I booked an extended Manchac Swamp kayak tour during a visit to New Orleans in late February,…read morewanting to see the swamp and its wildlife in a more personal and eco-friendly way than the more popular airboat and alligator-feeding tours. My partner and I have some experience paddling and wanted plenty of time to see wildlife and get deep in the swamp for the best scenery, and for us the extended tour was the right choice! I'd recommend it to visitors to New Orleans who love nature, the outdoors, and/or getting a fun and unique workout in during vacation. We were on the water for about 4 hours. Sunscreen, sunglasses, shoes you don't mind getting wet, and PLENTY of water are a must! There are stops at a truck stop right before and after for the bathroom and buying any drinks/snacks, plus a stop on dry land during the tour. Our guide Nick was clearly dedicated to both paddling and nature even outside of work, and our tour felt less like a scripted performance as some tours can be and more like a buddy was showing and telling you things he was passionate about. We saw several small alligators, barred owls, hawks, turtles, and water birds. It was unseasonably warm so the reptiles were a treat to see, and it was awesome getting to see owls out in daylight which I'd never be able to pick out myself. Bring binoculars if you have them! My only small complaint, which has nothing to do with the tour itself: the AI-generated content on the company's Instagram page is kind of weird. Photos and videos from actual tours would be more honest and enticing!

MJ was fantastic, very knowledgeable. Plenty of gators to see, birds, and a turtle…read more Great time on the water for amour first trip to New Orleans! Can't recommend this tour enough. Ask for MJ!

We had a great time on the swamp tour. The captain/host was courteous and knowledgeable throughout…read morethe trip. The boat ride through the marsh felt exciting--almost like drifting quickly over water while still being smooth and safe. We were able to get up close to alligators, which was an unforgettable experience. Beyond the scenery, the guide shared interesting insights about wetland conservation, the preservation of Louisiana's coastline, and local history and culture, which added real depth to the tour. Overall, this is a fun and engaging activity that's suitable for the whole family. Highly recommended.

Prior to heading to New Orleans, we knew a swamp tour was a must. After doing some research, we…read morelanded on New Orleans Airboat Tours, and I'm glad we did. We booked transportation through them as well, which ran $72. For comparison, I checked Uber pricing and it was about $65 one way, and there were plenty of Ubers available near the tour location. The staff was friendly and easy to work with from the start. I ended up needing to change our date, and they were very accommodating, which I appreciated. Once we arrived at their headquarters, the place was clean, well kept, and had a true "bayou" feel to it. One interesting thing, they actually own the swamp land, so you're essentially touring their backyard... with alligators included. We were assigned Captain Matt, and he made the experience. You could tell he genuinely cares about the wildlife and the ecosystem, which added a lot to the tour. It wasn't just a ride, it felt informative and authentic. The tour lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes. We chose to sit in the front, which meant getting a little wet, but the views were absolutely worth it, especially when the captain started interacting with the gators. Overall, this was money well spent. We had a great time and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting New Orleans.

One of the best dinner cruises I have been on! I decided to partake in the buffet dinner just to…read moreget the full experience. I selected the 6PM seating time so that I would be done with the meal by the time the Steamboat Natchez starts moving around 7PM. The dining area interior space was lovely and expansive with chandeliers, as well as a stage area. Each table had a bowl of Caesar Salad placed there already. Lettuce was nice and crunchy, with plenty of tangy dressing and croutons. Upon being seated, the server took drink orders and I selected Iced Tea (one of the complimentary beverages being offered). The Iced Tea was sweet and refreshing. Next, we were served Gumbo with rice, which was warm, flavorful, and comforting. As for the buffet, there was Shrimp Pasta, a few different saucy dishes made with veggies and meat, potatoes with bacon and peas, Prime Rib, Fried Chicken, and Green Beans. I really enjoyed the Shrimp Pasta, which was made with creamy, well seasoned sauce, and tender shrimp. The saucy dishes were cooked well and bold in flavor. Prime Rib was a little tough. Fried Chicken was delightfully crispy, but a bit on the dry side and could have used more flavor. Green Beans had a perfect consistency with yummy seasoning. For dessert, I tried both the Bread Pudding and Cheesecake with tasty coffee. Both were delicious in their own way. Bread Pudding was dense, with a milky, velvety smooth topping, while the Cheesecake was more light and airy, yet still rich. Service was solid. The waitress was friendly and attentive. Everything (drinks, appetizer, dessert, coffee) came out in a timely manner and the main dishes were part of the buffet. When done eating, I went out to take in golden hour sunset, then headed up to the top deck, where I found a seat. Live jazz music was performed throughout the evening. It was a perfect night for feeling the wind in my hair, watching the skyline go by along the Mississippi River, and the twinkling lights of the city as the sky turned dark. I really enjoyed myself on this iconic Jazz Cruise along Mississippi River.

