Dynamic New Orleans boasts plenty of high-end restaurants and luxury properties, but the Crescent City is nothing if not flexible. Visitors can find most any price point they’re looking for, and visiting NOLA on a budget doesn’t mean you’ll have to miss out on all the fun and great culture that the city has to offer. Here are some smart pointers on how visitors can best experience New Orleans without breaking the bank.
• Consider your timing. Midweek travel can save visitors significantly on hotel room prices, as weekends tend to have the highest rates. Visiting in the summer can also save a lot, as prices in general are at their seasonal lowest then. And August brings the additional cost savings, with the city’s popular COOLinary restaurant deals as well as Museum Month, where buying one museum membership will get visitors into a dozen additional museums.
The streets of New Orleans' dynamic French Quarter. (Photo Credit: Paul Broussard)
• So much of New Orleans’ architectural beauty and history can be seen from the sidewalks, so walking tours, whether in the French Quarter or the Garden District, can be an inexpensive way to experience the city. There are professional/paid tours, as well as free ones you can download yourself.
• Some of your cheapest meals can also be some of your best. Skip a huge breakfast in favor of chicory coffee and beignets from Café du Monde in the French Quarter or any one of the city’s amazing bakeries. For lunch, a traditional Italian muffuletta from Central Grocery makes for a wonderful picnic lunch down by the river. And for dinner, perhaps a burger at Port of Call or a po-boy at Killer Po-Boys. Even drinks can be reasonable here, with iconic bars like Pat O’Brien’s or Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar.
St. Charles Streetcar by Paul Broussard for New Orleans & Company (photo courtesy of New Orleans & Company)
• Few travel adventures are as inexpensive as the $1.25 required to ride the streetcar down St. Charles Avenue, the continuously operated streetcar in the country. You’ll experience incredible mansions, live oaks, great people watching, and more. Stop for a picnic or a meal at any one of the restaurants in this part of town, or just wander through the lovely neighborhoods.
• The New Orleans Museum of Art is a real steal at a mere $15 admission price, with discounts for seniors, students, and kids 12 and under. (Plus, Louisiana residents get free admission on Wednesdays.) If you like outdoor art, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden is completely free to visit.
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