I always walk. Everywhere. lol I leave the car at the hotel and walk. I never get a hotel outside of the quarter for that reason. Trolleys are fun, but I like to take everything in while walking. With everything to look at and to do, you don't ever realize how far you've walked.

This thread is going to make the next 13 days crawl. It's been almost a year since I've been. I have nola cravings lol.

My FH and I also have a soft spot for NOLA. We were just there for Voodoo Fest over Halloween weekend, and were there for Super Bowl earlier this year. I don't think I'd ever go for Mardi Gras though. It's crazy enough there WITHOUT Mardi Gras going on. I hear JazzFest is better. Try to get to Frenchman Street - it's where the locals hang out and you can see some great music. Bourbon of course is a must but it's insane. I also have to ask why you are choosing this for your Honeymoon? It is fun but not exactly where you go to connect, get lost in each other and spend some QT with one another. Lots of boobs, lots of insanity, tons of drunkenness and debauchery.

I love New Orleans and it can be a nice honeymoon spot, but NOT during Mardi Gras. It's spring break on crack. Pure debauchery, loud and absolutely out of control. It can be fun, but it's not exactly romantic. The hotel prices are also very, very expensive.