How to Enjoy a Safe Mardi Gras 2008 in New Orleans

Mardi Gras 2008 is here and there is no place to celebrate like New Orleans! Here are some simple tips to help you have a safe Mardi Gras in the Big Easy!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A Mardi Gras buddy
• A Mardi Gras guide -or-
• A Mardi Gras itinerary from the Internet
• An ATM or debit card
• A hotel room or place to rest
• Water -- lots of it!

1. Arthur Hardy's guide is by far the best. Find it at Walgreen's and other stores! Mardi Gras can be overwhelming for the unprepared! Get your hands on a Mardi Gras guide the minute you arrive. You can find them in most tourist shops. The Internet savvy can have their itinerary ready before they leave by visiting the Mardi Gras 2008 parade routes www.nola.com.
2. Less suitcases... more layers! Plan for the weather when you pack! The weather in New Orleans can change quickly overnight. And while you may be cold waiting for that parade that is two hours late, jumping around for all of the throws or a walk down Bourbon Street can quickly warm you up. Take it from a native... layers are you way to go!
3. The parades just aren't as pretty if you're pooped! Most people aren't prepared for the twenty-four hour atmosphere that New Orleans can offer. Pace yourself in everything you do for Mardi Gras 2008. Remember that you will need time to rest between parades, restaurants, and bars. This is where it helps to have a responsible travel buddy or companion to go along with you. Make your plan to rest each day then stick to it by rewarding yourself with an activity or parade you want to see! Resting BEFORE parades is always advisable!
4. Stash the cash! Go cashless with a card! Keep your cash to a minimum! Carry an ATM or debit card for your spending needs. Most places will take them and it is easier to replace than cash. No one anticipates losing money or being the victim of crime but it does happen. For bar browsing, leave the card at home and take a minimal amount of cash. This way you can also be sure that you don't drink your vacation savings away in one night!
5. Mardi Gras crowds are not for the clausterphobic! Keep your bearings with your buddy! Mardi Gras and the streets of New Orleans can get overwhelming for the newbie. Carry two-way phones or radios if possible. Always walk with a buddy and on the opposite side of the street than the cars park on. This is true especially at night and can help keep you from becoming a victim of a drunk derelict hiding between cars. If you get separated from your buddy, make a meeting place that you both know. Always ask seek out the help of a bar tender or local business clerk if you need help finding your way... they know the safest routes!

Tips & Warnings

• Spend some time when you first arrive finding out what is around your hotel or guest house. Find restaurants, grocery stores, and other places you may need during your stay!
• Don't venture too far off Bourbon Street at night. Although the French Quarter will be packed with people, Bourbon is your safest bet!
• Don't forget the water! Drinking alcohol all day and night can dehydrate you! Take a break from the hurricanes and have plenty of water even if you don't think you need it. It will keep you feeling great in the morning and keep you from passing out in the crowds!
• Please remember that the French Quarter is a neighborhood that people actually live in. Although many residents love Mardi Gras, they also love finding their property intact the next day. Don't vandalize or steal signs, flowers, mailboxes, etc.
• Public intoxication makes people do strange things for cheap plastic strings of beads. In most cases, police tend to overlook exposing of one's breasts for said cheap beads but dropping of the pants by any sex will probably land you in a jail cell overnight.
• Can't find a place to potty? Urinating on the street may seem harmless since it can wash away right? Wrong! This action will definitely gain you a night with the NOPD!