| Best New Orleans Travel Deals | Sponsored Links |
New Orleans Tours
City, Plantation, and Swamp Tours Book Online Today - Sale Prices Courtyard Hotels
It's a New Stay at Courtyard Hotels Free WiFi, Plush Bedding and More. Harrah's® Official Site
Official Site. Rates As Low As $169 Limited Time. Low Rate Guarantee.
| French Quarter tips and photos posted by real travelers and New Orleans locals. • 9 Photos
• 14 Reviews
See all New Orleans Tourist Traps |
 | New Orleans French Quarter Reviews | 1 - 10 of 14 |  |
If you're in new orleans you're bound to end up on jackson square at one point or another. the shops there aren't really anything to write home about and you can find anything there for about half as much if you go up about a block or two.
the park inside the gates though was a great place to sit and read my book while munching on a muffeletta from central grocery. it's green and beautiful when it's not raining of course:P
I have to mention, most people mock the palm readers and psychics who set up shop here, but let me tell you a story about the nicest man who helped me out while I was there.
I was looking for The Bottom Of the Tea Cup Tea Room because I had heard stories of the Octoroon Mistress who had taken up residency as their local haunting. it was supposed to be located right on Royal near Jackson Square. I looked and I looked and I couldn't find it so I decided to ask someone for directions. well no one could tell me where it was located.
finally I get to Jackson Square and I decide to ask one of the Palm readers for directions. I go up to this withered old man who has a brightly colored table and ask him if he can point the way. he proceeds to tell me to go where I had just come from.
Now when I told him it wasn't there, he actually had someone watch his booth while he walked me to the exact location on royal street. turns out they had sold it to a clothing store which was why I couldn't find it.
out of curiousity i asked him how much he charged for a palm reading and he told me he worked on donations and that i could give him whatever I thought it was worth.
he was fantastic. he was able to pinpoint exact moments in my life that had occured and he wasn't vague about it either. he also predicted some future scenarios that sound pretty realisitc considering my current situation. and that was without me giving any inclination or prompting as to whether he was right or wrong. he took about an hour and a half and then we just sat and talked for another half an hour. he was just such an interesting man, he had taught history at burkley, traveled many different places, currently lived with his ex wife and studied palmistry and tarot with a 95 year old man who for the first 8 years would only allow him to watch - and still kicking strongly at 75, had survived a long bout with skin cancer. he also related a couple of stories about past readings he had done for people that had turned out badly but had been accurate all the same and how he felt about that.
I think just getting to talk to him was enough entertainment to pay him for a reading. the fact that he was pretty much on the money was just icing on the cake.
I was ready to pay him what going to a liscenced psychic would cost but he wouldn't accept more than 30 bucks from me. the nicest man, i tell you.
the next day, I was looking for the meeting place for the ghost tours and with my horrible sense of direction of course, couldn't find it. who comes running to the rescue out of the blue? you got it. told me it looked like i was lost again::grin:: he walked me to the oyster bar where the tour was gathered and left.
so I guess my 'at least do this tip' is visit the old man with the colorful table under the umbrella and get your palm read or have him tell you a story or two. you'll recognise him by his whithered skin, twinkling eyes and friendly and inviting smile.
by the way, tell him the 'pretty girl with the clean karma' sent you.:P Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting New Orleans?
Read reviews about New Orleans Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
You have to have a mindset before you come that the whole French Quarter is a tourist trap. It's fun, anyway!! It is such a unique area to walk around in....you have to go into the souvenir and voodoo shops. Its part of the experience. The prices are inflated here and there are many other places to eat, drink, and be merry throughout!!
If you are a drinker, go into one of the many frozen drink establishments on Bourbon Street and get yourself a blue frozen drink.....any blue one will do. You will be sure to relax in no time.... Leave a Comment
|
As with so many famous places, the entrepreneurial spirit pushes the art of decorum to the street and gives way to tacky tourist shops pushing any and all kinds of cheap trinkets to those from abroad…and that’s exactly what’s happened to the French Quarter here in New Orleans….cheap Mardi Gras beads are sold year round, mass-produced porcelain masks are pilfered by the less discerning public and those god awful stupid-arse T-shirt shops are a dime…
If you want to avoid all things “tourista” in the Quarter, do not go into any shops that have an alligator in the window or doorway….with that said, there are a lot of redeeming qualities in the Quarter…Royal Street is actually very nice and Chartres has all those funky shops that you would expect and there’s the Cigar Factory on Decatur Street, one of my absolute favorite places in Nola…
I guess you have to take the bad with the good and the French Quarter has a lot of both. Regardless, I still wish would someone get that stupid Coyote Ugly bar the hell outta Nola, it was a stupid movie for Christ sake and it will never be a cool bar, especially in this town…. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
I own a second home in the French Quarter, and what everyone needs to understand is that beneath the surface of souvenir shops, tourist restaurants and bars, it's a living, breathing community of people. Bourbon street is touristy, but if you take the time to look, there are still a number of very good restaurants, shops, galleries and other attractions that are well worth your time. The French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans and has been for hundreds of years.
