How to Find Mardi Gras Travel Packages

Mardi Gras, the largest carnival in the world, draws hundreds of thousands each year. The two-week event features parades, parties, costumes and a general air of festivity. The celebration is held just before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent each year. It culminates in an all-night party on "Mardi Gras" or "Fat Tuesday." Read on to learn more.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Plan well in advance. Mardi Gras is the most popular of the pre-Lenten events. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world descend on the "Crescent City." Approximately 95 percent of the city's hotel rooms are filled during that time. It's definitely not an event you want to attend at the spur of the moment.

2. Enlist the aid of your travel agent. A good travel agent can be a real help in finding convenient-and affordable-Mardi Gras accommodations. Because she works with travel every day, she's in an ideal position to see all of the Mardi Gras travel packages as soon as they are announced.

3. Search the New Orleans visitors' website. The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau offers information on a variety of travel companies that offer Mardi Gras packages. The site also offers information on the parades, the event schedule, the lingo and other Mardi Gras essentials.

4. Check with tour operators that specialize in travel to New Orleans. New Orleans or Louisiana-based tour companies are best situated to find affordable hotel rooms and affordable extras. Plus, they are nearby if you run into a problem. Some local operators even block hotels rooms at popular hotels to sell as their own. Try Big Easy Travel, for example.

Resources

• Check for Mardi Gras travel packages at Big Easy Travel.
• Check with the New Orleans CVB.