Budgeting for New Orleans

I have 3 weeks to go until I head to New Orleans for 1 week! Thanks to everyone for your amazing suggestions on what to do while I’m there.

The hotel that I’m staying at for the fist 5 nights (along with all meals) will be paid for by my company. The hotel is a pretty modern one located in the French Quarter. For my last 2 days there, I’m choosing to stay in a completely different type of hotel about a 10 minute walk away. Mostly for the change of pace and the chance to try something different, but also because I have to pay for those 2 days out of my own pocket. It’s a beautiful, historic hotel that has gotten fabulous reviews on various websites, located about 1/2 block from Jackson Square, and costs about 50% less. :)

There is about $500 sitting in my Travel Fund right now that I’ve been saving for my Toronto/NYC trip in May, so I might just pull money from my Savings Fund for this trip instead. I’m thinking that I will budget about $400 in spending money – for 2 full days of meals, and whatever entertainment  money I’ll need for the entire 7 days I’ll be there. I hope that’s somewhat realistic. I do plan on walking everywhere and taking in the atmosphere of the city. I would really enjoy a cemetery tour, plantation tour, and also a Hurricane Katrina tour. The prices don’t seem too expensive online, but I’m assuming they will be cheaper once I get there, as are most tours.

Lastly and obviously most importantly in my New Orleans update, my sister is flying down to hang out with me over her reading break! She got a killer deal on airfare ($500 round trip) and will be there for 5 of the 7 nights I’m there for. :) She’ll have to entertain herself for 2 full days while I work, but I don’t think she will mind one bit. For as long as I can remember, it’s been one of our dreams to visit this part of the USA, and we both figure it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to do it together while we’re still young. I was all prepared to explore the city by myself, but couldn’t be happier that she has decided to come along. That takes care of one of my 2011 goals, which was to take a trip with my sister.