<p>Thank you both. I have been busy and havent had a chance to make more plans or check out your suggestions yet but I will and ill let you know 
thank you for taking the time to help.</p>
<p>We will be heading down next week </p>
<p>I put United Cab Co number in my cell (saw this suggestion on another thread) but how do you use the streetcar? Do you buy a pass or ticket somewhere ahead of time? Is there a route map or info online anywhere? Total newb here. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Sorryā¦I read back a bit on this threadā¦</p>
<p>Cab questionā¦if we do venture to the French Quarter are cabs readily available driving or parked around? Will we be able to grab one easily? Or will we feel āstuckā somewhere? Honestly ive only ever used a cab when leaving a resort to venuture out and those were parked in front just waiting for guestsā¦clueless here.</p>
<p>thanks again</p>
<p>The streetcar is easy. Itās $1.25 (exact change) each way per person. The green line runs from the French Quarter, to uptown. It goes past the Universities, to the riverbend and up Carrolton. I believe there is still construction happening on the streetcar line. In that event they have you exit the streetcar and get on a bus (donāt have to pay again) which will finish the route. You can pay each time you use it or you can buy a pass. The Red Line runs from Canal Street in the FQ up Canal to the City park Area or to the Cemetery area. Be careful you get on the right one, they are marked. There is also the River Front line which runs from the Expressway area to the far edge of teh FQ. Here is the website</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority: Cleaner, Smarter Transit.](<a href=āhttp://www.norta.com/]Welcomeā>http://www.norta.com/)</p>
<p>Youāll get the hang of it quick!</p>
<p>You can either call United and tell them your location and they will send a cab for you or you can usually just flag one down. Easier to find cabs on Royal St. Decatur Street or Canal. Sometimes the bellmen at the nicer hotels will flag one down for you, even if you are not a guest there. If you call United they will tell you the cab number too, so you will know its your cab.</p>
<p>Thank u so much for the replies dolphnloverā¦ill check out the site. We are getting excitedā¦but Im a little nervous too 
far from home and semi cluelessā¦</p>
<p>My daughter emailed Tulane and was really happy with the friendly and helpful reply she recieved. We are both hoping its the one.</p>
<p>We bought the 1 day passes, easier than having exact change each time. I think it was $3 per person. You buy the pass on the streetcar.</p>
<p>Iām excited for you ChocoChipMom! Youāll do fine! NOLA is such a friendly city! The staff at your hotel, waiters/waitresses, shop clerks will go out of their way to help you if you need it!</p>
<p>Debmomnyā¦thank you for that. I was looking at that pass option and thinking it makes sense. I barely carry cash let alone have exact change lolā¦</p>
<p>Thanks Dolphnlovr, I appreciate all your help! </p>
<p>okā¦another dumbish question maybeā¦but is the FQ safe? If we do pop down that way Thurs eve, is it safe after dark or does it get seedy and wild? Any area we should just kind of avoid?</p>
<p>The FQ is safe, just stay on the main streets and out of the alleyways. Bourbon Street is, wellā¦, Bourbon Street and the rest of the FQ is pretty different than that. Royal Street has lots of art and antique shops, and all the streets are fine. Just stay on the main grid at night, not the little side streets.</p>
<p>Weāve learned over the years to keep Dollar bills and quarters on hand!
