New Orleans in December

[scrapgal123]

Planning weekend getaway in December. Any suggestions on hotels and things to do?

 

[3dog2kidmom]

My husband and I love the Bienville House on Decatur -- http://www.bienvillehouse.com -- and brunch at the Star -- www.starsteak.com. We did an amazing culinary history tour there one day, and took a ride across the lake to Abita Springs to visit the brewery and have lunch another afternoon.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Planning weekend getaway in December. Any suggestions on hotels and things to do?

You didn't say who you will be traveling with or whether there's a reason for your visit, but here are a couple of Christmas events:

Celebration in the Oaks in City Park is a New Orleans tradition. The park is decorated with tens of thousands of lights, and there are themed displays like "A Cajun Night Before Christmas." If you have kids, they will love Storyland.

If you are visiting later in the month, I'd recommend driving to St. James Parish about 45 minutes away and driving along the levee to see the bonfires. They are lit on Christmas Eve but built a couple of weeks in advance.

Non-holiday favorites of mine include the zoo, the aquarium, walking Jackson Square/the French Quarter, riding the streetcar and EATING.

I'm from the area and stay with family when I go home, so I don't have any hotel suggestions.

 

[Momoftwins+1]

Hotel Monteleone was a neat place to stay (although if you are bringing children I wouldn't recommend it, it is more of a large boutique hotel and kids don't really care about furnishings etc) It is within walking distance of everything.
The Marriott on Canal is nice and convenient to the insectarium, aquarium, French quarter, riverboats etc.
Rooms were also decent at the Homewood Suites right down off Canal Street. Parking is expensive everywhere if you are driving (20+ a night) as parking is at a premium down in the FQ.

To do...so much...French Quarter, shopping, Café Du Monde (not to miss) Johnnys Po Boys, so many dinner restaurants from holes in the walls with amazing food to 5 star dining. Jackson Square is very pretty around Christmas ( I'm not sure how far out it is decorated though ). You can take horse/carriage rides and learn of the history of the buildings in the FQ/Garden District etc < our kids loved it >, riverboat dinner cruises...you name it you can do as much or as little as you want and have a blast in NO.

 

[scrapgal123]

It will be just me and DH, no kiddies....

 

[mrsabbott]

I can't remember the name of the place my best friend and I stayed there, but it was AWFUL! We wanted something that was "authentic" and it ended up just being GROSS! We couldn't even stay the night and frantically called to find another room at a chain hotel which ended up being really charming and cute.. especially for a chain!

Anyhoo.. we didn't go there with a big plan, but we had the BEST time just walking around! Jackson Square had the loveliest little shops! We got to see inside Anne Rice's house!! Lots of amazing architecture! We saw an outdoor swing contest which was amazing to watch! Stopped and had a few drinks while walking around. Rode the Not a Trolley while there (we were informed it was NOT a Trolley, but a Streetcar! LOL!) and just spent an amazing weekend taking in the ambiance of the city! My favorite was the parade of Elvises (Elvi??) down Bourbon Street! There were hundreds of them and we still don't know why!

Got to say, I enjoyed it far better in the daytime though.. at night it was a little bit scary. But there is always something going on in the city.. local artists, people wanting to tell your fortune, human statues that literally DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE, kids tap dancing on the street, musicians playing jazz on the corners! And the architecture truly is beautiful to behold! You will have a great time!

 

[csg]

We went to New Orleans a few years back and stayed a couple of days pre-cruise.

One of my favorite things that we did was the walking tour from the 1850 House on Jackson Square. I highly recommend it.

 

[Tinkmom]

I will let others make suggestions about specific activities, but I would strongly suggest that you stay within reasonable walking distance of the French Quarter. Not necessarily in the middle, but close enough to not worry with driving and parking.

I really like the Drury Inn and Suites in the central business district and it has a great manager's reception with free food and drinks in the evenings ( you could literally make a meal of the offerings) and free (alcoholic) drinks for adults,

I would also suggest, if you are interested in music, that you go to Frenchmen's Street and not Bourbon Street area.

It is a wonderful city!

 

[Tinkmom]

Duplicate post

 

[scrapgal123]

@Tinkmom Is the Drury Inn near the French Quarter?

 

[Robbi]

@Tinkmom Is the Drury Inn near the French Quarter?

No, it isn't real close and it's in an area where I wouldn't feel comfortable walking at night.

There are a ton of nice hotels in the Quarter- the Monteleone and the W being 2 of our favorites. We also like the Hotel Provincial. Irene's is around the corner on the Canal St side and Stella! is almost next door. Both have great food.

 

[momto2inKC]

We stayed at the Marriott on Canal St. The location was perfect! We spent 3 days there and were able to walk anywhere we wanted. Our Harrahs casino card got us a rate of $60 a night which was pretty darn cheap considering the hotel/location.

