(C) New Orleans in the Spring
Including the French Quarter
New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the US. Heavily influenced by the blended cultures of French and Creole, the Big Easy is a wonderful destination for anyone looking for good food, interesting architecture and unique cultural experiences. In Jackson Square, part of the French Quarter, you can watch street performers, have your fortune read, enjoy a lovely park, or just people-watch (always a fun thing to do). If food is your passion, this is the tour for you with great restaurants and a cooking school demonstration. Plus there is a bayou tour and a cruise up the mighty Mississippi. We love New Orleans and know you will too!
(C) New Orleans in the Spring
May 11 - May 16, 2020Highlights
- Walk through the French Quarter
- Ply the Mississippi on a steamboat
- New Orleans School of Cooking with lunch
- Visit Mardi Gras World
- Ride an airboat on the bayou
- Visit the lovely Garden District
- Dine on Creole/Cajun cuisine
- Time to explore personal interests
- Suggestions for additional things to see
- Small group no larger than 14
- And More... See itinerary for details
Itinerary
Monday, 11 May 2020: Arrive New Orleans; Welcome Dinner (D)
Schedule your arrival no later than 4:00pm and take local transportation to the hotel. Our tour begins at 5:30pm in the courtyard of our French Quarter hotel. After introductions, we will dine together at a local restaurant and get better acquainted. Overnight New Orleans - 5 nights
Tuesday, 12 May 2020: French Quarter Walking Tour; Mardi Gras World (B,D)
We begin this morning with beignets and coffee. After fueling up, we depart for a walking tour to learn more about New Orleans and the French Quarter and the fascinating history of this city. New Orleans held to the culture, traditions and architecture of its French and Spanish heritage, making it unlike any other city in America. Early this afternoon, we go behind-the-scenes to learn about the tradition, history and customs of Mardi Gras floats, which began rumbling down New Orleans streets in 1837 with mule-drawn carriages. In the largest float design-and-build facility in the world, we'll see authentic Mardi Gras costumes and tour enormous warehouses filled with floats. We'll have dinner together this evening.
Wednesday, 13 May 2020: New Orleans School of Cooking; Mississippi Steamboat (B,L,D)
The New Orleans School of Cooking has introduced countless visitors to the wonderful food and rich culture of New Orleans. We watch a cooking demonstration of Cajun and Creole cuisine and sample all of the foods as our lunch. You'll have some time to explore the French Quarter before we re-group for a Jazz cruise on a steamboat. Enjoy the fresh air, the music and the sights along the mighty Mississippi River for a delightful 2-hour cruise with dinner.
Thursday, 14 May 2020: Garden District Walking Tour; Bayou Tour (B,L)
This morning we spend time in New Orleans' elegant Garden District, once part of the plantation owned by Bienville, the founder of New Orleans. This historic district is known for its marvelous examples of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture. For more of a walk on the “wild side,” our afternoon tour takes us to the Honey Island Cypress Swamp for a boat tour deep into the heart of the swamp. This swamp is unique because it's one of the least-altered river swamps in the country.
Friday, 15 May 2020: Free Day in New Orleans; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
This day is yours. Consider riding the streetcars and see where they take you. Or take this time to visit the highly acclaimed National World War II museum. Your WTT Tour Leader will have suggestions for a fun day. Our day concludes with our Farewell Dinner in the French Quarter.
Saturday, 16 May 2020: Return Home from New Orleans
Sadly, our time together has come to an end. Based on the departure time you provide WTT, your Tour Leader will organize travelers into small groups so you can ride-share to the airport if you wish.
(C) New Orleans in the Spring
May 11 - May 16, 2020Pricing
Room Share
$2,067.00Single Room
$2,582.00 (Sold Out)Non-Members
ADD $50.00Status of this Tour
Do not Display to the Web
Tour Pricing Includes
- Meals and activities expressly listed in the itinerary, PLUS...
- All tipping of local guides
- WTT Tour Leader to enhance the individual & group experience
- Transportation in WTT's own Mercedes mini-coach
- Arranged room sharing with another solo traveler
- Travel Dollar credits (a benefit of WTT membership) toward future travel with WTT
Not Included In The Price
- Airfare or other transportation to and from the tour
- Airport transfers
- Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
- Any personal expenses
- Any gratuities for WTT Tour Leader
- Travel Insurance
Payment Dates -and- Cancellation Terms for This Tour
At Space Reservation: Initial Deposit is due.
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2019: Initial deposit cannot be parked and is forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2020: Payment in full. 50% cancellation penalty after this date.
Friday, 27 Mar 2020: 100% forfeited if traveler cancels after this date.
Please review our Terms and Conditions before making your reservation. You will be required to confirm you have read and agree to WTT's terms & conditions before our website will allow you to submit the Reservation FORM.
By submitting the Reservation Form you are providing your electronic signature that you are authorizing WTT to charge your credit card the required amount due for the tour at this time, and to charge your credit card in a separate transaction for the membership length selected, if applicable.
Travel Insurance: It is your responsibility to purchase the amount of travel insurance you determine is appropriate to protect you from the risk of financial loss should you have to cancel your tour, or should unforeseen events, due to no fault of WTT, prevent the tour from operating in whole or in part as originally scheduled.
WTT does not sell travel insurance. As a convenience, we will email you information from 2 reliable travel insurance providers at the time we confirm your reservation, however you can purchase insurance from any provider you choose.
You can review the insurance information from TravelGuard to get an idea of rates.
