New Orleans Advice Please

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GusTrain

GusTrain

Train Attendant
Joined
Mar 27, 2014
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In the last phases of planning our trip to Florida-will take the Sunset Limited into New Orleans-from there we are heading to Daytona Beach, FL...trying to decide if we take the train or rent a car one-way...

-Has anyone rented a car out of NOL? If so, where/what company?

-Closest hotel to the Amtrak station?

Thank you!
 
Amtrak Service between New Orleans and Florida is suspended and has been since 2005. There is some discussion of reopening the route as an extension of the City of New Orleans. If you're trying to get to Florida on Amtrak, depending on where you are coming from, there would probably be a better route than going to NOL (unless you wanted to visit both).
 
Well, we want to take the SL as part of my dream to try all the different routes...I know by train we would have to go from there on the Crescent to the Silver Star via DC to get to Florida (more untried routes!) but that's why we are considering renting a car...
 
We have direct flights starting in April from msy to Jacksonville on allegiant. Then it is only a HR or so drive.
 
It sounds perfect. The Sunset Limit to New Orleans, and then drive to Daytona along the Gulf Coast in a rental car. It may be better to get off the interstate and enjoy some of those unique places along the route.

We would enjoy that drive, and it certainly sounds like a good plan to me.
 
abcnews said:
It sounds perfect. The Sunset Limit to New Orleans, and then drive to Daytona along the Gulf Coast in a rental car. It may be better to get off the interstate and enjoy some of those unique places along the route.

We would enjoy that drive, and it certainly sounds like a good plan to me.
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Perfect...I've driven that route many times. That way you get to stop here.... :eek: http://www.florabama.com/
 
The High Rise Holiday Inn Superdome is just a couple of blocks ( on the opposite side of the street) past the Hyatt mentioned above. (Much more reasonable if no major event is going on!)

But there are numerous Hotels in tbe Central Business District, French Quarter and Garden District that are only a $10 Cab ride or Street Car ride away or even walkable if you don't have much luggage.

Use Kayak, Orbitz, Trip Advisor,Hotels.com, booking.com etc. etc. to Google up Hotels and book the best deal you find for the hotel you like!
 
Bob Dylan said:
The High Rise Holiday Inn Superdome is just a couple of blocks ( on the opposite side of the street) past the Hyatt mentioned above. (Much more reasonable if no major event is going on!)

But there are numerous Hotels in tbe Central Business District, French Quarter and Garden District that are only a $10 Cab ride or Street Car ride away or even walkable if you don't have much luggage.

Use Kayak, Orbitz, Trip Advisor,Hotels.com, booking.com etc. etc. to Google up Hotels and book the best deal you find for the hotel you like!
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I agree with Zimmerman...opt for the French Quarter and enjoy a total New Orleans experience. I hop a cab for $10 bucks and stay at the Le Richelieu each time I'm in NOLA (lots)...Hey, good enough for McCartney is good enough for me. In a very quiet section of the Quarter away from the Bourbon hoopla and 4 minutes to Cafe DuMonde.

http://www.lerichelieuhotel.com/
 
You didn't say how many days you want to stay in NO, but I agree with others that you are better off in a French Quarter hotel than in the business district unless you are only staying one night. The business district gets very quiet at night in terms of activities. From the French Quarter you will have many days of entertainment available all within easy walking distance. Food and music are both awesome. Best music is often found on the street day or night or in the small clubs along Frenchman St. in the evenings. Also check the local entertainment listings - there are often free concerts in parks, churches, etc. by very good jazz people.
 
Thanks, everybody! I think we will opt to rent a car one-way in NOL, enjoy it per your great ideas...then drive over to Daytona Beach, skipping the unfortunate AMTRAK long-way-round to Florida through DC....
 
Check out what accommodations you can get through the Amtrak Guest Rewards site under "Hotels", "Rocketmiles". You could pick up quite a few AGR points. I got 7000 points for a two night stay in Seattle, (3000 signing up bonus and 4000 for the two night stay) and 7000 points for a 7 night stay at a Best Western ($79 a night) in Providence, RI recently.

Won't hurt to at least take a look at what is available under that program and if you have the B of A AGR points credit card you can build your point balance faster.

I also rented a car from Enterprise for a week in Providence. $269 total (incl. tax & fees) for an economy model for a week. That got me 6X points for a total of 2100 points for the car rental.
 
Please consider dropping by Preservation Hall if you enjoy New Orleans Dixieland Jazz.

