The following article may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. This doesn’t cost you anything, and shopping or using our affiliate partners is a way to support our mission. I will never work with a brand or showcase a product that I don’t personally use or believe in.
My Guide to a Week in New Orleans
For the last 7 years, I’ve wanted to visit New Orleans. And this past fall, I finally got to go. After finding my flight for an incredible steal (The Flight Deal is the best), I was excited to spend 5 days eating gumbo, listening to jazz, and understanding its incredible history.
New Orleans’ official drink just happens to be my go-to: the Sazerac. I committed to a self-guided Sazerac tour of New Orleans (um yeah I was hungover a lot, don’t ask) so you’ll see my Sazerac rating at the end of a few description if you’re into that.
What to Eat/Drink
A revolving bar made out of (you guessed it) an old carousel, this is a fantastic place to go for after-dinner cocktails. [Sazerac rating: 3.5/5 stars. I tend to like a drier Sazzy and this one was a bit too sweet for my liking]
Brennan’s was truly one-of-a-kind. From the decor to the food to the service, I was blown away. Make sure to order the turtle soup and get the bananas fosters flambeed tableside. [I didn’t have a Sazerac because it was 10 in the morning, but I did have a brunch cocktail and it was PERFECT.]
One of my favorite nights OF MY ENTIRE LIFE, the Davenport was an experience I’ll never forget. Named after Jeremy Davenport, a famous trumpeter who frequents the club 3 times a week, we got to see him and his band play jazz standards all night. An accompanying dinner at M Bistro in front of the Christmas tree, with a view of the stage, made this night perfect. For two drinks, a phenomenal 3 course dinner, and 5 hours of jazz at the Ritz Carlton, I was more than willing to pay $75. [Sazerac rating: 5/5 stars. The best Sazerac of the trip, and one of the best I’ve ever had.]
By far the best value of the trip. We ate an early lunch here, and I had an incredible chicken pot pie that was only $12. With impeccable service and great ambiance, it’s a must-do
What to Do
New Orleans Jazz Museum
You sensing a theme here? I JUST WANTED TO LISTEN TO ALL THE JAZZ ERMKAY. This was my favorite museum we visited. Live jazz performances and interesting exhibits, and located in a cute neighborhood in New Orleans.
World War II Museum
One of the most impressive and in-depth museums I’ve ever been to, this is a must-do in New Orleans, especially on a rainy day. Make sure you go to the movie narrated by Tom Hanks (who donated the majority of the money for the museum!) — it’s an added cost on top of the ticket, but worth it.
Live Jazz
There are few things in life that make me happier than listening to live jazz. Almost every night of the trip, you could find me in a club for 3+ hours soaking it all in. The Palm Court and BB King’s Blues Club, as well as the Davenport listed above, are all great places to go for a drink and some music.
Where to Stay
Most of New Orleans’ hotels are in the touristy parts of the city, which I wanted to avoid. We instead found the best Airbnb in New Orleans across the Mississippi River, and we took a short ferry ride into town every day. It was a great way to see a more authentic NOLA (the architecture of the neighborhood was absolutely amazing) and we also found a coffee shop called Congregation Coffee to frequent every morning (after 4 days, they knew our order by heart!) Aaron was an incredible Airbnb host, and I highly recommend this place on your next trip (especially since it’s budget-friendly at less than $69 a night!)
Thanks to Visit New Orleans for hosting and for Aaron and his Airbnb team for a discounted rate! As always, all opinions are my own.
RESOURCES
I get asked all the time: what are your favorite money management tools?
Treasury: We’re building a one-of-a-kind, non-judgemental community where you can learn exactly how to invest, build wealth, and receive exclusive access to Her First $100k.
Chase Freedom Unlimited: My go-to travel and dining rewards card that I recommend.
Deserve: The card I recommend for building credit.
Capitalize: Did you recently switch jobs or launch your own business? Instead of losing money, roll over your old 401(k) into a brand new or existing IRA with Capitalize. They handle all the paperwork for you and for FREE, including calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf, completing paperwork, and sending faxes.
Personal Capital: The tool I check daily, Personal Capital is the best tool for tracking your net worth and your progress towards goals like saving, debt payoff, and (yes!) $100K.
The $100K Club Facebook Group: Need some honest money conversations in your life? Join my free community to get your burning questions answered.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
