It’s not as bad as you think in August: It’s hot then, but there’s often a refreshing rain in the afternoon that washes off the dust and gives the city a fresh outlook. Take advantage of the off-season rates and enjoy the thinner crowds.
The skinny on Mardi Gras: Locals leave town for the Fat Tuesday fêtes. The weeks before Mardi Gras are a little easier to handle, with parades and beads, parties and celebrating but without the own-of-town revelers that take the escapades up a big notch.
Post-Katrina: Tourism is thriving, and the city is committed to its comeback, with everyone from cab drivers to restaurateurs making efforts to welcome in new business and return travelers.
Locals look like they belong. The professional set wear suits and hats, bow ties and bucks; they perspire in the tropical heat, and they take it all in stride. But they also go out for lunch and perhaps enjoy a cocktail. New Orleans’ “let the good times roll” motto means that a smile and a shrug make adversity just a little bit easier.