Summertime in the Big Easy and the living isn’t always that
easy.
It can get steamy hot, with humidity reaching near 100 percent and
the air becoming stiflingly still as temperatures reach into the
90s.
Should that keep you from visiting America’s most interesting city?
Absolutely not. Like most Deep South cities, New Orleanians live in
air conditioning. Unless they are planning on running a marathon,
visitors can enjoy most of New Orleans attractions in cool comfort.
And there are moments of reprieve from the heat early mornings,
evenings and when the air comes breezing in off Lake Pontchartrain
or the Mississippi River tame the hot summer heat and make strolls
through the French Quarter enjoyable.
The crowds are less numerous in the summer, especially the rowdy
bunch that come for Mardi Gras and spring festivals. In August,
it’s not uncommon to find French tourists traveling through their
namesake Quarter.
The best reason to visit New Orleans in summer, however, is the
discounts for tourists, according to Laura Claverie of the New
Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. Hotels cut rates as demand
drops during the summer months, Claverie said.
Cheaper hotel rates also make New Orleans a great destination for a
family vacation. A recent poll by Yahoo! Travel and National
Geographic Traveler magazine named New Orleans the top family
vacation destination in the United States, based on criteria such
as cost, sightseeing and opportunities for recreation.
To make the trip even easier, visit the city’s official tourism Web
site for the 2005 New Orleans Good Times Guide, a collection of
coupons to summer attractions, restaurants and hotels
(www.neworleansonline.com).
The following is a list of hotels and attractions in New Orleans
with special deals and summer rates.
| NEW ORLEANS HOTEL SPECIALS
ALEXA HOTEL
Rates from: $129
Stay two nights, save 20%
Stay three nights, save 25%
119 Royal St.
888-487-9643
www.alexahotel.com BARONNE PLAZA
Rates from: $76
Stay two nights, save 15%
Stay three nights, save 20%
201 Baronne St.
888-756-0083
E-mail: [email protected]
www.baronneplaza.com RAMADA INN & SUITES DOWNTOWN
Rates from: $67
Stay two nights, save 20%
1315 Gravier St.
800-535-8141
E-mail: reservations@
ramadaneworleans.com
www.neworleans-ramada.com HOTEL MONTELEONE
Rates from: $97
For suite upgrade add $50 (based on
availability).
214 Royal St.
800-535-9595
E-mail: [email protected]
www.hotelmonteleone.com OMNI ROYAL ORLEANS
Rates from $109
“Two for One Suite”: Buy one suite for one night, get the second
night free.
621 St. Louis St.
504-529-5333 (main),
504-529-7010 (sales)
www.omnihotels.com LE PAVILLON
Rates from: $99
Stay two nights, save 15%
Stay three nights, save 20%
833 Poydras St.
800-535-9095
www.lepavillon.com
IBERVILLE SUITES
Rates from: $109
Stay two nights, save 15%
Stay three nights, save 20%
Free continental breakfast daily.
910 Iberville St.
866-229-4351
www.ibervillesuites.com
PARK PLAZA HOTEL
Rates from: $89
Stay two nights, save 15%
Stay three nights, save 20%
1500 Canal St.
800-814-7000
www.parkplaza.com/neworleansla SHERATON NEW ORLEANS
Rates for Satchmo Summerfest: $109
The Summerfest takes place Aug. 4-7
and includes seminars, an outdoor music festival, activities for
young jazz fans and a club crawl.
500 Canal St.
504-525-2500 |
| ATTRACTIONS: NEW ORLEANS
AUDUBON INSTITUTE
The Audubon Institute offers money saving packages with Adventure
Passports.
Six different options include a combination of attractions
including the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas, the Entergy
IMAX Theatre and more.
Rates: Prices range from $29.50-$67.25, Adult;
$16-$35.50, Child
504-861-2537
www.auduboninstitute.org SIX FLAGS NEW ORLEANS
Six Flags offers season passes that pay for themselves in
two visits and offer unlimited visits to Six Flags New Orleans and
Six Flags theme parks worldwide.
Rates: Through May 1, $49.99 plus tax
May 2 - June 12, $54.99 plus tax (online and at park)
After June 12, $79.99 plus tax (online and at park)
504-253-8100
www.sixflags.com
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