<p>This really revolves around transportation and parking on campus (for DT)</p>
<p>My mother wants to rent a car. I don't think it's necessary.
We are staying at the Maison St. Charles, which has a street car right in front</p>
<p>Our plane lands at 10, check in @ the hotel is at 3pm. Destination Tulane begins the next day at 9am with checkout at the hotel being at 11am.</p>
<p>Her reasoning is that it'll be a lot easier for us to get around the Tulane area, to store our bags (one or two duffels max - stored in the car as opposed to in the hotel) and for her to get around.</p>
<p>I can see her point. During Destination Tulane, I'm planning on visiting two classes. Both times she'll be forced to carry around the bags, as I'm not going to bring duffels into a classroom. </p>
<p>I'm actually starting to come around to the idea. With DT registration starting at 8am, without a car she would have to come to Tulane, register, go to the opening speech, start part of the tour, then leave me to go back to the hotel to checkout before coming back to the University.</p>
<p>You can store your luggage at the Admissions Office.</p>
<p>The streetcar is wonderful. I would suggest a cab from the airport to the hotel, and then you can ride the streetcar to Tulane (and, going the other direction, The French Quarter).</p>
<p>I don’t think you need a car. It just complicates things.</p>
<p>Yes, parking is easy, and if weather happens to be rainy, it’ll be helpful to have a car. You can usually find very cheap rental rates, and TU has a travel portal with a discount code for Enterprise, IIRC. I’ve gotten cars from major companies (Hertz, Avis, Enterprise) for as low as about $12/day, which is cheaper than the taxi to/from the airport.</p>
<p>Hi we attended destination Tulane last week. Don’t get a car - the traffic is crazy and u really won’t use it. The trolley drops u right at the school. If u have any questions email me <a href="mailto:-susanmetcalf14■■■■■■.com">-susanmetcalf14■■■■■■.com</a></p>
<p>One can get great rental car deals on Priceline. To know where to start bidding check out the best rates on a site such as Orbitz, then substantially underbid that price.</p>
<p>This is funny, because of all the issues out there, one of the biggest divides is get a car/don’t get a car. Personally, I am on the “don’t” side. Just another thing to worry about in a place where you don’t know the roads. Plus it is so easy to get around on the streetcar. The one exception I should have made was move-in weekend. That run to Target/the mall in the suburbs is very useful, and hard without a car.</p>
<p>As far as the luggage before check-in and after check-out, the hotel will hold it for you, although that means the taxi would have to go back to the hotel to get it before taking you to the airport.</p>
<p>We found that bidding on priceline a rate 20% below hotwire’s prices will usually work. I found deals through Tulane’s travel portal and other discount links. My s is a sophomore, and we have visited several times–rented a car probably 5-6 times. Always got a good price and never had an issue with parking. If you goedown to the French quarter it will cost to park. I am guessing that the Maison St. Charles has free parking (don’t know for sure). So, do you NEED a car? No. Is it convenient to have? IMO, yes.</p>
<p>We liked having a car. It was easier to get from restaurant to restaurant. We also liked it for investigating the surrounding neighborhoods a little more easily.</p>
<p>We did not have a car for Honors weekend and didnt feel we needed one. I am planning on one for move in weekend though. I think it will be helpful with the store trips :). I am nervous about not getting killed by the streetcars! Not something we are used to watching out for here in Chicago. I am on the fence about a car for Parents weekend.</p>
<p>You can also get around by cab, but we found that they charge by time, not distance. We were glad we had a car on parents weekend (well, my H had a broken ankle and was on crutches at the time…) but the bigger issue is that half the fun of parents weekend is piling as many of your kid’s friends into the car and taking them out for meals and to run errands. Really. It was fun.</p>
<p>There’s your issue right there! Why are you using duffels? They are bulky and difficult to carry around. IMO, duffel bags are for when you’re going on a long, long trip and have a place to store things. For a weekend trip? I’m assuming it is just you and your mother? Get a rollerboard or two.</p>
<p>You’ve never seen my mother pack. I know this is a short trip, but when ever my mom travels she has to bring someone along just to help with all of the bags:) Yes, my mom is coming along on this adventure, to approve of where her granddaughter will possibly be going to college;) and we are renting a car.</p>
<p>I think it was approximately $240 for 2 days, because we were taking it from the Baton Rouge airport and returning it to the New Orleans airport. My mother is returning early and then we will not need a car.</p>
<p>there are rental companies that wont penalize you for returning to a different location. I’d look a little harder-- you can surely get a better rate!</p>
<p>“there are rental companies that wont penalize you for returning to a different location.”</p>
<p>Not all rental companies will do this, but we’ve had success with … um, what’s the name of that company? Name starts with an “H” and has yellow signs. Big company. Darn, it was right on the tip of my tongue.</p>
<p>You don’t need a car staying at Maison St Charles. Like everyone has said you can store your luggage at the hotel or at the university but you probably don’t want to carry the luggage on the streetcar when you leave the hotel. I would have the hotel keep the luggage, take the streetcar back to the hotel when you are finished at Tulane, get a cab to the airport.</p>
<p>The day you arrive if it is before check in time you can go to the hotel, leave the luggage and hop on the streetcar.</p>
<p>Coincidentally, there were several Tulane students on the plane to NOLA (from NYC), and I sat next to one. We talked for a few minutes, and she answered some questions. It was a 6am flight, so we basically collapsed to sleep afterwards.</p>
<p>Got to my Hotel, they allowed an early check-in. Streetcar down to Tulane.</p>
<p>The school is AMAZING. The campus is seriously beautiful, and the weather today was absolutely gorgeous. The student life center was especially beautiful. There is a VERY good chance I’ll be attending depending on how DT goes tomorrow.</p>
<p>Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations on where to eat that’s accessible by walking or streetcar from my hotel (1300 St Charles Ave). We kinda want to do something nice. Pricey, but not TOO pricey. Emeril’s Delmonico’s is across the street but I dont have a dress shirt to wear :/</p>
We also liked it for investigating the surrounding neighborhoods a little more easily.</p>