Comments on: Is it safe to travel to new orleans for mardi gras next year? http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/ Blog about New Orleans, the city as it is today and vistas from yesteryear. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:04:34 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: swigaro http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-510 swigaro Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:16:29 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-510 Skip the SUV's. They won't make you a target, but they will be far more trouble than they are worth. If you are going for Mardi Gras, you will not need them, you wouldn't be able to find affordable parking and (speaking from experience) the streets in the quarter are not big enough for them. Take a taxi from the airport, it will be much cheaper in the long run. I rented an SUV when my sister was married in N.O. There was a major convention going on, two major football games and President's Bush (senior) and Clinton were doing a fund raiser for Katrina relief. There were, roughly 60,000 additional people in the downtown/french quarter area as a result of these events. It took a hour to get from the edge of the Quarter to the hotel's garage 4 blocks away. The quarter will be much, much more crowded during Mardi Gras. Stay in, or near the French Quarter. Skip the SUV’s. They won’t make you a target, but they will be far more trouble than they are worth. If you are going for Mardi Gras, you will not need them, you wouldn’t be able to find affordable parking and (speaking from experience) the streets in the quarter are not big enough for them. Take a taxi from the airport, it will be much cheaper in the long run. I rented an SUV when my sister was married in N.O. There was a major convention going on, two major football games and President’s Bush (senior) and Clinton were doing a fund raiser for Katrina relief. There were, roughly 60,000 additional people in the downtown/french quarter area as a result of these events. It took a hour to get from the edge of the Quarter to the hotel’s garage 4 blocks away. The quarter will be much, much more crowded during Mardi Gras. Stay in, or near the French Quarter.

]]> By: jugghayd http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-509 jugghayd Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:55:49 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-509 Over a million people every year seem to think it's safe.... Over a million people every year seem to think it’s safe….

]]> By: elsi19 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-508 elsi19 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:41:07 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-508 I went to Mardi Gras this year and my mom's SUV was completely safe. Only thing I got was a parking ticket on the last day we were there....oops. Oh, and we already have reservations for next year's Mardi Gras. I went to Mardi Gras this year and my mom’s SUV was completely safe. Only thing I got was a parking ticket on the last day we were there….oops. Oh, and we already have reservations for next year’s Mardi Gras.

]]> By: ReturnOfTheFly http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-507 ReturnOfTheFly Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:41:59 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-507 Yes, it is safe for tourist. Why would SUVs make you a target? Are you going to be this nervous when your here? Calm down. Stop worrying and have fun. Yes, it is safe for tourist.
Why would SUVs make you a target?
Are you going to be this nervous when your here?
Calm down. Stop worrying and have fun.

]]> By: JL http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-506 JL Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:30:33 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-506 YES YES YES dont start nothing and there wont be nothing YES YES YES dont start nothing and there wont be nothing

]]> By: Barry http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-505 Barry Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:26:19 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-505 Questions like yours about New Orleans typically draw many highly negative answers from people who don't live here and who don't know what they are talking about. That has NOT happened with your question - thanks to all who answered so far. New Orleans is NOT a dangerous place for tourists or for almost all of the residents. Reality is that almost all of the violent crime happens within the illegal-drug community and you don't have to worry about it unless you plan to buy or sell crack cocaine while you are here. That doesn't mean the crimes are OK, and we as a City need to do something about it (mainly get a new set of elected officials), but YOU are extremely unlikely to be affected. Just use the same basic common sense you need in every city in the world and you will be fine. You should re-think the getting the vehicles, but not because they might make you a target. The absolute top two problems during Carnival in New Orleans are traffic and parking. As another answer suggests, DON'T get the vehicles and stay in the city center instead. I recommend staying in or close to the French Quarter so you can use your hotel as a base, and then walk or take taxis to wherever you need to go. The city center (French Quarter, Central Biusiness District, Warehouse District) is moderately compact and walking is practical. There are also lots of taxis. You are welcome to write if you would like more info about NOLA. Also visit for more on Carnival. Questions like yours about New Orleans typically draw many highly negative answers from people who don’t live here and who don’t know what they are talking about. That has NOT happened with your question – thanks to all who answered so far.

