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Where is the best area to stay in New Orleans for Mardi Gras 2008?

Me and a buddy inch Mardi Gras 2008 (Sat 2 / 2 to Wed 2 / 6) and we want to maximize our pleasure (parades, drinking, partying, music, etc. ..) while keeping things moving, hope - distance. Is it better to stay in the French Quarter or just outside it?

It depends entirely on how much you're willing to spend.

If you want to stay in the middle of the party scene, you'll want to be in the French Quarter. Lowest price at this moment that I could find for your dates is the Iberville Suites for $ 211/night. There are other hotels available for higher rates, but you should book now because they fill up.

One option a little cheaper would be to stay in the city center (CBD), or the convention center. The Courtyard by the convention center is just $ 149 / night now. This is a walk 5 blocks quarter, and another 4 blocks to Bourbon St.Most anywhere in the CBD and Warehouse District is within walking distance.

Here are some additional tips based on my past experience:
- Get in line for the bathroom before you need to go
- Carry extra "emergency" beer cans in a backpack
- Cut to the Rue Royale, or until the Rue Dauphine, if you want to go somewhere on Bourbon Street which is more than a couple of blocks away, you save time.
- Most importantly be patient with the crowd and have fun!

Im heading to Mardi Gras in NO this yr. Can anyone give me any tips on where to stay, what to see?

what not to see, basically any information will be helpful. Ive never been before and im also curious what its like since after Katrina...THANKS!

The Best and Cheapest place to stay is the New Orleans Guest House. It is located 2 blocks from the French Quarter on Ursuline Street. This place is wonderful! Very inexpensive, FREE PARKING and near the action. They have done a wonderful job restoring it after Katrina. It really is a "Bed and Breakfast" but we have stayed there several times and it is a lot of "younger" people. They don't care when you come in or what you do and rooms are very cheap....they do go up at Mardi Gras Time. You also might try looking into the hostel in NO they usually have some really good prices and are near the action. We have friends that stay there every year for Mardi Gras and have a really good time. It is a great way to party and hang out with other local travelers.

As for things to do well there is so much to do, try to see as many of the parades as you can, they are all different depending on the neighborhoods. You might also want to check out the WWII museum this place is just amazing and really is a good time. The people that works there are just so nice. I would also go to MARDI GRAS WORLD!!!!! Take the ferry across the river and go this is where they make the Mardi Gras floats and it is SOOOO cool! It is really neat to see how they make them and then see them in action. It really is a cheap place and a great way to see the city. Check out Save our Cemeteries they are a non for profit group that takes care of all the cemeteries in NO they have worked really hard to help restore the headstones and stuff. They offer cemetery tours which cost $10 and you get to see three of them. They do a wonderful job on their tours and they really bring the people and the history of the city alive!!! Even if you do not use them (which I would the do not make money off of you and the money you pay goes back to the cemeteries) there are some other groups that do it. Be sure to take a ghost tour, no better place to this than in NO, they really are a lot of fun and worth your time. If you get the chance go see Arthur at Airboat Tours By Arthur and take a tour of the swamp. He has been on MTV and many famous people use him for "gator" trips. He and his family do AWESOME tours!!! They last about 21/2 hours and it is great! Goggle Airboat Tours by Arthur you will find him. They also have a nighttime tour that is GREAT!!!! Very creepy and a lot of gators!
If you like fish and stuff the aquarium is nice, can get expensive but very nice to see! They have all kinds of displays. I would also take a Garden District tour and see that area, AMAZING and full of history! Be sure to ride the Trolleys they don't take long but are a NO must! There is so much to do you will want to check out this website for more, it really will help you plan your trip:
http://www.neworleanscvb.com/static/inde x.cfm/contentID/1/sectionID/1/subsection ID/0

I would also request my FREE visitor’s packet and let them know that you are coming for Mardi Gras and they will send you all kinds of information, maps and coupons. Very helpful and saves money!

If you have not booked your hotel for Mardi Gras yet you need to do it NOW!!!!!!!!!!! They book up really fast, and it is hard to get a room. Sometimes they are booked a year in advance so get right on that! You don't want to get down there and not have a place to stay. Remember they raise the prices on ALL of the hotels during this time so even a place like Motel 6 cost you $150 per a night! Good luck I hope this helps!

Mardi Gras Big Head Costumes 2010, Mardi Gras/Saints Parade.

New Orleans native artist, Jared Osterhold, homemade giant walking head costumes. These heads were sculpted using Mardi Gras prop making ...

Insanity. I haz it.