LaQuinta & NO advice

[kguenther]

We are staying the night before our cruise at the LaQuinta Westbank. We received a free room because of our rewards program points. Also, the parking there is free for the duration of our cruise. However, I do have several questions, if you guys can help me out....We are a young married couple, no kids.

 

1. Has anyone stayed here? Is the location good/bad?

 

2. I need a good restuarant to eat at that night (March 11) that has "local flavor" in the French Quarter (supposed to be about 3 miles from our hotel)

 

3. To get the the French Quarter from our hotel, should we drive our car and mess with parking, or take some kind of bus/taxi?

 

4. We are planning on taking a taxi to the pier....is there a better way, or is that the best? I am told it is about $14 for two people.

 

5. Where is a good "local" restaurant to eat breakfast at near our hotel?

 

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it....also if you have any advice for fun activities for a young married couple to do in NO, that would be great. We are spending another night in NO after our cruise before we drive back home, so I am open to suggestions.

[jgmpuma]

1. It's in Gretna, right across the river from New Orleans. Nothing fancy, but the price is right, and the free parking makes a difference, and you won't be spending much time there anyway.

 

2. What kind of food do you like? Any budget in mind?

 

3. Take a cab, especially if you will be drinking. Parking in the French Quarter can be a problem.

 

4. Take a cab to the pier. That's really the only way to get there. There has been a lot of congestion in the area of the cruise terminal over the past few weeks because of parking lot construction. Wait until 1:00 or so and you should avoid most of it.

 

5. LaQuintas usually have a free continental breakfast. If you want something else, I would ask someone at the front desk to steer you to some place close by.

 

There are tons of things to do in New Orleans. It just depends on whether you like to party, bar hop, listen to music, etc.

[kguenther]

Thanks for your replies...

 

We would like some seafood/cajun type food for dinner. We would love to bar hop at places with good food/drinks. No real budget.

 

Any suggestions?

[jgmpuma]

These are all good. Each one is a little more upscale (and a little more expensive) that the one before.

 

http://www.gumboshop.com

 

http://www.muriels.com

 

Muriel's has several dinner specials, three courses, for $20 - $25.

 

http://www.thebombayclub.com

 

This is more of a martini bar than a restaurant, but it does have great food and live music.

 

We don't do the bars very much. Our regular place is a little hole in the wall on Decatur Street called Kerry Irish Pub. Inexpensive drinks a good local music. There are plenty of bars on Bourbon Street, some with live music. You can just walk down the street until you hear something you like. Be careful of pickpockets on Bourbon.

 

Most of the good music clubs are in Fauberg Marigny, across Esplanade Avenue from the French Quarter. Club listings can be found at

 

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/current/music-lists.html