New Orleans is NOT a dangerous place for tourists or for almost all of the residents. Reality is that almost all of the violent crime happens within the illegal-drug community and you don’t have to worry about it unless you plan to buy or sell crack cocaine while you are here. That doesn’t mean the crimes are OK, and we as a City need to do something about it (mainly get a new set of elected officials), but YOU are extremely unlikely to be affected. Just use the same basic common sense you need in every city in the world and you will be fine.

You should re-think the getting the vehicles, but not because they might make you a target. The absolute top two problems during Carnival in New Orleans are traffic and parking. As another answer suggests, DON’T get the vehicles and stay in the city center instead. I recommend staying in or close to the French Quarter so you can use your hotel as a base, and then walk or take taxis to wherever you need to go. The city center (French Quarter, Central Biusiness District, Warehouse District) is moderately compact and walking is practical. There are also lots of taxis.

You are welcome to write if you would like more info about NOLA.

Also visit for more on Carnival.

]]> By: TommyMo http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-504 TommyMo Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:35:16 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-504 you probably wont be in your trucks that long anyway, or at least you shouldnt be....pay the big bucks and get rooms right in the heart of the french quarter 'cause if you dont you will be frustrated as hell waiting in miles of lines when you come and go...just park the car when you get there and leave it...besides you will be walking alot and will want to regroup back at the room once in awhile..trust me, you dont want the hassle of long traffic lines, looking for parking spots(which are non-existant) you probably wont be in your trucks that long anyway, or at least you shouldnt be….pay the big bucks and get rooms right in the heart of the french quarter ’cause if you dont you will be frustrated as hell waiting in miles of lines when you come and go…just park the car when you get there and leave it…besides you will be walking alot and will want to regroup back at the room once in awhile..trust me, you dont want the hassle of long traffic lines, looking for parking spots(which are non-existant)

]]> By: KitKat http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-503 KitKat Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:16:22 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-503 I was recently in NOLA for 5 days. I felt very safe and saw no crime whatsoever. If you havent made hotel reservations yet, it may be very hard to find one at this point. Parking apparently is also a big hassle and pricey. I was recently in NOLA for 5 days. I felt very safe and saw no crime whatsoever. If you havent made hotel reservations yet, it may be very hard to find one at this point. Parking apparently is also a big hassle and pricey.

]]> By: pathfinder http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-502 pathfinder Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:12:42 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-502 It is fairly safe in the French Quarter and CBD area, because the city wants tourist to come back with their fat wallets.Police patrols and presences is good in this area. It is fairly safe in the French Quarter and CBD area, because the city wants tourist to come back with their fat wallets.Police patrols and presences is good in this area.

]]> By: Kristen F http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/comment-page-1/#comment-501 Kristen F Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:36:49 +0000 http://www.showmeneworleanstoday.com/2009/10/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-new-orleans-for-mardi-gras-next-year/#comment-501 I'm assuming you're white.. If you go to California, you wouldn't go to Compton. If you're in New York, you wouldn't go to Harlem. Just don't go in the ghetto and you'll be fine. Unfortunately the good people who do live there have to put up with the killings most of all because the government is full of incompetents. And do be sure to get out and explore the city. If you rent, be sure to get GPS systems, lol. Its a great place to visit, but very confusing, lol. You will love it. Have fun and use common sense! I’m assuming you’re white..

If you go to California, you wouldn’t go to Compton.
If you’re in New York, you wouldn’t go to Harlem.

Just don’t go in the ghetto and you’ll be fine. Unfortunately the good people who do live there have to put up with the killings most of all because the government is full of incompetents.

And do be sure to get out and explore the city. If you rent, be sure to get GPS systems, lol. Its a great place to visit, but very confusing, lol. You will love it. Have fun and use common sense!

]]>