digme

I'm getting married December 30th this year, and I am trying to figure out a good place to go on our Honeymoon.

Has anyone been to New Orleans recently?

On the plus side:
- we can get there by train (an adventure)
- we can trade my parent's timeshare there
- good food
- good music
- romantic atmosphere?

On the down side:
- How much of the city is back on its feet? Will restaurants/bars/attractions be closed?
- Is there enough things to do for a week?

What do you guys think? Any other ideas of places to go?

maleficent

travelling by train isn't as romantic as you might thing - particularly if you're going amtrak... unless you're getting a deluxe stateroom... more than a few hours it gets claustrophobic.. and that's if there are no breakdowns of the train... It can be fun it can be an adventure.. but it's probably cheaper to fly... and you probably want to get your honeymoon started...

I think enoughof new orleans is back on it's feet you'd have plenty to see and do...

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Cynthetiq

another good question is the timeshare where you guys want to be? most timeshares are just outside of the main downtown areas in my experience for other locales. doublecheck the location of the timeshare trades since sometimes they are like 30-40 minutes from the places you may want to visit.

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greytone

I took the train to NO from Atlanta a month before Katrina. I enjoyed the trip (which from Atlanta is about a approx a 7am to 7pm trip). Definately get a room on the train, as the cost is surprisingly little more than the included meals would be if you don't get the room. The train ride is interesting and the small rooms are just that. On some trains they don't have in room facilities. But the train is not fancy. It is finished much like your average airline coach cabin. Now imagine that for more than 12 hours.

I have heard that the French Quarter is doing pretty well. But if the time share is not actually in the French Quarter, then I would have second thoughts. The Quarter is old and loud and dirty. It had a distinct odor when I was there in July that reminded me of the trash cans in a dish washing station at a place I worked when I was younger. It may not be as bad in the colder months. Still, I had a good time and would go again. It just may not be what you want for a honeymoon.

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The_Jazz

I haven't been there, but we have an office in Metarie, and I know one of the guys there pretty well. We're supposed to have the big industry convention in NOLA next year, and my buddy told me that he thinks it's going to be an abject failure because there won't be enough support facilities (restaurants, cabs, bars, etc.) able to handle even a modest-sized convention like ours (about 4,000). I don't know how that translates into tourist experience, but it's what I have to offer.

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robot_parade

The...well...richer parts of NOLA are doing pretty well. The poorer areas, and the outlying areas are still pretty bad. But, tourism is and has always been a big part of the economy, so there's generally a lot to do. The French Quarter is pretty much back to normal, except for the lack of people - I was there in June. A lot of the restaurants and whatnot closed early-ish during the week. Bourbon street was...bourbon street. :-)

This is a potentially crazy suggestion, but the reason I was down in NOLA was to help out these guys:

http://www.habitat-nola.org/projects/st_bernard.php

My work sent a team of us down there, paid our expenses, salaries, etc. The work was basically mucking out houses - cleaning flooded houses down to the studs. It was hot, difficult, nasty, and one of the best experiences of my life. If it's the kind of thing you and your wife would be 'into', it might be a really great activity for your honeymoon to take a week to do that.

Just a suggestion....might be totally insane, and not at all for you, but it really was one of the most incredible things I've ever done

I don't think i agree with The_Jazz's friend - I think there will be awhile before NOLA is entirely back on it's feet, but tourism is the lifeblood of the city. I think they can handle it.

newtx

I haven't been to New Orleans since the flood. However if the French Quarter is back to normal it will prove quite interesting. The food is unbelievable and the jazz is not to be missed. Every time I've been its like stepping into a different world. The romantic atmosphere was always there. Its just a bit on the seedy side.