Opted for the cruise only ( there are options which meals) seating is first come. It was about 1.5…read morehrs first half was going up the river - there's a guy on the microphone giving you all the details about buildings and boats and fun facts about NOLA and the surrounding area. The second half the jazz band plays. Throughout the cruise you're allowed to roam around visit the bars on each end and even the engine room! Bar had good options from local beers to specialty cocktails and you could even buy snacks! I had a sweet tooth and got a chocolate covered elephant ear which was literally the size of my head! Cruise was long but it was nice to just sit around and see the city from a different view!

It's a lovely hotel, located on Canal street. The lobby is white with beautiful chandeliers hanging…read morefrom the ceiling. When I checked in, the manager was on duty. He was friendly, warm, and welcoming. He directed me to the elevator around the corner. Note: The elevator beeps on each and every floor. Being that my room was located on the 11th floor, it got old real fast. First walking in, the room was a nice size and clean. However, there were issues with my stay here. First of all, the toilet took a while from the initial flush to the next. You had to wait a while before you could flush again. This was eventually remedied after the front desk was notified twice, over the phone and at the front desk. But the toilet seat cover also didn't stay up, so it kept falling down on my back when seated. The second issue was that the television would not turn on. It turned out that housekeeping most likely unplugged it from the wall when cleaning, but someone had to come to the room to fix it, and it took more than just plugging it back in. The third issue is that they need additional staff to clean the rooms. They are short staffed. My room was not made until late in the afternoon on one of the days when I came back and could have taken a nap. It wasn't until I started getting comfortable that housekeeping showed up, and since I wanted my room made, I put my shoes back on and left so she could do her thing. The fourth issue was that the Keurig coffee maker was broken. I followed the directions by placing a Keurig cup in the slot, poured water in the well, and pushed the button. Simple enough. I've used these machines before, but this one would spit out a drop or two and nothing else. I tried it a couple times, just in case the one time was just a fluke. They said they would have housekeeping exchange it, but they never did. They were told about the issue a couple times as well. No coffee for me in the comfort of my hotel room. They have a pool an me gym, but I didn't use either. They also have a small mini mart in the lobby where you can purchase drinks and snacks, but they're expensive. I recommend going to the CVS across the street.

My stay at the Crowne Plaza New Orleans was a tale of two very different experiences…read more The good side: The location is exceptional. You're just steps away from Bourbon Street, Canal Street, restaurants, shopping, and many of New Orleans' top attractions. The lobby is welcoming, and the staff I encountered were friendly and professional. The not-so-good side: Unfortunately, the condition of the hotel outside the lobby was disappointing. Walking down the hallways felt depressing. The corridors need a thorough deep cleaning, fresh paint, and repairs to numerous patched holes and worn walls. My room also showed its age with a leaking sink, a toilet that didn't work properly, old worn carpet, and dirty walls. These maintenance issues took away from what could have been a much better stay. This hotel has great potential because of its prime location, but the older sections are in need of significant updates and better upkeep. If management invests in renovating the hallways and guest rooms, the overall guest experience would improve tremendously. Rating: Traveler's Tip: Ask for a recently renovated room when booking or checking in. The location is excellent, but your experience may vary depending on which part of the hotel you're assigned.