 

[Tinkmom]

No, it isn't real close and it's in an area where I wouldn't feel comfortable walking at night.

There are a ton of nice hotels in the Quarter- the Monteleone and the W being 2 of our favorites. We also like the Hotel Provincial. Irene's is around the corner on the Canal St side and Stella! is almost next door. Both have great food.

It is well within easy walking distance and walking on Poydras is MUCH safer than many areas of the Quarter. I also like it because you are far enough away to not have to deal with the loud drunks at all hours.

I haven't stayed at the W, but the Drury is much nicer than the Monteleone.

 

[NotUrsula]

There are a HUGE number of special prices and special events in New Orleans during December; there is a program called the Papa Noel rates that are probably the best hotel specials offered at any time during the year. The program is under the auspices of French Quarter Festivals: http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/seasonal/cnos.html

I like to recommend the Wyndham Chateau Bourbon (which once upon a time was the flagship D.H. Holmes dept store), but it is undergoing a renovation right now. (Of course, if the lack of a pool and gym don't bother you, that means the rate will be lower.) It is on the corner of Canal and Bourbon. (For those of us who grew up in NOLA, sleeping at DH Holmes' is kind of a surreal experience.)

Make it a point to go over to the Roosevelt Hotel to have a drink at the Sazerac Bar and walk through the lobby. (Going to the Roosevelt to see the lobby decorations is a time-honored New Orleans tradition.)

This article is a couple of years old, but it's still pretty current in terms of things to do: http://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-central/christmas-in-new-orleans-00417000076430/

Also, FWIW, the bonfire festival in Lutcher is Dec 13-15 this year. They light one fire each night of the festival, to give tourists a small taste of what it looks like on Christmas Eve.
http://www.festivalofthebonfires.org/default.aspx

If anyone is ever in New Orleans on Christmas Eve, taking a riverboat cruise to watch the bonfires is a stunning experience; they are lit all along the levee at intervals, and it's just magical seen from the water. These are not ordinary bonfires, you understand; the structures are themed and built in shapes such as boats, oil derricks and piles of giftboxes; most are 20 feet tall, and when lit the fire rises about 100 feet into the air. You can see them from planes at 36,000 feet.)

 

[ocalla]

We spend lot's of weekends in NOLA. I agree with the Monteleone and the Marriott. both are in great locations, walking distance to everything in the French Quarter. We have also stayed at The Westin in the Canal Place shopping center. Nice location, quiet hotel.

Do lot's of research when it comes to French Quarter boutique hotels.....you may get something not too pleasing!!!

We enjoyed our last meals at The Palace Café on Canal (right near the Marriott) and at NOLA which is a restaurant owned by Emeril. We went there mainly for the Banana Pudding cake.....YUMMY!!!

Enjoy your visit!!

 

[Robbi]

There are a HUGE number of special prices and special events in New Orleans during December; there is a program called the Papa Noel rates that are probably the best hotel specials offered at any time during the year. The program is under the auspices of French Quarter Festivals: http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/seasonal/cnos.html

I like to recommend the Wyndham Chateau Bourbon (which once upon a time was the flagship D.H. Holmes dept store), but it is undergoing a renovation right now. (Of course, if the lack of a pool and gym don't bother you, that means the rate will be lower.) It is on the corner of Canal and Bourbon. (For those of us who grew up in NOLA, sleeping at DH Holmes' is kind of a surreal experience.)

Make it a point to go over to the Roosevelt Hotel to have a drink at the Sazerac Bar and walk through the lobby. (Going to the Roosevelt to see the lobby decorations is a time-honored New Orleans tradition.)

This article is a couple of years old, but it's still pretty current in terms of things to do: http://www.southernliving.com/travel/south-central/christmas-in-new-orleans-00417000076430/

Also, FWIW, the bonfire festival in Lutcher is Dec 13-15 this year. They light one fire each night of the festival, to give tourists a small taste of what it looks like on Christmas Eve.
http://www.festivalofthebonfires.org/default.aspx

If anyone is ever in New Orleans on Christmas Eve, taking a riverboat cruise to watch the bonfires is a stunning experience; they are lit all along the levee at intervals, and it's just magical seen from the water. These are not ordinary bonfires, you understand; the structures are themed and built in shapes such as boats, oil derricks and piles of giftboxes; most are 20 feet tall, and when lit the fire rises about 100 feet into the air. You can see them from planes at 36,000 feet.)

Wanted to add for anyone traveling with kids during the holidays that the Roosevelt has a Teddy Bear Tea that is very nice. My SIL's and I would take the kids every year when they were younger. They loved it!