NEW ORLEANS--The Big Easy

Discover New Orleans beyond Bourbon Street with real tips for solo, budget and chronic illness travelers—food, music, festivals, safety and more.

REVIEWS BY DESTINATION

singlesickbroketraveler.com

11/22/202512 min read

A street sign on a pole in front of a rainbow flag

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans, the Big Easy: A Realistic Guide for Solo, Budget & Chronic Illness Travelers

“New Orleans! Let’s get trashed on Bourbon Street! Yeah!”

If that is the only thing that comes to mind when you think about New Orleans, you are missing most of what makes this city extraordinary.

Yes, Bourbon Street is there. Yes, people drink. Yes, things can get a little wild.

But New Orleans is so much more than Bourbon Street.

It is history, architecture, music, food, festivals, museums, neighborhoods, streetcars, traditions and people who can make you feel welcome even when you met them five minutes ago.

I have been to New Orleans more than once, and every time I go, I discover something different.

And that's one of the reasons I keep going back.

If you're traveling solo, watching your budget, living with a chronic illness—or some combination of all three—New Orleans can absolutely be a destination worth considering.

You just need to experience it your way.

New Orleans Has Layers

One of the things I love about New Orleans is that you don't have to look very hard to find its history.

It's everywhere.

You see it in the buildings. You hear it in the music. You taste it in the food. You feel it walking through neighborhoods where generations of people have created traditions that are uniquely New Orleans.

French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, Creole and other influences have all helped shape the city.

That's why I don't think New Orleans is a place you should rush through.

You can certainly come for a weekend, eat some good food, listen to music and have a wonderful time. But if you slow down and pay attention, there's much more going on around you.

And for those of us who don't necessarily have the energy—or the desire—to race from attraction to attraction, that's actually good news.

You don't have to conquer New Orleans.

You can sit down and let some of New Orleans come to you.

Why I Keep Coming Back

Some destinations are places you visit once, enjoy and check off your list.

New Orleans hasn't been that kind of place for me.

I've gone back because every trip feels different.

Sometimes it's the food.

Sometimes it's the music.

Sometimes it's something completely unexpected.

That's also why I think New Orleans works well for travelers who need flexibility. You can build a trip around what your body, your budget and your interests can handle.

You don't have to see everything.

Actually, you won't.

So take that pressure off yourself before you even arrive.

Take a Tour—But Choose the Right One for You

New Orleans has all kinds of tours: history tours, cemetery tours, ghost tours, food tours, plantation tours, swamp tours and more.

Tours can be a wonderful way to understand what you're looking at instead of simply walking past it.

But if you have arthritis, fatigue, mobility problems, chronic pain or another condition that affects how long you can comfortably walk or stand, ask questions before booking a walking tour.

How long is it?

How much walking is involved?

Are there places to sit?

Is the terrain uneven?

How fast does the group move?

Are there bathroom breaks?

Those questions may matter more to you than whether the tour has five stars.

There is no prize for finishing a two-hour walking tour when your body told you 45 minutes ago that it was done.

If unpredictable energy is one of the things that makes travel difficult for you, read How to Plan a Trip When Your Energy Is Unpredictable. Planning around the energy you actually have—not the energy you hope you'll have—can make an enormous difference.

The Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Can Be Your Friend

One option I like in cities such as New Orleans is a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus.

For someone traveling with limited energy, it can serve two purposes at once: transportation and sightseeing.

You can see a large portion of the city without walking every mile of it.

Get off when something interests you.

Stay on when you're tired.

And if you're having one of those days when your body says, Nope, you can simply ride and look.

That still counts as traveling.

For a solo traveler, it can also help you get your bearings before you start exploring independently.

Just remember that schedules, routes, prices and accessibility can change, so check the current information before your trip.

The French Quarter Is More Than Bourbon Street

You should absolutely see the French Quarter.

But don't make the mistake of thinking Bourbon Street is the French Quarter.

Walk—or roll—beyond it.

Look at the balconies.

Listen to the musicians.

Notice the courtyards.

Stop in the shops.

Sit down when you need to.

Watch people.

And give yourself permission to wander without having a checklist of 14 things you have to accomplish before lunch.

That's often when you notice the things you remember later.

Getting Around New Orleans

You don't necessarily need a car for every part of a New Orleans vacation.

Depending on where you're staying and what you plan to do, walking, streetcars, buses, rideshares, taxis and tours may cover much of what you need.

The streetcars are part transportation and part New Orleans experience.

But this is another place where chronic illness travelers need to think beyond, Can I technically do this?

