Girls’ Trip: Five Days in New Orleans
I love NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) so much. It’s a fantastic place to visit. I’ve gone there on separate trips with my husband and my sisters. They were completely different types of trips and I’d like to share with you the key elements and itinerary from our girls’ trip. It was an absolute blast and I feel really incorporates some key elements to be enjoyed in NOLA: food, arts & fun. First, here are some key tips for anyone planning to visit this wonderful city.
Tips
– Keep cash on hand for tipping bands, street performers, tour guides, etc.
– Many French Quarter restaurants have minimums and/or don’t split checks.
– Get the RTA Le Pass app for the street cars and get a multi-day pass – completely worth it!
– Keep a charging cord & block as well as a portable charging battery in your purse. It’s very easy to to drain your cell phone battery between map apps and the Le Pass app.
– Always verify ahead of time that the places you want to visit will be open on the particular day & timeframe you want to go.
– Many popular restaurants require advance reservations — some more than a month out!
– Break down each day of your trip in NOLA by area. For example: French Quarter, Garden District, Warehouse District, Treme, etc.
– Check for travel package deals. We scored a great one from Southwest airlines that included flights & hotel stay and the hotel had free breakfast everyone morning. From there we were able to take a budget-friendly shuttle service between the airport and hotel but Uber and Lyft are also options depending on your group size.
-Don’t be afraid to split up your group into smaller groups or pairs based on interest. Some of you can go shopping or visit museums and historical locations while others go to spas or bars in the same area. Then everyone can meet up for lunch or dinner.
– Consider “melding” meals to save money. Brunch can easily replace breakfast and lunch, and Happy Hour makes a great substitute for lunch and dinner.
Now for our five day NOLA itinerary. (We were actually there for six days but the last day was strictly traveling back home with no time to further enjoy the city. So I’m not counting that day.) Can you see NOLA in fewer days? Sure. When my hubby and I went it was just for an extended weekend. And there’s so much to do and see (and eat) in Orleans that you could certainly spend two weeks there and still not see it all. But, honestly, I feel five days is just the right amount of time to enjoy the city and get a solid taste of what it has to offer.
So here it is, the Five Day NOLA Itinerary.
Day 1: Getting There, Checking in & Starting to Unwind
- Arrive in NOLA
- Check into Hotel (or Airbnb)
- Enjoy Happy Hour
We arrived at New Orleans International Airport fairly early in the day and took a shuttle (a package add-on for us) to the hotel. It took awhile for us to get to our hotel as the shuttle bus was making multiple stops. We stayed at Hyatt Place NOLA Convention Center is pretty centrally located in the city and offered a complementary breakfast. All four of us were on a tight budget so this was a great amenity to have.
After checking in, we headed out for happy hour. (Another budget-friendly move as you can generally enjoy cheaper cocktails and appetizers during this time. We find it’s a great replacement for an actual dinner and it’s fun to share appetizers together so you can try more things.) We went to Samuel’s Blind Pelican on St. Charles St. but, unfortunately, it’s now closed. (Apparently, things got pretty nasty between the two owners.) There are PLENTY of other options for happy hour, though. And Eater has this great article on The Best New Happy Hours in New Orleans. There’s even a handy little map so you can see how close places are to your hotel or Airbnb.
Then we headed back to our hotel and tucked in early to hit the Garden District for Day 2.
Day 2: The Garden District
- Garden District Walking Tour
- Lunch at Commander’s Palace
- Touring one of the cemeteries
- Shopping and Salon/Spa Time
- Cozy dinner & craft cocktails
Before leaving the hotel for the day, we downloaded the RTA Le Pass app onto our phones so that we could easily take the street cars/trolleys and buses. Then we each purchased our own multi-day pass. This will not only save you money but also time. (You just scan your phone when you get on the trolleys or buses. It’s so easy!) We did all this while enjoying the complementary breakfast at the hotel. Then it was off to the races.
We chose to focus on the Garden District for our first full day in NOLA. We hopped on a streetcar then took our only little walking tour (I pre-researched the hotspots) of the stars. We scoped out Anne Rice’s house and and Sandra Bullock’s. We could easily see Rice’s house and appreciate the architecture but Bullock’s was a little disappointing. (She’s got some pretty solid hedges that hide everything from view.)
