Greetings from New Orleans, Louisiana! Every travel blog tells you what to do when you travel, but we like to tell you what not to do, so you can be prepared for your New Orleans vacation. Whether you’re visiting for Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest or some other fun occasion, these are the “don’ts” of visiting New Orleans.
#1 Don’t Call It N’awlins
Don’t call New Orleans “N’awlins” and it’s not New Or-leens. It’s New Orleans. If you can say it correctly, we’ve got our first don’t out of the way.
#2 Don’t Worry About Liquor Laws
You can walk around New Orleans with an open container of alcohol, which is unusual for most places. So, you can carry your drink from place to place and not worry about getting in trouble.
#3 Don’t Drink from Glass Bottles Outside
One rule, though, is that you can’t walk around with glass containers. Everything has to be in plastic cups, so when you get that cocktail to go, make sure it’s in a plastic container.
#4 Don’t Pee in Public
You’re likely to imbibe in a few drinks while visiting New Orleans, and you’ll notice a distinct smell in the French Quarter, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK for you to pee in public. That’s the easiest way to get a ticket in New Orleans. Pop into the nearest bar; they all have bathrooms.
#5 Don’t Bare Your Breasts for Beads
For starters, you’ll have your photo on the internet forever. Outside of the French Quarter, you can actually get arrested for public nudity, and nobody wants that. You can buy beads (very cheaply) at Walgreens and keep your dignity intact.
#6 Don’t Think New Orleans is Just the French Quarter
When most of us think of New Orleans, we think of the French Quarter. It’s where a lot of tourists go, and it’s all you’ll see on TV during Mardi Gras. There are so many things to do in New Orleans that aren’t in the French Quarter. Check out the WWII Museum, NOMA, the Aquarium, the Garden District and so much more!
#7 Don’t Stay in the French Quarter
Don’t stay in a French Quarter hotel when you visit New Orleans. It’s super noisy well into the wee hours of the morning, so it can be hard to sleep with so much going on outside. You’ll also get better hotel deals if you stay outside the French Quarter.
#8 Don’t Drive in New Orleans
Like many big cities, driving in New Orleans is a pain. Finding parking is nearly impossible. If you are driving to New Orleans, park at your hotel and leave your car for the duration of your visit. You can use the street cars, Uber or Lyft or just walk everywhere.
Watch: How to Use NOLA Streetcars
#9 Don’t Leave Valuables in Your Car
New Orleans isn’t the safest city, and small thefts are common. Don’t leave valuables in the car, even if you are using the valet parking at your hotel. If you have to leave anything in the car, be sure it’s out of sight or hidden away.
#10 Don’t Be Complacent About Safety
Lots of people come to New Orleans to party, so you’ll see a lot of drinking and a lot of tourists. We saw a bunch of fights in the evening, and pickpockets are around. Just be on alert, and if you see a fight starting to brew, get out of the way. Use your usual travel precautions to stay safe.
#11 Don’t Fall for Street Scams
One of the most common street scams in New Orleans is a guy who wants to make a bet with you, and guess where you got your shoes. Don’t fall for it. They’ll harass you when you don’t pay up, and follow you to pay them. Just keep walking and don’t fall into the scam.
#12 Don’t Visit New Orleans in July and August
New Orleans is literally built on a swamp. It’s hot and humid, and July and August are the worst months to visit. If you can avoid it, don’t visit during the hottest months. The rest of the year, the weather in New Orleans is great! (If you ignore this advice, then don’t complain about the heat!)
#13 Don’t Worry About Being a Tourist
This city is really geared towards tourists, and the tourism infrastructure is great. There are tours you can take all over – from swamp tours, plantation tours, and cemetery tours. There are also tons of hotels and restaurants. Just about everyone is a tourist in New Orleans. Don’t worry about sticking out.
#14 Don’t Get Your Tour Guide in Trouble
Tour guides have rules to follow, so make their job easy and follow their directions. Most tours have to stay on the sidewalk, no walking in the street, and tour groups can’t block the sidewalk. Don’t cause your tour guide to be fined!
#15 Don’t Forget to Tip
Many people in New Orleans work for tips, so be sure to tip. This includes servers, bartenders, tour guides, and musicians. Not only is tipping expected, but you’ll get much better service if you are a good tipper.
#16 Don’t Mess with the Cops
The police in New Orleans are super helpful, and super professional, so don’t hesitate to ask them for help. You can only imagine the things they have to deal with when it comes to tourists, so don’t mess around with them. This goes for their horses, too.
#17 Don’t Be Surprised When You See Vomiting or Crying (or both!) on Bourbon Street
People visit New Orleans and get out of hand, forgetting how much liquor they can handle. As a result, seeing someone puking on the street is pretty common. So is crying, and sometimes you’ll see both at the same time. Also, be careful as you’re walking around, and take care not to get puked on. It happens more than you’d like to think.
#18 Don’t Be in a Hurry
Things move slower in the South. Even more so in Louisiana and New Orleans. Just because it’s a big city doesn’t mean it’s fast paced; there’s a reason they call it the Big Easy. So, settle in and relax and get with the rhythm of New Orleans.
#19 Don’t Try to Diet in New Orleans
The food in New Orleans is fantastic. Some New Orleans specialties include crawfish Étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, oysters, pecan pie and beignets. Don’t forget about all the calories in those drinks, too!
Read: Five Things to Eat in New Orleans
#20 Don’t Be Scared to Bring Your Kids
Aside from the French Quarter at night, New Orleans is very family-friendly. There are tons of things for kids to do in New Orleans. There’s an aquarium, the Audubon Zoo, city parks and fun architecture. New Orleans isn’t just for adults. Even Mardi Gras parades are family friendly!
#21 Don’t Forget to Make Dinner Reservations
With so many tourists visiting New Orleans all the time, you better have dinner reservations if there is a specific restaurant you want to visit. This is especially true during any festivals, and you’ll want to make your reservations way in advance.
#22 Don’t Overdo It on Your First Night
You’re going to want to indulge as soon as you arrive in New Orleans, and eat a ton and drink a ton, but take it easy on your first day, so that you’re not miserable on your second day.
#23 Don’t Forget Cash and ID
If you look under 30, you’re likely to get carded to get into bars, especially along Bourbon Street. It’s so much easier to pay with cash when you’re out at the bars, rather than running a tab on your card. Don’t forget about those pickpockets, though, and keep cash in your front pockets.
Don’t let these “don’ts” scare you off. New Orleans is really a fantastic city; with lots of things to do, awesome food and friendly people. Have you been to New Orleans? Feel free to add more “don’ts” in the comments below! For more travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos: