We are just back from a trip to New Orleans. I would like to encourage
people to visit the city again. The downtown/French Quarter area is clean and
nice. There have been some posts urging people to stay away due to toxic
levels, but this should be absolutely no problem to anyone going on a short visit.
The mold/toxic questions are for permanent residents who have to live in
homes that might have mold. For visitors there are no problems.
Harrah's has been making generous offers for people who come to their
casino, and you might want to take them up if you get a good offer. Most people
are being put up at Loews, Hilton, or Riverside (formerly Wyndym Hotel) -- all
of which are within a block of Harrah's casino. Harrah's own brand-new hotel
is almost finished, and should be open before the end of the year.
Everyone in New Orleans is super nice and helpful. We couldn't believe how
accommodating the casino employees were. The Harrah's buffet people were
especially terrific in getting us what we wanted. Southern hospitality is at
its best all over New Orleans.
Right now the trolley along the Riverfront is free, as is the ferry across
the river to Algiers. We rode the ferry and visited Mardi Gras World (cost
$15 a person, discount for seniors). I recommend this tourist spot -- you can
see floats under construction and learn all about the floats and the Mardi
Gras. Very interesting, and they even threw in a delicious piece of "King
Cake" with coffee or water.
It is a short walk to the French Quarter from Harrah's and the hotels - or
ride the trolley. Most restaurants are now back in operation. Since crowds
are low, it is easy to walk in without reservations, even on a weekend. Cafe
du Monde is back in operation with its delicious beignets. The horse-drawn
carriages, French Market/Flea Market, musicians on the street, artists selling
artwork, etc. are all available in Jackson Square. The Riverwalk is open.
The Aquarium and Imax are supposed to reopen shortly.
Gray Line has lots of tours in action, including city tour, paddlewheel (yep
the Natchez is running), Oak Alley Plantation (we were glad to see this
beauty wasn't hurt), cemetery and gris-gris walking tour, Southern Comfort
cocktail tour, ghosts and spirits tour, and swamp and bayou tour are all going.
They do have a "Hurricane Katrina" tour which covers the history of the
disaster, with a drive past the levee and some damaged areas (but not the 9th Ward
or New Orleans East). This tour is narrated by local guides with their
personal accounts of the hurricane, and 10% of the fee is donated to a non-profit
organization. (No, we didn't go on the tour.)
Harrah's players will be happy to learn that Harrah's N.O. has a liberal
policy for using your comps to pay for Gray Line tours, Natchez, and other
sightseeing. We were able to get a rebate for the $ we spent on Mardi Gras World
from our comp account. You can also purchase certificates for "partner
restaurants" with your comp dollars.
The casino is now in great shape. Unfortunately good VP is limited to some
.50 and $1 9/6 JB machines in the VP area, and some multiplay NSU and 9/6 $1
and up machines in the hi-roller area.
The Diamond Club is open 4pm-12 am on weekdays, 12 noon-2a.m. on weekends
and features a bar, plus some cheese & crackers and fruit and hot appetizers
served only in the evenings. Bartender John was great, even finding some
Talisker single malt scotch, but the other bartender wasn't as good.
Hosts may be able to arrange for limo to and from airport, reimbursement of
air, $ for Besh steakhouse, and other goodies, but check on exactly what they
are offering. My host, Anthony Tate, arranged airfare reimbursement for me,
and nothing was deducted from my comp account. On the other hand, host Dana
Yuratich arranged partial airfare reimbursement from CoachVee, only to take
all his comps to pay for it (and didn't tell him he was going to do that).
You may be able to arrange for these bonuses in advance if you don't have a
good offer in hand.
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