After our little self-guided walking tour, it was off to Commander’s Palace for our lunch reservation. Did someone say 25 cent martinis with a lunch entree order on weekdays? No, I’m not kidding. It’s legit. Now they do limit you but I think that’s very since you shouldn’t be getting plastered in the middle of the day at a fancy place like Commander’s anyway. (And this is coming from a girl who LOVES her martinis.) There is a dress code here (absolutely no shorts, flip flips, etc.) but you’ll want to get dolled up here for lunch anyway. As an unexpected bonus, we were treated to a complementary fashion show while we enjoyed our meal. It’s really important to make reservations for Commander’s way in advance. And when I say way in advance, I mean it. I made our reservations almost two months out and when I tried to make reservations for my hubby and I to go on a separate trip I was too late at the one month out point. So definitely do not hesitate to make your reservations the moment you know you’re going to NOLA.
After lunch, we explored Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. This is free to do and it’s really interesting to see the history and culture of New Orleans in this way. After that we divided up our little group and conquered. My youngest sisters and my youngest sister’s bestie (our sister from another mister) love shopping. So they checked out the Magazine Street boutiques. Even if you don’t have a bunch of money to spend, it can still be a lot of fun to window shop and get inspiration.
For me, it was salon and spa time. I saved my money and went to Embodyment Salon and enjoyed one of the package options (another great way to save money). I was treated to a facial, pedicure and blowout and the staff was amazing. Unfortunately, Embodyment didn’t survive the pandemic. If a little salon and spa pampering appeals to you, though, there are plenty of other options in the area. Here is a nice article on some other spas available, courtesy of Spa and Beauty Today.
After a full afternoon, it was time for our full official dinner in NOLA at Atchafalaya on Louisiana Avenue. Residing in a cozy Creole cottage, they have fabulous cocktails and dinner options. (They also have a renowned brunch!) The food and drinks were wonderful and we left with full bellies and headed back to our hotel via street car.
Note: There are absolutely paid walking tours you can take for the cemeteries and Garden District homes but, if you’re on a budget, it’s very easy to create your own walking tour with the abundance of info available online.
Another Note: I made the huge mistake of wearing high heel pumps (I wanted to look cute for our lunch date at Commander’s) but by midday my feet were killing me from walking on all the cobbled streets and walkways and I ended up having to buy a pair flipflops to survive the rest of our adventures.
Day 3: The French Quarter
- Southern Food & Beverage Museum . . . with Drinks!
- Coffee & Beignets at Café du Monde
- French Market & St. Louis Cathedral
- Pre-Dinner Drinks at Carousel Bar
- Dinner at Criollo
Our day started once again with the complementary hotel breakfast. (I didn’t go too crazy on it as I knew we were headed to Café du Monde later.) Following breakfast, we headed to the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. This is a neat and interesting place where you can actually learn a lot. They are dedicated to becoming the nation’s most comprehensive cultural institution for studying food and drink and I think they have the task well in hand. And I’m not sure if it’s still there (I think it is) but we were able to finish our tour of the museum at their in-house bar and my sister, Lola, and I had the most AMAZINGLY crafted and authentic Sazeracs. If you’re not familiar, it’s similar to an Old Fashioned . . . but bolder. It costs a little over $10 per person to tour the museum.
For lunch, it was the pinnacle of NOLA experiences: coffee and beignets at Café du Monde in the French Market. (There are multiple locations for this quintessential NOLA eatery but this is the “true” location.) And don’t tell us that coffee and beignets don’t make a lunch. They totally do. The powdered sugar is THICK in here (like, literally all over the place) but totally worth it. (Plan to go here on a weekday if you can. The lines are INSANE on the weekends.)
After our caffeine and sugar infusion, it was off to explore the French Market. I had suggested we also see the St. Louis Cathedral but my sisters were not feeling the vibe. So it was just spending the afternoon in the market. Which, honestly, there is a ton to see and experience between the vendors and eateries. You can find everything from jewelry to boiled peanuts. (Don’t ask me how those go together.)
Then it was time to bar hop over to Carousel Bar at The Monteleone on Royal Street. This is a rotating bar with an actual carousel in it. It’s super fun and has a great atmosphere and cocktails but make sure you dress up cute because it’s very upscale. (Don’t be rollin’ in with your shorts and tanks and flippy floppies. Wear a cute dress or romper. You’ll thank me later.)
After wetting our appetite, I treated my sisters to dinner at Criollo, which is also located at The Monteleone. Criollo serves Creole fusion food and it is top notch. This is truly fine dining in NOLA. (Another reason to dress up.) We had two waiters for our table and this was my big splurge of the trip. My love language is absolutely food and I wanted to give this experience to my sisters. So not necessarily an option if you’re on a budget but I firmly believe in planning for one “splurge” moment on every trip. (This is where you know a meal, event or excursion may be on the high end but you build it in to your budget and skimp in other areas so you can still enjoy a high end experience during a trip or vacation.)