(C) New Orleans in the Spring
May 11 - May 16, 2020Flights, Transfers & Lodging
Arrival & Departure Information
Travelers will make their own air arrangements as follows:
Arrival Airport: MSY - New Orleans, LA (Louis Armstrong New Orleans Int'l Airport)
Arrival Date: Tuesday, May 11th. Arrive no later than 4:00pm.
Arrival Transfer: Use local shuttle or taxi. Details will be provided in Final Travel Instructions
Depart Airport: MSY - New Orleans, LA (Louis Armstrong New Orleans Int'l Airport)
Departure Date: Sunday, May 16th. Depart at your convenience.
Departure Transfer: Use local shuttle or taxi. WTT Tour Leader can assist with ride-share coordination.
Lodging / Hotels
New Orleans: Hotel Provincial
In the unlikely event WTT is unable to provide the accommodation(s) listed, for whatever reason, WTT will substitute similar quality accommodation(s) at no additional cost to the traveler.
Want to Arrive a Day Early?
- The room (standard check-in times apply)
- Breakfast the following morning
- Optional activity suggestions prior to tour
$111.00 Roomshare $192.00 Single
The pre-tour package is an optional service. Rates are established at time of tour posting. Early check-in is solely at the discretion of the hotel and cannot be arranged in advance.
Additional Reminders About This Tour
This tour uses a 15-passenger Mini-Coach for transportation while on tour. Learn more about The WTT North American Travel Experience by downloading/opening the pdf.
(C) New Orleans in the Spring
May 11 - May 16, 2020Destination Information
What do others say about this tour and traveling with WTT?
How Does Room Sharing Work?
- If you wish to share with another solo traveler, select this option on the Reservation Form and your tour price will automatically be based on the room share price.
- Or, you may select a single room, when available, on the Reservation Form and your tour price will be automatically based on the single room price.
- These choices are clearly stated on the Reservation Form.
- All shared rooms have 2 beds
- All shared rooms are non-smoking
- No special requests about your roommate can be accommodated
- Most solo travelers elect to share a room.
- See "Frequently Asked Questions" TAB for more details
How Active is this Tour?
Because of this requirement, WTT tours are not suitable for anyone who is physically challenged, walking impaired, or is a slow walker that cannot keep up with the pace of the group.
The activities on this tour are rated as follows:
- 80% Easy
- 20% Moderate (Walking and standing for up to 2 hours)
If you are in doubt as to your ability to meet the physical activity requirements, you should not sign up for this trip.
Read more about Activity Levels
What meals are included and how are dietary restrictions accommodated?
- 4 Breakfasts
- 2 Lunches
- 4 Dinners
Selections for the included lunches and dinners will highlight the local cuisine. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dietary requests can be accommodated with limited selections.
What clothing and items should I pack for this trip?
In general this time of year, the average temperature during the day is in the mid-80s, dropping to the 60s at night.
For This Trip You May Want—
- Lightweight jacket or windbreaker.
- Swimsuit
- One smart-casual outfit if you'd like to dress up a bit for dinners.
- An inexpensive rain poncho or travel umbrella, just in case.
- Bring what you need to get a good night's sleep, such as ear plugs, white noise generator, sleeping pills, etc. Unfamiliar noises of all types can disrupt your rest.
Good Packing Habits—
- Pack a limited amount of comfortable, casual clothing that layer and coordinate. Your fellow travelers will not mind – or even notice – seeing you in the same clothing.
- Bring only two pairs of everyday shoes: one pair of well-broken-in walking shoes, and a second pair that could do double-duty as a walking shoe or a slightly dressy shoe.
- Pare down your beauty regimen to the bare minimum and always pack travel-sized toiletries.
- Pack medication in your carry-on and pack only as much as needed for the duration of your tour plus a few extra days as a precaution.
What are the luggage restrictions for this tour?
On every WTT tour, our policies regarding luggage restrictions are driven by the physical space limitations of our vehicles, the restrictions imposed by other forms of transportation such as trains and small planes, and the requirement that all travelers be able to manage their own luggage.
- You may bring one suitcase plus small shoulder bag/day pack/purse.
- You are responsible for managing your own belongings.
How much money should I bring on this tour?
- Notify your credit card issuer that you will be traveling and provide dates of travel.
- ATMs are typically the best way of obtaining cash; you must know your PIN number for your debit and credit cards in order to use ATMs.
What are the tipping guidelines for this tour?
All tips to local guides during your tour have already been paid on your behalf.
- You are responsible for tipping wait-staff, porters, or other individuals who provide a service to you at the hotel, or other public locations.
- You may want to tip your Tour Leader for an outstanding job. This amount is entirely a personal preference. If you'd like a guideline, consider $7 - $10 per day.
What other Additional Information do I need to know?
This tour uses a 15-passenger Mini-Coach for transportation while on tour. Learn more about The WTT North American Travel Experience by downloading/opening the pdf.
Can I transfer my deposit to another tour?
To get off this tour and register for another tour, you must follow these steps - in the order shown:
2) WAIT before submitting your new reservation! You must receive the Cancellation Confirmation email before submitting your new reservation. This can take up to 2 business days. The Cancellation Confirmation email will list the amount of parked credits from this tour that are now available to use on a new reservation.
3) COMPLETE the new Reservation Form and USE the parked credits towards your deposit on the new tour.
Note: If you used Parked Credits to pay the deposit on this tour, these credits cannot be used a second time and are not eligible to be transferred.
What happens if I need to cancel this tour?

Our Promise to You
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