Frequently
Asked Questions
Do you have questions about New Orleans? We gathered the answers
to some of your most common questions. Read below for more information.
If you have further questions, be sure to visit the New
Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Public Transportation While New Orleans does have a modern
highway system, parking is at a premium, particularly in the French
Quarter. You may find it more beneficial to rely on taxis and
public transportation to reach destinations not within walking
distance.
- Taxis: Taxi rates are approximately $2.50 plus $1.60 per
mile (.20 per one-eighth mile) thereafter, with an additional
charge of $1.00 per passenger after the first passenger. During
peak visiting times such as Mardi Gras, rates are $4 per person
or the meter rate, whichever is higher. A fixed rate of $28
for two people is charged from the airport to most areas of
New Orleans. For parties of more than two, the fare is $12 per
person.
- Bus: Bus routes travel throughout the city, and the fare
is $1.25 plus 25 cents per transfer. Express buses cost $1.50.
- Ferry: The Canal Street ferry takes pedestrians and automobiles
from the foot of Canal Street to Algiers Point several times
each day. The last ferry leaves Canal Street at midnight and
does not return from Algiers Point until the following morning.
The toll is $1 per car. Pedestrians ride free.
- Streetcar: Historic streetcars run two daily routes: the
St. Charles Streetcar runs 24 hours a day down St. Charles Avenue
from Canal Street to Claiborne Avenue, and the "streetcar-style"
Vieux Carre bus runs the perimeter of the French Quarter from
5am - 7:16pm. Fares for the streetcars are $1.25 each way plus
25 cents per transfer. In addition, the Riverfront Streetcar
runs a 1.9 mile route from Canal Street to Riverview, weekdays
from 6am - midnight and weekends from 8am - midnight. Fares
for the Riverfront streetcar are $1.50 plus 25 cents per transfer.
- Discount Passes: A VisiTour pass is available from the Regional
Transit Authority, which enables visitors to an unlimited ride
on all streetcar and bus lines. The pass costs $5 for one day,
and $12 for three days.
All fares and times
are subject to change. For more information about buses or streetcars,
contact the Regional Transit Authority at (504) 248-3900.
Airport Shuttle,
Inc.
The official ground
transportation for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Offers service to and from New Orleans' hotels. $26.00 per person,
round trip. Tickets may be purchased in the baggage claim area
on the ground floor. No initial reservations are required; however,
Return Trip Reservations are required. Call (866) 596-2699 for
more information or make reservations online at www.airportshuttleneworleans.com.
Airlines
The following airlines
are listed in order of the hightest number of incoming flights:
- Southwest Airlines - (800) I-FLY-SWA, (504) 834-2337
- Delta Airlines - (800) 221-1212, (504) 861-3237
- Continental Airlines - (800) 525-0280, (504) 523-8739
- United Airlines - (800) 241-6522, (504) 465-8181
Airports
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport offers direct
and nonstop service to more than 100 cities on 17 domestic and
international airlines, ad serves as a natural international
gateway. Phone: (504) 464-3547
- Lakefront Airport serves charter and private flights only.
Phone: (504) 243-4033
Banks
The following banks
are near the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and downtown hotels.
They all offer international currency exchange.
- Bank One of Louisiana
201 St. Charles Ave., Suite 2900
(504) 623-2003, (800) 462-9511
- First Bank & Trust
909 Poydras Street, Suite 100
(504) 584-5945, (888) 287-9621
- Hibernia National Bank
313 Carondelet Street
(504) 533-5361, (800) 262-5689
- Whitney National Bank
228 St. Charles Avenue
(504) 586-7272, (800) 347-7272
Tax-Free Shopping
Louisiana Tax Free
Shopping (LTFS) provides refunds of Louisiana state sales tax,
and in some cases local sales tax, to international visitors for
items purchased in Louisiana from participating retailers. Items
purchased must be tangible goods and must leave Louisiana with
the visitor.
Only international visitors with a valid passport and a round-trip
international travel ticket of less than 90 days duration are
eligible for the sales tax refund. Resident aliens and students
residing in the United States are not eligible.
Climate
New Orleans has a subtropical
climate, with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s in winter
to the mid-90s in summer. Rainfall is common in New Orleans, with
a monthly average precipitation of 5 inches. Temperature range
for late February/early March is lows in the mid-40s to low-50s,
and highs in the mid-60s to low-70s.
|
