Arriving and Departing
The major gateway to New Orleans is Moisant International Airport, 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of the city in Kenner. Flying time is 2 1/2 hours from New York, 2 1/4 hours from Chicago, and 3 1/2 hours from Los Angeles. Carriers
Carriers serving New Orleans include Aeromexico (tel. 800/237-6639), American (tel. 800/433-7300), Continental (tel. 800/525-0280), Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), Lacsa (tel. 800/225-2272), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525), Southwest (tel. 800/531-5601), TWA (tel. 800/221-2000), United (tel. 800/241-6522), USAir (tel. 800/428-4322), and USAirways (tel. 800/428-4322).
From the U.K.
From the United Kingdom, carriers serving New Orleans include American (tel. 0345/789789) via Chicago or Dallas, British Airways (tel. 020/8897-4000 or 0345/222111) via Philadelphia, Delta (tel. 0800/414767) via Atlanta or Cincinnati, United (tel. 0800/888555) via Washington, and Virgin Atlantic (tel. 01293/747747) via Miami or Washington.
Between the Airport & Town
By Bus
Shuttle bus service to and from the airport and downtown hotels is available through New Orleans Tours Airport Shuttle (tel. 504/522-3500). Buses leave regularly from the ground-floor level near the baggage claim. To return to the airport, call at least two hours in advance of flight time. One-way cost is $10 a person; the trip takes about 40 minutes.
Louisiana Transit (tel. 504/737-9611) also runs a bus between the airport and the Central Business District (CBD). The trip costs $1.50 in exact change and takes about 45 minutes. From the CBD, departures for the airport are every 10 to 20 minutes from Elks Place and Tulane Avenue across from the city library. The last bus leaves at 6:20 PM.
By Car
By car, take the I-10 Expressway (from the CBD, go west to the Airport exit). Allow an hour for the drive during afternoon rush hour.
By Taxi
Taxis cost $25 for the first two people and $8 for each additional person.
By Bus Greyhound (1001 Loyola Ave., tel. 504/525-6075 or 800/231-2222) has only one terminal in the city. It is located in the Central Business District in the Union Passenger Terminal. Ask about special travel passes. Check with your local Greyhound ticket office for prices and schedules.
By Car I-10 runs from Florida to California and passes directly through the city. To get to the Central Business District, exit at Poydras Street near the Louisiana Superdome. For the French Quarter, look for the Vieux Carré exit.
By Train Three major Amtrak routes arrive at and depart from New Orleans's Union Passenger Terminal (1001 Loyola Ave., tel. 504/528-1610 or 800/872-7245), in the heart of the Central Business District. The Crescent runs daily from New York to New Orleans by way of Washington, D.C. The City of New Orleans runs daily between New Orleans and Chicago. The Sunset Limited makes the two-day trip between New Orleans and Los Angeles. It departs New Orleans on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday and leaves Los Angeles on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. The same line makes the 24-hour trip to Miami three times a week, but days and departure times vary.
Getting Around By Car Having a car in New Orleans is no problem-except when you're likeliest to be there, at Mardi Gras. Then the whole French Quarter is closed to traffic, and cars parked on parade routes get whisked away. For excursions to surrounding areas, cars are advisable. Car Rental
The major car-rental companies represented in New Orleans are Alamo (tel. 800/327-9633; in the U.K., 0800/272-2000), Avis (tel. 800/331-1212; in Canada, 800/879-2847), Budget (tel. 800/527-0700; in the U.K., 0800/181181), Dollar (known as Eurodollar outside North America, tel. 800/800-4000; in the U.K., 0990/565-656), Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131; in Canada, 800/263-0600; in the U.K., 0345/555-888), and National InterRent (tel. 800/227-7368; in the U.K., where National is known as Europcar InterRent, 01345/222525). Rates in New Orleans begin at $44 a day and $143 a week for an economy car with unlimited mileage. This does not include tax on car rentals, which is 12%.
By Ferry The ferry ride across the river to a part of New Orleans called Algiers is an experience in itself, offering great views of the river and the New Orleans skyline and the heady feeling of being on one of the largest and most powerful rivers in the world. Pedestrians climb the stairs and board the Canal Street Ferry (Foot of Canal, tel. 504/364-8100; $1 round-trip per car, free for pedestrians) from above, while bicycles and cars board from below on the left of the terminal. The trip takes about 10 minutes; ferries leave about every 40 minutes and run from 6:30 AM to about 9:30 PM, sometimes until midnight during special events. Be sure to check with the attendants if you are crossing in the evening-it is no fun to be stranded on the other side. Keep in mind, too, that there are no rest-room facilities in the terminals or on the ferry itself, and no food or drink concessions. Special arrangements for people with disabilities must be made with an attendant.
By Mass Transit Bus The Regional Transit Authority (RTA; tel. 504/248-3900) operates a public bus transportation system with interconnecting lines throughout the city. The buses are generally clean and on time. Bus fare is $1 plus 10˘ for transfers. One- and three-day visitor passes (see Mass Transit Passes, below) are valid for bus travel. Visiting senior citizens 65 or over who have a valid Medicare ID card may ride public transit for only 50˘.
Streetcar
The one-way fare is $1 (exact change). The St. Charles Avenue streetcar runs the 5 miles from the CBD to Carrollton Avenue 24 hours a day, about every 10 minutes 7 AM-8 PM, every 1/2 hour 8 PM-midnight, and every hour midnight-7 AM.
The Riverfront streetcar covers a 1.9-mile route along the Mississippi River, connecting major sights from the end of the French Quarter (Esplanade Ave.) to the New Orleans Convention Center (Julia St.). Eight stops en route include the French Market, Jackson Brewery, Canal Place, the World Trade Center, the Riverwalk, and the Hilton Hotel. This streetcar operates weekdays 6 AM until midnight and weekends 8 AM until midnight passing each stop every 15 minutes. One of the cars is specially equipped for elderly passengers and those with mobility impairments. The fare is $1.50 a ride.
Mass Transit Passes
One-day and three-day visitor passes are available for $5 and $10, respectively, for unlimited rides on buses and both the St. Charles Avenue and Riverfront streetcar lines. For information on schedules and visitor passes, check information centers at hotels and retail centers or call the Regional Transit Authority (tel. 504/248-3900).
By Taxi Cabs are metered at $2.10 minimum plus 75˘ for each additional passenger and $1.10 per mile. You can either hail cabs in some of the busier areas, or call Checker Yellow Cabs (tel. 504/943-2411), Liberty Bell Cabs (tel. 504/822-5974), or United Cabs (tel. 504/522-9771).
