Print
Email
Bookmark & shareA shot of Europe, with a deep south chaser.
New Orleans has long seduced with its Caribbean colour, sultry Southern heat, sweet-tasting cocktails and voodoo potions. The unofficial state motto, laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll), pretty much says it all. Then in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck, toppling levees, flooding much of the city and drastically changing everything.
Called by some 'The City That Care Forgot,' New Orleans has a well-earned reputation for excess and debauchery. It's a cultural gumbo of African, Indian, Cajun and Creole influences. Katrina caused a mass exodus and roughly 40% of New Orleans' residents have reportedly returned, but only time will tell how the city will ultimately repopulate.
Travel Warning: Hurricane Gustav - Recovering from Katrina
A mass evacuation is underway in New Orleans ahead of a Category Four storm, Hurricane Gustav, which is expected to strike the city on September 1. The Mayor of New Orleans has put the city under a sunset to dawn curfew, and roads out of Louisiana are crammed with traffic as thousands flee the region. Travellers must monitor news reports: check the City of New Orleans website for details.
New Orleans continues to clean up and rebuild after hurricane Katrina. The city is slowly recovering; the main tourist areas were largely spared, but other parts of the city still bear scars: abandoned neighbourhoods and heaps of debris.
severity: Extreme Danger
Fast Facts
Population
1,200,000
Currency
Name: US Dollar
Code: USD
Symbol: US$
Electrical Plugs
110V 60Hz
Languages Spoken
Essential: English
Time Zones
GMT/UTC -6 (Central Time)
Country Dialing Code
+1
Weights & Measures
Imperial
New Orleans - Free Guidebook Chapter
Download the free Getting Started chapter or buy individual chapters from our New Orleans guide, in our online Shop.
› Go to the New Orleans download page.
Related Travel Stories
-
Mixing it up in New Orleans
article by Tom Downs, November 2006
Part requiem, part celebration, join Jelly Roll, Fats and friends in this tribute to the Big Easy. Read the full article ›
Tags: Music • New Orleans
-
Curbside Carnival
article by Pableaux Johnson, February 2006
Okay, so it may not be bigger than Ben Hur this year, but the folks of New Orleans still know how to toss those beads and have a good time. Read the full article ›
Tags: Festivals & Events • New Orleans
-
New Orleans - Three Months On
article by Pableaux Johnson, December 2005
The Big Easy may be battered and bruised but there's no keeping this city down. Pableaux Johnson revisits his beloved New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. Read the full article ›
Tags: New Orleans
BLUELISTS blu,list to recommend a travel experience
-
La Vie Magnifique - New Orleans
— 28 Feb 06 -
Best Travel
— 30 Dec 07 -
Best Sandwiches in the Big Easy
— 24 Feb 07 -
Good Food for the Travelling Soul
— 18 Jan 07
Advertisement
Book Your Trip
Hotels & Hostels
Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels in one place and book online. Browse hotels ›
Lonely Planet Newsletters
Updates, offers and inspiration - straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now ›
Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