You can enjoy the Gulf of Mexico beachfront by leaving Interstate-10 at Exit 2 in Mississippi and taking Highway 90 along the beach from Bay St. Louis to Ocean Springs. You can return to I-10 at Exit 50 from Ocean Springs. You also can stop by many casinos in Gulfport and Biloxi for good food, entertainment, and a night's stay if you wish.
 
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I stayed this week at the Best Western Plus Christopher, 1/2 block west of Canal St on Magazine. There is a New Orleans streetcar now that boards at the Amtrak station and stops at the intersection of Magazine and Canal St, I paid $79 per night total -- including all taxes, room wifi, and full breakfast
 
Hytec said:
Please consider dropping by Preservation Hall if you enjoy New Orleans Dixieland Jazz.

You can enjoy the Gulf of Mexico beachfront by leaving Interstate-10 at Exit 2 in Mississippi and taking Highway 90 along the beach from Bay St. Louis to Ocean Springs. You can return to I-10 at Exit 50 from Ocean Springs. You also can stop by many casinos in Gulfport and Biloxi for good food, entertainment, and a night's stay if you wish.
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Good info from Hytec above. I'd then get off of I-10 again and take exit 44 in Alabama at Malbis. Then take AL59 south down to Gulf Shores and then head east along the coast through Apalachicola (great oyster bars)...continue on US-98 to Perry, FL and then US-27 to I-75. Run I-75 south to Ocala and then take FL40 east right to Daytona. Lots of Florida back roads, you will see so much more than the folks who only drive the interstate system. Have fun!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apalachicola,_Florida
 
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Wow! We we are doing a round-the-country trip on Amtrak from PDX...which we were totally excited for--but now you all have added so many new facets to this part of the trip it will be wonderfully hard to decide between all the fantastic options!

Thanks a million-

train folks are the best!
 
GusTrain said:
Wow! We we are doing a round-the-country trip on Amtrak from PDX...which we were totally excited for--but now you all have added so many new facets to this part of the trip it will be wonderfully hard to decide between all the fantastic options!

Thanks a million-

train folks are the best!
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Our pleasure. Hey Gus...I'm headed to PDX on the EB in early April. Love the city and spent a lot of time there when my daughter went to Lewis&Clark. Have a great trip.
 
I'm staying at the Whitney hotel on Poydras St. It used to be a bank and they converted the vault into a dining / conference facility. It's also supposed to be haunted!
 
We will be flying in to NOLA, staying for three nights, then boarding the Crescent to NYP. So we will be taking a cab from the airport to a hotel, but would like a walkable distance to the Amtrak Station, since the Crescent departs early. Any suggestions?
 
GaSteve said:
Read back on this thread for many suggestions. The best "walkable" hotel is the the Hyatt, 3 blocks and a 10 minute walk away.
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Tony: the High Rise Holiday Inn Superdome is across the street a couple of blocks past the Hyatt and is usually much cheaper!
We stayed there last October on the way to the Gathering and it was fine, but cabs are only $10-12_in NOL so I wouldn't limit my choice to the above, the CBD, French Quarter and Garden District are full of Hotels, so I'd base my booking on price, convienence and amenities!

Make your choice by using one of the many travel sights (ie Hotels.com, bookit,com, Orbitz etc)and you'll find what y'all want.

Since you're staying 3 nights I recommend Plas D'Armes behind the Cathedral and Jackson Square, one of the hidden gems I've enjoyed staying in in one of this Country's Great Cities!
 
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tonys96 said:
We will be flying in to NOLA, staying for three nights, then boarding the Crescent to NYP. So we will be taking a cab from the airport to a hotel, but would like a walkable distance to the Amtrak Station, since the Crescent departs early. Any suggestions?
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If you all are staying 3 nights I would highly recommend staying in the French Quarter to get a true feel for NOLA. I've taken that 7:00am Crescent many times just by grabbing a cab from the hotel. It was $10 last April when I was down for Jazz Fest. Check out this great hotel in the Quarter...very quiet, inexpensive, and away from all the noisy Bourbon crowd.

http://www.lerichelieuhotel.com/
 
Eric308 said:
tonys96 said:
We will be flying in to NOLA, staying for three nights, then boarding the Crescent to NYP. So we will be taking a cab from the airport to a hotel, but would like a walkable distance to the Amtrak Station, since the Crescent departs early. Any suggestions?
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If you all are staying 3 nights I would highly recommend staying in the French Quarter to get a true feel for NOLA. I've taken that 7:00am Crescent many times just by grabbing a cab from the hotel. It was $10 last April when I was down for Jazz Fest. Check out this great hotel in the Quarter...very quiet, inexpensive, and away from all the noisy Bourbon crowd.

http://www.lerichelieuhotel.com/
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tried...no availability..... :(
 
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