Yes the french Quarter is safe. Stay in the well populated areas and just keep your eyes open. Like you would in any big city. Donāt make yourself look like a tourist, donāt leave your purse dangling. (I use a cross body). If you have questions ask someone who works in one of the hotels or restaurants or shops rather than someone passing in the street. Common sense stuff. </p>
<p>I will share some secrets with you. (maybe not so secret but not widely known) Bathrooms are hard to find. Establishments wonāt let you use them unless you are a patron. The Jax Brewery on Decatur street (itās a mall now-Huge red JAX sign on top) has bathrooms on their first floor open to the public. Usually pretty well maintained. There are public bathrooms in the French Market and on Decatur St ā¦,kind of across the street from Tujagues. Also the Monteleone hotel on Royal doesnāt monitor who goes in and out and they have lovely bathrooms in their lobby to the left of the check in desk. Same with Roosevelt Hotel but they are a bit out of the FQ.</p>
<p>Thank you Dolphnlvr!! Great info to have for sure :)</p>
<p>I found a fun planning site new orleans online . Com (np spaces) and perused around thereā¦and printed a few of their maps. My daughter wanted to eat at Emerilās restaurant so I made a dinner reservation at NOLA (any opinions?? Good bad meh?) because I am kind of thinking FQ Thurs afternoon into eveningā¦just seeing pics and info online has me excited to do and see all we can I prefer just to wing things so this reservation is more a safety I guessā¦not sure how busy it will be thereā¦if reservations are even necessary but we have it in case.We definitely want to hit Cafe Du Monde(sp?) And any fun shopsā¦Friday will be Tulane day and then dinner somewhere in that area. We have a few hours prior to our Saturday flight so thinking either sticking around, seeing Audabon Park or heading to Magazine Street. </p>
<p>Im forgoing the town car to just taxi to the hotel from airport. If my daughter will be using cabs during her time at Tulane I want to see what its like Im not as untraveled as I seem lolā¦been around a lot but im a worrier and out of my zone with this.</p>
<p>Getting excited! :)</p>
<p>Sounds good. Lots of shops in the FQ, Frenchman Street. But Magazine Street has the interesting clothing shops, etc.</p>
<p>I have always liked Emirilās original restaurant, but NOLA is good too. And yes, it is Cafe du (Du) Monde. They spell it with a capital D, but I think the technically correct French is lower case so take your pick. For dinner Friday you might want to try Danteās Kitchen. Other choices right in the area would be Jacques Imoās, Pascalās Manale, LaPetite Grocery (which is on Magazine), and Dick & Jennyās. There are lots of others, but these are casual (but usually very good) while some of the others are dressier.</p>
<p>Emerilās NOLA is a nice place, quick hop to Cafe du Monde too. Itās always good to make a reservation, you can always cancel if you decide on something else. Canāt wait to hear about your experience when you get back!</p>
<p>Thanks for the opinions on NOLA. The menu -dessert in particular lol- looks wonderful but there are so so many places to choose from. I kinda think we cant go wrong so Im open to whatever Too much foodā¦too little timeā¦</p>
<p>Fallenchemist thank u for the suggestions for Friday dinner. I was thinking Dantes Kitchen or Jacques Imoāsā¦casual is good. Do I need a reservation at either?</p>
<p>Jacques Imoās doesnāt do reservations for parties under 6 people. I think Danteās takes them though, so I would recommend doing that if you choose there. I meant to mention that all of those places are a 5-10 minute taxi ride from Tulane. There should be taxis waiting already at the corner of Willow and McAlister.</p>
<p>I havenāt been to NOLA in 25 years, but just reading the names of these restaurants recalls for me the smell and flavor of NOLA. My stomach started growling. Iāve got to get me several of those beignets again. Get me a seat on that flight, mama, Iām coming with you after all!</p>
<p>I think Jacques Imoās is it Oak St looks like a fun area to browse too.</p>
<p>jkeil, aw I hope u make it back there soon. I have my favorite destinations Ill be missing while we do this school visit/tour thing. Im thinking New Orleans looks like such a neat place and Im wondering why the heck we never visited before?!?!</p>
<p>A buddy has a D there, and he and his wife are in New Orleans like 3 times a year at minimum. He raves about the place. And heās from Baltimore, so he knows something about seafood and small cities. So Iām really looking forward to seeing it again. But I was kind of doris day about the trip for Top Scholars/Honors weekend since I have to work that Monday. </p>
<p>Not any more. Iām bustingā out my old delta blues this afternoon. Let the good times roll.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest Danteās over Jaque Imoās. Their quality has been going down. Lest few times it was meh.</p>