After dinner, we walked back to our hotel to walk off our rich meal and turned in for the night.
Day 4: French Quarter Continued & Louisiana Swamp
- Historic Voodoo Museum
- Surrey’s Cafe & Juice Bar
- Swamp Tour
- Dinner at St. Roch Market
- Bar Hopping on Frenchman St.
Day 4 was all about more French Quarter fun so after the free hotel breakfast, we made our way back to that area to begin a new day of adventures.
We started at the Historic Voodoo Museum. It’s kitschy and interesting but I have to say the gift shop is probably the best thing about it. You can get through the museum pretty quickly with tickets starting at $10. They do also offer walking tours for a higher price tag if you want to expand on your voodoo experience. We then hit up a quick lunch at Surrey’s Café & Juice Bar on Magazine Street before heading back to our hotel for an excursion pick up.
Using the Visit a City app, I found a great deal on a Day Swamp Tour. We got picked up right in front of our hotel and taken out to the swamp. At a visitor’s center we were then put on a boat where we got to see alligators and insanely large wild pigs. (Honestly, the pigs were more terrifying than the alligators.) And we got dropped back off right at our hotel, just in time for dinner.
Tonight’s dinner was at St. Roch Market. If you’ve got picky eaters or your group can’t decide what or where they want to eat, then St. Roch’s is the place to go. It’s a fabulous food hall with multiple vendors and bar options to meat everyone’s tastes.
And then it was finally time to do some serious bar hopping and live our best NOLA lives. So we hit Frenchman Street. But, Nik, what about Bourbon Street? No, ladies. Unless you love being hit on and/or assaulted by frat boys or you love the smell of piss and vomit, avoid Bourbon Street. Frenchman Street is a far better place to enjoy quality girlfriends/sisters time. It’s artsy and classy and everything Bourbon Street is not come sundown.
Once our bar hopping and night out of fun was done, we took a streetcar back to the hotel, our phones and trusty RTA Le Pass app in hand.
Day 5: City Park & More Frenchmen Street
- Spa time or shipping or St. Louis Cemetary
- Brunch at Café Degas
- NOLA Museum of Art, Sculpture Garden & More
- Frenchman Art Market
- Dinner at Three Muses
For our last full day in New Orleans, we split the day between two areas: City Park and Frenchman Street in the French Quarter.
After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we hopped on the streetcars to take us up to City Park. I treated myself to a massage at the Woodhouse Spa on Canal Street while my sisters did more shopping. (Can you tell we have different interests?) And alternative option for the morning is St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. (In case you missed the Lafayette Cemetery earlier in the trip or cemeteries are really your vibe.) Touring the cemeteries is totally free when you do your own research and walking tour with the help of the internet.
Then we all met up for brunch at Café Degas on Esplanade Avenue. SOMEHOW, I managed to score an online coupon for carafes of mimosas for cheap. And, boy, did we take advantage of that. (Sorry, friends, I don’t remember how I managed to score that deal and the mimosas forever clouded my brain after that adventure.)
Needing to walk off the power of mimosas, we headed to the New Orleans Museum of Art. Tickets are about $20 for adult out-of-staters. I have to admit, we didn’t go into the museum. By the last day of our trip, we were feeling it in our pockets. But you know what, we were able to walk through the museum’s fairly large and FREE sculpture garden. It was very interesting and we had fun checking out the different sculptures and art forms. And sometimes free fun is the best fun. It’s what you make it, right? Other options in the vicinity include the Botanical Gardens (about $12/adult) and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park (price varies). My sisters weren’t feeling either of those vibes so we eventually made our way back to Frenchman Street and the French Quarter via streetcar.
We checked out the Frenchmen Art Market — shopping and art all in one. (I STILL make sure I go here every time I go back to NOLA.) You never know what kind of vendors you’re going to encounter. I’ve seen everything from found art/upcycled/recycled art to watercolor paintings to handmade soaps.
After checking out the Art Market and surrounding shops and enjoying live street music and performers, we made our way to our meal reservations at Three Muses (also on Frenchman Street). The food was incredible and the live music did not disappoint. The vibe was hip and happenin’ and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience.
It was a great finish to our New Orleans Girls’ Trip and we took a streetcar back to our hotel to rest up before our flights home in the morning. If you have time before your flights the following day, a breakfast or farewell brunch out might be a great option to close out the trip.
I hope this itinerary inspires you to visit NOLA or in planning your own girls’ trip to this amazing city full of life and culture. Have you done a New Orleans girls’ trip? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
What to Pack for NOLA
