Things You'll Need:
- Comfortable shoes and clothes
- Hotel safe
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Step 1
Book a hotel out of the main path of the parade. This means staying out of the French Quarter and booking something a few blocks away.
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Step 2
Use your hotel safe to store your jewelry every time you walk out of the room. Better yet, leave your valuables at home.
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Step 3
Obey the police. They are there to enforce the law at all costs. This means absolutely no drinking if you're under 21, no fighting, no climbing up balconies and no crossing the street when the parade is moving.
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Step 4
Agree on a place to meet up if you get separated from others in your group or decide to split up to do different things. Make the meeting place a safe point, such as the hotel lobby or an area restaurant. Make sure every person in your group carries a map, making it easy to safely navigate the area.
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Step 5
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes to survive all the walking and standing. This is not the right time to wear heels or brand-new shoes you need to break in. Take warmer clothes with you, as January weather in New Orleans changes abruptly and it's not rare to find a difference of 25 to 30 degrees in a single day.
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Step 6
Respect the barricades if you want to survive the crowds. They are there to protect you from the marching bands and floats. Stepping into the street will put you in danger and at risk for being arrested. Fines given during Mardi Gras are high, and, because the court is closed during the holiday, you may end up spending a full night in jail.
