Halloween in New Orleans

[klhage89]

Husband and wife sailing out of New Orleans Nov 1st on Carnival Dream. We would like a precruise hotel for Oct 30-31, which will be over Halloween. We have never been to New Orleans but would like to see the city. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[gooch47]

It would totally depend on your budget.

 

Ideally one of the major chains near the French Quarter would be best. We are extremely lucky to be associated with the Caesars chain of casinos so we get free rooms at the Harrah's hotel within sight of the cruise ship docks. It is a smaller hotel, but we love it.

[gooch47]

A relatively cheap way to get a good overview of the city is the Hop On, Hop Off buses. And we love to take the trolley cars, often just to the end of the line and right back again.

[nolatravelgirl]

I personally would not take a hop on hop off bus as a buses is a giant behemoth that can't navigate the narrow streets of the French Quarter. I would rely on the street car and your own two feet for most transportation. There are no "trolleys" in New Orleans, they are referred to as street cars.

 

You are only going to be there for two days and the FQ area will be hopping for the holiday weekend so plan on walking.

[SadieN]

Book now

We were in NOLA over Halloween in 2013. There was a music festival and a dentist convention in town. Waited too long to get a hotel. Ended up at a Best Western down the trolley line. Had to book three nights.

 

Halloween in the French Quarter was very lively.

[maxxboy]

 

Halloween in the French Quarter was very lively.

 

 

We used to live about 3 hours away from NOLA. We had been several times and always loved it. Then one year we decided to go during Halloween. The French Quarter was wall to wall people and yes, very lively. If its like that during Halloween, no telling what its like during Mardi Gras, of which we have never dared to find out!

[klhage89]

What hotels would you suggest we stay. We want to experience the city activity but don't want to be in all the chaos or be afraid to get back to our hotel either. A middle of the road hotel would suit us.

[Kechin Yer Eye]

Halloween 2013 we stayed at the Ramada in Metairie LA about half way between the airport & the port. They have since been bought out by Country Inn & Suites but still offer all the amenities that Ramada had.....free airport shuttle, free shuttle to cruise port & the French Quarter. They also have free parking during your cruise if you drive in. They have undergone a remodel since Oct of 2013 when we were last there.....and I thought it was sure nice enough then! There is a K-Mart right behind the hotel that you can walk to for cheap sodas & water for the cruise as well. They also had a wonderful free breakfast in the mornings.....not just donuts & coffee but real food. We are booked there again for our upcoming cruise the end of Aug for a super rate of $78, but I booked that over 4 months ago and the rates have gone up since. We really liked this hotel. You can get some nice hotels closer to the French Quarter, but they are all pretty pricey......I'd start looking ASAP if I were you.

 

We used the free shuttle to take us to the French Quarter the night of the Halloween Krewe of Boo parade. It is a Mardi Gras style parade only with scary type floats & costumes.......they throw little trinkets like small voodoo dolls, cups, candy, etc. That is a can't miss if you are any where near New Orleans on the night of the parade!! But after the parade, you just need to plan on doing some drinking/eating or people watching on Bourbon St as traffic doesn't move for a couple of hours. They block the streets off for the parade and don't open them back up until the street cleaners have been down them which doesn't happen for a long while once the parade is over. Once things opened back up, we were able to catch a cab back to the hotel with no problem.

 

2013 was our 3rd visit to New Orleans, but the 1st time that we were there to go on a cruise. The city is so full of life, you can't see/do it all in just one or two days.

[luvnola66]

I have stayed at the Country Inn & Suites on Magazine Street which was just outside the French Quarter but still within walking distances. Bienville Suites on Decatur which is across from the Firehouse, a little noisy if you have a streetview. And my all time favorite Bourbon Orleans, right in the middle of the FQ which is great because you are always close to clean bathroom (trust me on this one). it is behind St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square BEST HOTEL EVER and its haunted LOL

[klhage89]

Thanks for the info. From what I have looked up, Halloween is going to be very busy and the hotels are pretty expensive. I don't want to pay more for my 2-day pre cruise stay than I did for the cruise. Really looking forward to seeing New Orleans though.

[dioxide45]

We have a cruise ending on Halloween in New Orleans. We were originally going to try and stay post cruise for a week in New Orleans, but have since decided against it. We are now flying to Galveston for a second cruise that departs on 11/1.

[christinalvt]

I have stayed at the Best Western on St. Charles, and loved it. There is free parking (a rarity in NOLA) and the streetcar is right outside the door.

 

 

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