There are tourist traps that any first-timer to New Orleans must experience. You can't go to Memphis without once seeing Graceland or Venice without at least once taking a gondola ride, and you can't go to New Orleans without at least one visit to Pat OBriens, one trip to a sleazy strip club, having one hurricane, and stoping to watch one street performer for more that ten minutes. Get them out of your system, put them on your "done that" list, and then spend the rest of your time exploring the quiet streets that college kids find boring. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Regardless of where you park near the French Quarter, it's going to cost you at least $20 a day to park your car (and usually more during Mardi Gras and The Jazz Festival).
Consider using the valet parking at Harrah’s Casino on Canal Street. Just offer a small tip (usually a couple of dollars is fine) and you can park all day. Just be sure that you walk into the casino through the front and exit out the back. Keep in mind that on weekends and holidays Harrah's parking lot fills quickly, so it's first come, first serve. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting New Orleans?
Read reviews about New Orleans Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Head's up y'all... there are several unfriendly people trying to stop your fun. This party pupers are on every corner...... Argh!
It's a bit ironic that 'this' Christians are being so rude at you (often yelling and pushing their ideas on you). Didn't anyone tought them manners? Thank God there are several types of Christians :). Don't think we are all like that. As in all religions, you encounter your religious fanatics in all walks of life i'm afraid.
Alas there is no way you can avoid them as they are in every corner, it's funny taking a picture of their silly signs though so have a laugh on them :).
Dang Christians trying to take over the world I guess :).. JOKE (personal note, i'm a Christian so no, i'm not a christian hater ok).
Bad joke I know...hehehe :). But, if you take your time to read my pages you will know for sure that this is a joke. Sorry to touch on elbows to some people out there, but hey just wanted to post this so other vt'rs out there realize what they may encounter. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Don't wager $20 on a game of chess. Not sure what I was thinking here as I am a novice chess player. I did manage to stay in the game a bit, though in the end one by one all of my chess pieces were taken.
Maybe distract the person by yelling or something just to try and be funny. Perhaps try an even make "smalltalk", though I don't think these chess players are the sociable type. Maybe ask if he's ever seen the Bond movie that was filmed in New Orleans. At least make the $20 enjoyable.
Anything Else! Leave a Comment
|
All the shops in the Quarter! (let you in on a little secret...most of the vendors in the Quarter offer Quarter residents a 'locals card' which lets them purchase food and goods at almost half price!)
K-Paul's - sorry, but i just don't think the line is worth it! Leave a Comment
|
Buy all the junk you have to bring home from The French Market and don't be afraid to try and get a bargin . You'll pay more anywhere else.
The Court of Two Sisters had a marvelous carriageway but the drinks were way overpriced . I've heard the jazz brunch is decent but if you can check the place out without a large investment , I'd go that route. Leave a Comment
|
If you go to the French Quarter you might want to watch out for people trying to hustle money out of you. Leave a Comment
|
 | 1 | 2 |  |
|
More New Orleans Travel Deals Hotel Provincial
Discover old world French Quarter elegance. Special rates now! New Orleans Hotels
Receive 50% off your 2nd night/room with the Wyndham Weekender package. NEW ORLEANS HOTELS
Located At The New Orleans Airport & Mins From The Action. Book Now! New Orleans Vacations
$69 Luxury 4 Diamond Hotel Save 70% Off New Orleans Deals! Sponsored Links
- Springhill Suites By Marriott New Orleans Convention Center
301 St. Joseph Street, New Orleans, LA - Chateau Sonesta Hotel
800 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA - Avenue Garden Hotel
1509 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA - Holiday Inn Downtown Superdome
330 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA - Days Inn New Orleans Six Flags
5801 Read Boulevard (formerly Days Inn), New Orleans, LA - Holiday Inn New Orleans Convention Center
881 Convention Center Blvd. (formerly Holiday Inn Select), New Orleans, LA - The Fairmont New Orleans
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA - Econo Lodge New Orleans
4940 Chef Menteur Hwy,, New Orleans, LA - Renaissance Arts Hotel
700 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA - The Patio Motel
2820 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA - Hotel La Salle
1113 Canal St., New Orleans, LA - Hyatt Regency New Orleans
500 Poydras Plaza at Loyala Avenue, New Orleans, LA - St. Pierre Hotel
911 Burgundy Street French Quarter, New Orleans, LA - Holiday Inn Express New Orleans-French Quarter/Downtown
221 Carondelet Street (formerly Cotton Exchange Hotel), New Orleans, LA - Bw New Orleans Inn At The Airp
1021 Airline Drive, New Orleans, LA
|
on July 21, 2004
on March 11, 2005
on March 21, 2004
on January 6, 2005
on March 8, 2004
on August 30, 2002
on July 21, 2004
on September 7, 2002
on August 25, 2002
on August 26, 2002
