21 Don’ts of Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Don’ts of Mardi Gras: Tips for New Orleans Mardi Gras

Greetings from New Orleans, Louisiana! Most travel blogs tell you what to do when you travel, but we like to tell you what not to do. With these Mardi Gras tips, you will be better prepared for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Whether you’re visiting with other adults, or with children, Mardi Gras is totally worth the trip. Just keep these “don’ts” in mind when you visit.

Mardi Gras Tip #1 Don’t Pee in Public

Mardi Gras is crowded, and there’s a lot of drinking going on. The lines for bathrooms are crazy long, so it’s really tempting to just sneak into a corner and go. This is the most common way of getting arrested at Mardi Gras, so have a “pee plan” in place. Just because Bourbon Street smells like pee, doesn’t mean it’s ok to add to it.

Watch: Five Ways to Get Arrested During Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Tip #2 Don’t Bare Breasts for Beads

Beads are everywhere during Mardi Gras. At the parades, they throw hundreds of beads from each float. Or, you can buy them super cheap at the drug store, or even the party store back home before you leave. In the age of cell phone cameras and social media, that kind of “exposure” really isn’t worth a string of plastic beads that cost 25 cents. Outside of the French Quarter, this really isn’t tolerated and is a good way to get the attention of police.

Mardi Gras Tip #3 Don’t Expect Parades in the French Quarter

If you have seen Mardi Gras coverage on TV, French Quarter coverage is often mixed up with parade footage, so it seems that it all happens in the same place. In reality, there are no parades through the French Quarter. The parades mostly happen on St. Charles Avenue, so make sure you get out of the French Quarter to experience other Mardi Gras festivities.

Mardi Gras Tip #4 Don’t Be Surprised to See Families at Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is really a family experience. If you talk to locals, they all have fond childhood memories of Mardi Gras. Outside of the French Quarter, it’s really a family party atmosphere. The French Quarter is where most of the debauchery is contained; elsewhere around New Orleans, Mardi Gras is great for the whole family.

Mardi Gras Tip #5 Don’t Be Late for the Parades

It’s really hard to get a good spot at the Mardi Gras parades. People come first thing in morning to get a good spot for the parades, so you can’t just show up when the parade starts and expect to see anything. Don’t try to sneak in front of anyone who’s already saved a spot, as they aren’t afraid to call someone out for it.

Mardi Gras Tip #6 Don’t Think Mardi Gras Celebrations are Only on Fat Tuesday

Fat Tuesday is the culmination of Mardi Gras celebrations, but the celebrations begin long before Fat Tuesday. There are tons of parades, parties and balls leading up to Fat Tuesday. The great news is that even if you can’t come for Fat Tuesday, you can still visit a week before and get to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras Tip #7 Do Not Jump the Parade Barriers

Police barriers will line the parade routes. They are there for a reason and aren’t meant to be jumped. They are really for the safety of parade attendees, helping them avoid getting hit by a parade float or vehicle.

Mardi Gras Tip #8 Don’t Mess With the Cops or Their Horses

Over one million people attend Mardi festivities each year, which is more than three times the actual population of New Orleans. A lot of these people are drunk, and disorderly, causing a lot of headaches for the local police force. They are very professional, and willing to help where needed, but anyone who messes around with the cops is only going to have problems.

Mardi Gras Tip #9 Don’t Forget to Make Dinner Reservations

With so many tourists coming in during Mardi Gras season, dinner reservations are critical. Otherwise, be prepared to wait an hour or more to get a table for dinner. If you have specific places you want to eat, you may even want to make lunch reservations. Without reservations, plan to eat mostly fast food and street food in New Orleans.

Read: Five Things You Must Eat in New Orleans

Mardi Gras Tip #10 Don’t Be in a Hurry

Mardi Gras or not, patience pays off in New Orleans. It’s a much slower pace than other cities, and adding a million extra people tends to slow things down quite a bit. Knowing this ahead of time will help you be prepared to go with the flow.

Mardi Gras Tip #11 Don’t Forget to Book Hotels Six to Nine Months in Advance

Hotels can get booked up really quickly during Mardi Gras. Plan to pay a premium for hotels during Mardi Gras, in addition to planning way in advance to make sure you have somewhere to sleep. In some instances, there are last minute cancellations, so if you wait too long, you may be able to get on a waitlist for a room.

Mardi Gras Tip #12 Don’t Think You Can Stay One Night at a Hotel

Many hotels have a minimum number of nights to reserve a stay during Mardi Gras, sometimes as high as 4-5 nights. If you can’t stay that many nights, you may just have to pay for them anyways.

Mardi Gras Tip #13 Don’t Sleep in Your Car

Many people think they will get around pricy hotel requirements by sleeping in their car. Cops are on the lookout for this, as are the parking garage people. It’s not a great plan as you could get kicked out of your spot in the middle of the night.

Mardi Gras Tip #14 Don’t Expect Anything to be Cheap During Mardi Gras

Hotels in New Orleans are always a little pricy, but usually eating out and entertainment are pretty affordable. However, during Mardi Gras, prices jump up pretty much everywhere. Expect surge pricing on Uber, too.

Mardi Gras Tip #15 Don’t Forget to Bring Cash

Having cash will make things much easier during Mardi Gras. You don’t want to deal with credit cards in a crowded bar with huge lines.

Mardi Gras Tip #16 Don’t Forget Your ID

If you plan on going to any bars, or buying alcohol, you will need to show identification.

Mardi Gras Tip #17 Don’t Have Glass Bottles Outside

New Orleans has liquor laws, which means you can get your drink to go and walk the streets while you enjoy an alcoholic beverage. However, glass containers are a big “don’t” on the streets; make sure you have your drinks in a plastic container.

Mardi Gras Tip #18 Don’t Mess with Strangers

Alcohol and strangers can be a bad mix. If you’re out at the bars during Mardi Gras, don’t mess with strangers. Also, stick together with your friends and family; don’t wander off on your own.

Mardi Gras Tip #19 Don’t Forget to Have a Meeting Point

If you do happen to get separated from your group, don’t forget to have a pre-set meeting point so you can find your friends. With all the people converging on New Orleans, cell phone coverage may be sketchy, so having a meeting point is a great backup plan.

Mardi Gras Tip #20 Don’t Pick Up Beads Off the Ground

Not everyone follows our Don’t #1 so it’s not recommend to pick up anything that’s been on the ground, especially on Bourbon Street. Don’t be lured into grabbing shiny beads off the ground. There’s no telling where they’ve been, so just go buy some.

Mardi Gras Tip #21 Don’t Call it N’awlins

It’s not N’awlins; it’s not New Orl-EENs. It’s just New Orleans, or phonetically, New Or-lens.

Don’t let these “don’ts” scare you off. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is such a unique and fun experience, it’s definitely a “must” for every traveler. The people, food and entertainment are all fantastic. Feel free to add more “don’ts” in the comments below! For more travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos: