New Orleans Travel Forum

My friend and I (both female) will be in New Orleans next week(I am so excited). I have visited a number of times, but have not been back since 2004. I had a couple of questions:

1. We will be staying at the Maison Dupry. I know that it is close to Rampart street. Should we be worried about returning to the hotel at night on foot? What about leaving the hotel in the early morning?

2. I have always walked around the Garden District and into the cemetery there and felt safe during the day. Can my friend and I go into the cemetery, or should we take a tour instead?

3. I like to walk in the French Quarter after dark. If we stay above Bourbon Street, will we be safe? What about as you get closer to Esplanade?

4. Any other areas to avoid/be cautious about?

I appreciate any help. This is my friends first trip to New Orleans, and I don't want her to feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

first off, i hope you have a GREAT time!! new orleans is my favorite place in the world and i just returned from my 6th trip there last month. it was my first time back since the hurricane as well.

so your hotel is close to rampart, would i go anywhere near rampart after dark? no. but i have also walked toulouse down past rampart and i can say that i think you will be fine. toulouse isn't some tiny alley street. it is a good street to be on in my opinion. of course just don't go the other way at night, but you seem to know that already. just be aware of your surroundings and i think youll be fine.

i personally never took a tour of the cemeteries. i also have gone just by myself. usually there are tours going on nearby during the day anyway so usually during daytime hours there will be other people there. if it makes you feel safer to do a tour, then do so, but i don't think you will have any problems. the problems usually occur, when they do, after dark. i have never seen any sketchy people there during the day. just tourists. so just make sure not to go at dusk/night and i am sure you will be fine.

as for the questions about being safe...yes new orleans has a high crime rate, but so do many cities. i recommend just always being smart about your surroundings and try to stick to the more populated streets during the night. just use common sense as you would in any city. don't go down the quiet, dark streets at night. stick to well-lit areas and keep near where people are around and you should be more than ok.

also, i wouldn't recommend going down to the river at night either. the drunk, homeless people seem to congregate even sometimes during the day by the river, i assume they spend their nights there too.

:)

you will have a wonderful time. !!!

am planning my 7th trip for october. i can't wait! any more questions, please feel free to ask.