The better question is:

How much energy will doing this cost me?

A route that looks short on a map can feel very different when it's hot, humid and you're already tired.

Sometimes spending a little money on a rideshare instead of walking another mile isn't wasting money.

It's buying back energy for something you actually want to do.

That's part of budgeting with chronic illness too.

New Orleans With a Chronic Illness

New Orleans can be a lot.

Heat.

Humidity.

Walking.

Crowds.

Noise.

Late nights.

Alcohol.

Rich food.

And if your body doesn't particularly care that you're on vacation, you need to plan accordingly.

That doesn't mean don't go.

It means make New Orleans fit your body instead of forcing your body to fit New Orleans.

Build breaks into your day.

Drink water.

Carry the medications and supplies you need.

Know where you can sit.

Don't schedule every hour.

And if you're visiting during warmer weather, take the heat seriously.

An afternoon rest isn't wasting your vacation.

Sometimes that rest is exactly what allows you to enjoy your evening.

I would much rather miss one attraction and enjoy the rest of my trip than push through until my body decides the trip is over for me.

This is exactly why I believe in having a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C when I travel. If your body changes the plan, you haven't failed. You simply move to the version of the day that works for you.

And if you're still learning how to build an entire vacation around chronic illness instead of fighting against it, How to Plan a Vacation and Actually Relax When You Have a Chronic Illness goes much deeper into that.

Now Let's Talk About the Food

Oh, the food.

New Orleans is one of those places where eating can become part of the sightseeing.

Gumbo.

Jambalaya.

Po'boys.

Red beans and rice.

Seafood.

Beignets.

Pralines.

And dishes you've never tried before but suddenly decide you absolutely need.

If you're traveling on a budget, remember that you don't need every meal to be a big restaurant meal either.

Choose the experiences that matter most to you.

Maybe you splurge on one dinner you've been dreaming about and keep breakfast and lunch inexpensive.

That's how I think about budget travel.

It's not about never spending money.

It's about deciding what is worth spending your money on.

And if food and travel don't always get along with your stomach, take a look at Get Your Tummy Right When You're on Vacation before you leave.

Then There's the Music

You don't have to search very hard for music in New Orleans.

Sometimes it finds you.

That's part of the magic.

You can hear music coming from clubs, festivals, bars and streets. And sometimes the best experiences aren't the ones you bought a ticket for months in advance.

They're the ones you happen upon.

Which brings me to one of my favorite memories.

We Were Complete Strangers—Until We Weren't

At Funk Fest, we were listening to the music and dancing when we met a woman we'd never seen before in our lives.

A complete stranger.

Except she didn't feel like a stranger for very long.

We started dancing together. Then we started talking and laughing. Before we knew it, we were taking pictures and videos together and carrying on like we'd known each other for years.

That's the woman with me in the photograph.

We met as complete strangers at Funk Fest. A little while later, we were dancing, laughing and taking pictures together like we'd known each other for years. That's New Orleans.

Nobody planned it.

It wasn't on an itinerary.

I didn't wake up that morning and write, Meet a complete stranger and spend part of the day dancing with her like we've been friends forever.

It just happened.

And I think those are some of the moments that make travel so special.

You can research restaurants. You can reserve your hotel. You can buy attraction tickets and plan your transportation.

But you can't schedule connection.

I've danced, talked to strangers and had some of those wonderful travel moments that happen when you stop worrying about whether you look silly and simply have a good time.

Sometimes you have to leave a little room in your itinerary for a place to surprise you.

New Orleans has a way of doing that.

Festivals Can Give You a Completely Different New Orleans Experience

New Orleans has festivals and special events throughout the year, and they can completely change the personality of a trip.

If there's a festival happening while you're there, look into it.

But again, my chronic illness travelers need to do a little extra homework.

Will there be seating?

How far will you have to walk?

Can you bring water?

Are bags restricted?

What happens if you need to leave and come back?

Is there accessible seating?

What's the weather forecast?

You may not need every accommodation available.

But knowing your options before you arrive can make the difference between enjoying an event and simply enduring it.

And please don't think you have to stay from beginning to end to get your money's worth.

Go.

Dance.

Eat something.

Listen to the music.

Take your pictures.

And leave when your body says it's time.

Museums and Indoor Attractions Can Save the Day

Museums are wonderful additions to a New Orleans itinerary, especially when the weather isn't cooperating or you need something less physically demanding.

They're also useful when you need a change of pace from the noise and crowds.

Depending on your interests, you'll find museums and cultural attractions covering art, history, music, World War II and New Orleans culture.

