French Market, New Orleans

The market has a lot of things you wouldnt find in a mall.

What to buy: The market has the usual tourist items but you have to look at the unique things like the jewlry. We saw a woman who made great bead bracelets with names and if she didnt hav a name she would make it for you.

What to pay: I think we paid from $5.00 to $7.00 for the bracelets.

If I had to describe it in our own lingo, I might call it a local "open air" market. It runs from St. Ann Street to Barracks Street in the French Quarter. It's no fancy place, but quite colorful with a diverse assortment of goods from hot sauce to clothes and purses to canned alligator meat to fresh produce and flowers. Prices are very reasonable.

Even though it's the in the French Quarter, this isn't a touristy place as most locals shop here for fresh produce and such.

What to buy: Alligator was the most unusual item I saw. There were also a couple of fruits I'd never seen before, namely a "mirlitone".

What to pay: It depends on what treasures you find. Take cash as there are several vendors and most of the goods don't carry a very high price.

Flea market (Saturday and Sundays) has all kinds of vendors with the best bargains for souvenirs. Check here BEFORE you buy anywhere else.

What to buy: Depending on your personal preferences, you can get 7 t-shirts for $ 20, masks and boas and colorful pins to wear that are made out of plastic.

What to pay: Minimal

The French Market is full of vendors selling everything from fresh produce, to cookbooks, to gator goods to hot sauce. You can buy any kind of hot sauce you could think of here. Check out the creepy gator faces on display and for sale.

The French Market has everything from beads, to prints, to fresh fruits & veggies. Everything in those countless tourist shops can be found at the market and at a better price. I went twice in five days!

What to buy: Fabulous prices on jewelry and all those souveneirs. Don't forget a picture frame for all those memories you're capturing on film.

What to pay: Priced below all the gift shop prices.

You'll adore the French Market in the French Quarter. It's a funky, eclectic mix of local cuisine and cheap souvenirs. Nathalie especially loved getting a pair of duck-shaped sunglasses. For her, a trip to New Orleans without a stop at the French Market is unthinkable!

What to buy: Don't buy postcards until you can get yourself to this neighborhood. The cards for sale in most shops along Bourbon Street pale in comparison to the class of souvenirs you can get along the strip between the French Market and Jackson Square. Trust me on this; I did lots of comparison shopping!

Along Decatur Street, you'll find the French Market, the Farmer's Market and lastly the Flea Market. Each is a good option for buying various souvenirs. The flea market is stocked with cheap tee shirts and crafts and is worth a look.

The French Market is really cool because it has so many different things. From jewelry, to paintings, to wallets, to sculptures, to drums, etc., etc., the French Market has the variety you need. Prices can be a little high, but then you can also find some steals. Don't be afraid to beargain with the sellers there. Everytime I have gone with someone who bought something, the price was argued and we got them to lower the prices. The entire place is underneath a big tent and it can get real hot at some times during the year.

What to buy: Jewelry is the main item, but there is just way too much to list here.

What to pay: How much you got?

Cool little place---thought there would be more vintage stuff, but mostly new reproductions...I love toy shops, wish this weren't so touristy.......

What to buy: New Orleans writer's books---

What to pay: tourist prices

This shop was like many on the tourist shopping strip. I bought some local hot sauce, coffee and postcards. The hot sauce was good. The coffee was with chickory and it is on the strong side.