New Orleans

[Canadian Dude]

So I am doing research on a trip I might be taking to New Orleans,...Ad one thing has come up ALOT...SAFETY?

Is NEw Orelans really as bad as people are saying? Is it any worse than any other city in the world? I have walked the streets of New York, Amsterdam, Sydney and Havana and have not really be concerned for my saftey (dispite some small incidents along the way) but everything that I am reading about NEw Orleans makes me kinda wonder.

Anyone have any comments or views or real hardcore first hand info on whats the deal in New Orleans

Thanks!

[peenkfloeed]

hey man,
i've been to new orleans a WHOLE lot, i've lived in the south for most of my life, i've never had any problems in new orleans, and i've never had any concerns while walking around either late at night or mid afternoon. I've been down there for concerts and gotten lost before by walking down wrong streets, but never saw anyone that looked threatening. But the best way to handle new orleans, as is any big city, is to stick to the well populated areas and try and stay with as many people as you can. I've never been walking around by myself, it's never been with fewer than two other people.
So when are you planning on going?

[peenkfloeed]

Oh yeah, i forgot to say, i'm going down tomorrow for the entire weekends

[kingcrazylegs]

I grew up in Louisiana, and have been down to N.O. a lot...never had any problems. The crime rate is exrtemely high, and you do have to be smart. There are certainly area I would not go out to at night.

[lilwings]

Think of New Orleans like a eastern european city (but much more expensive): dangerous if you're dumb.

Like lots of other places I have travelled to, I used to go there by myself all the time, and I am still alive to tell the tale. I drove there often when I was stationed in Alabama, and I flew there recently for part of my R and R from the desert. The crime thing really becomes a problem in some of the slummier areas away from the Garden District and the French Quarter. I know that cash is tight (like with most spur-of-the-moment backpackers), but staying closer to those areas is safer since you are surrounded by other traveller types. Plan on spending quite a bit of cash on food and drink... damn, booze is expensive there. Food is great... everywhere you go. The touristy place can get expensive, but there are several little places just outside the french quarter area that do great po boys and muffalettas. Everything is expensive on Bourbon.

The best safety advice I can offer you is to keep your head on a swivel when you're in the dodgy areas. Don't drink to the point of stupid by yourself... save that for a group of people you can trust (who will get you to your bed in one piece with all your cash in your wallet). Beware: many of the cheaper hostels in the area are in bad nieghborhoods, but you can find fairly nice hotels in the touristier places with online discounts. If you don't mind forking the cash- I stayed at the St. Anne Marie Antoinette in the French Quarter when I was on leave-- it's right on Conti Street (look right when you walk out the door and there is Bourbon). When you get to the airport, take the airport shuttle service to where you need to go... it's cheap (13 dollars one way-- and you can book for your return trip to the airport that day) and you'll meet other solo travellers at times. The taxi services are about 35-40 dollars to get you from Louis Armstrong AP to the French Quarter or Garden District.

The museums there are great! The Louisianna Historical Museum on the square is really incredible. I also advise a trip to the D-Day museum... that place was so moving! The other fun place to check out is the Audobon Aquarium of the Americas (it's expensive for the ticket but really worth it)... it's right on the waterfront, down from the Natchez Paddle Steamer. The other neat places to visit are St Louis cemetary (in the Garden District) and Layfette cemetary (right near the Quarter). Layfette has the tomb of Marie Leveou... THE voodoo priestess. (grab a tourist map at one of the stalls around the area... they have them for free and they can be helpful when you get lost in the garden district)

Oh, and have cafe au lait and bengiets at Du Monde for me... the girl dreaming of New Orleans in Baqubah, Iraq.

Have a good trip... post pictures when you get back!

[Canadian Dude]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam Lilwing, you the shizzzzzzzznit !!!!!

Thats some great info! I will put that info to good use, and make every effort to send you a pick from the Du Monde!!!!!

Peenk: I think I will be there March 9 - 10... you gonna be around? I will buy you a beer!

Lilwing, get your ass back here too and I will buy you one too

[voyd]

I'm guessing NO is not as "dangerous" so much as it is just chock-full of a constant stream of dumb, piss-drunk tourists who are just asking to get taken advantage of. It's more the easy prey than the predators, I think. So, I don't think you'll have any problems, dude!

[kingcrazylegs]

Originally posted by voyd@Jan 31 2005, 10:21 AM
I'm guessing NO is not as "dangerous" so much as it is just chock-full of* a constant stream of dumb, piss-drunk tourists who are just asking to get taken advantage of.

Exactly!

[lucky]

I've only been there twice but I'm going back for Halloween weekend. I didn't feel like it was especially dangerous. It felt "Safer" to me then for example Miami and only maybe slightly "seedier" than Minneapolis. Nothing to get worried about. New Orleans is fun!

[LaurieL622]

yes, the crime rate is very high...but like everyone has said...it's safe as long as you don't go jogging at 2am alone. It's like any other urban city; there's lots of crime but most people don't see any of it. i went a few years ago with my friend, and as two girls walking around n.o. ....we still felt very safe. I've also heard the stats of n.o. crime but you should have no problem as long as you stay out of the dark ally ways

[pink_floyd]

new orleans is fairly safe in the french quarter area.. just dont wander off in the allies by yourself.. and a lot of people will try to hustle you .. i.e. talk in some gibberesh and try to see if you want drugs... dont get me wrong there are alot of cool people in new orleans but there are street hustlers too.. that is their schpiell, rip you off for crack money.. you will get mugged if you fall for it.

[Magnifico]

New Orleans can be a scary place, but my sister discovered a few years ago that the best way to handle any potentially dangerous situation is to say you're from Memphis. I was amazed to hear that life-long inhabitants there thought that growing up in the Memph could make you a hard mofo, but apparently it's true.

So I guess, if the shady-looking junky with the shell-game stand asks where you're from, just tell him you grew up in Memphis. If that doesn't make him back off, tell him you've taken a stroll through Voodoo Village and lived to tell the tale.

[Sijuki]

Originally posted by Magnifico@Jul 31 2005, 03:49 PM
New Orleans can be a scary place, but my sister discovered a few years ago that the best way to handle any potentially dangerous situation is to say you're from Memphis. I was amazed to hear that life-long inhabitants there thought that growing up in the Memph could make you a hard mofo, but apparently it's true.

So I guess, if the shady-looking junky with the shell-game stand asks where you're from, just tell him you grew up in Memphis. If that doesn't make him back off, tell him you've taken a stroll through Voodoo Village and lived to tell the tale.

I have found, whether people bother me or not, that people will scare very easily by me saying I am from Detroit. The rumors must abound of the scary things here. I don't know what is so bad about detroit, but I have had many people just back off from the comment.