This is where I like to mix up an itinerary.

Don't plan three physically demanding days in a row if you already know that's going to flatten you.

A busy day followed by a museum day or slower day may give you a much better trip overall.

Want to learn how to travel your way? Click on the button below to join the Single, Sick and Broke Traveler community!

Don't Forget the Neighborhoods

New Orleans is bigger than the French Quarter.

Depending on your time, interests and mobility, consider seeing other parts of the city as well.

Different neighborhoods have their own architecture, restaurants, shops and personality.

This is another reason tours and public transportation can be useful. They can help you see more of the city without requiring you to walk the entire thing.

And sometimes getting a little farther away from the busiest tourist areas gives you a completely different perspective.

Solo in New Orleans

Would I travel around New Orleans alone?

Yes—but I would use the same common sense I use in any city.

Know where you're going.

Pay attention to what's happening around you.

Don't advertise that you're carrying a lot of cash.

Be careful with alcohol, especially when you're alone.

Don't let a stranger pressure you into going somewhere you don't want to go.

Use transportation when walking doesn't feel right.

And trust yourself.

Solo travel isn't about proving that you're fearless.

It's about learning how to make decisions for yourself.

If something doesn't feel right, leave.

You don't owe anyone an explanation.

If traveling alone is something you're still getting comfortable with, Solo Travel—Safety on the Road has more practical advice for protecting yourself without becoming afraid of every person you meet.

And if the bigger hurdle is simply getting yourself to take that first solo trip, read Get the Gumption to Solo Travel.

Budgeting for New Orleans

New Orleans can become expensive quickly if you treat every meal, tour and evening as a major event.

So choose.

What matters most to you?

Is it food?

Music?

History?

A particular tour?

A festival?

Spend your money there.

Then look for ways to save on the things that don't matter as much.

Walk when it makes sense.

Use public transportation when it works for you.

Look for free music and events.

Compare attraction prices.

And don't assume the cheapest option is automatically the best value.

For those of us with chronic illness especially, the cheapest hotel ten miles away may stop being cheap after you've paid for rideshares every day because you're too exhausted to deal with multiple transportation connections.

Cheap and affordable aren't always the same thing.

If you're trying to make travel happen on a very limited budget, you'll also find more ideas in Attention Spoonies: How to Travel Even If You're Broke—The Complete Guide to Seeing the World on a Tiny Budget.

Give Yourself Permission to Do New Orleans Differently

You don't have to stay out until 3 a.m.

You don't have to drink.

You don't have to spend every night on Bourbon Street.

You don't have to eat at the restaurant everybody on social media says you have to visit.

And you don't have to keep up with anybody else.

Maybe your New Orleans vacation includes a long breakfast, a streetcar ride, one museum, a nap and music in the evening.

That sounds like a vacation to me.

Maybe you spend one afternoon doing absolutely nothing except eating something delicious and watching people go by.

That counts too.

Make travel fit your life.

That's the whole point.

Want More Realistic Travel Advice?

If you've ever looked at traditional travel advice and thought, That's great—but how am I supposed to do all of that with my body, my budget or by myself? You're exactly who I created The Single, Sick & Broke Traveler for.

Join the tribe for practical travel advice, new articles and resources designed for people who still want to see the world—even when life makes traveling a little more complicated.

What I Want You to Remember About New Orleans

New Orleans isn't a destination I would reduce to a list of ten things you have to see.

It's a city you experience.

Eat the food.

Listen to the music.

Learn some of the history.

Talk to people.

Sit down when you're tired.

Dance when you feel like dancing.

And leave enough space in your plans for something completely unexpected to happen.

Because years later, the thing you remember may not be the attraction you carefully researched.

It may be the complete stranger who started dancing with you at Funk Fest and somehow felt like an old friend before the music was over.

That's travel.

That's connection.

And sometimes, that's New Orleans.

Who dat?!

Keep Traveling Your Way

New Orleans doesn't require unlimited money, unlimited energy or a perfect travel partner.

Neither does the rest of the world.

Whether you're traveling solo, managing a chronic illness, watching every dollar or simply trying to figure out how travel can work with the life you actually have, The Single, Sick & Broke Traveler is here to help you find your way.

Start with the advice that fits your life:

Solo Travel — for traveling confidently on your own.

Traveling With Chronic Illness — for planning around the body you actually have.

Budget Travel — for seeing more of the world without pretending money doesn't matter.

Travel Smarter — for practical advice that can make the whole trip easier.

You don't have to travel like everybody else.

You just have to find the way that works for you.

Get there your way.