Suekel's NOLA Anniversary Trip May 24-28

Hi all! I figured since it's been fairly quiet around here of late, I'd do a mini TR for our upcoming trip to New Orleans.

I would have really liked to go to Vegas, as we have many other years for our anniversary and R's birthday, but the flights from Ft Myers are awful options and expensive. So, we decided to use some comps and stay at Harrah's New Orleans instead. We had some credits from pervious cancelled flights, so airfare cost was minimal, and we got 2 of our 4 nights comped with the other two discounted.

Flights will actually be from and to Ft Lauderdale, because they had non stops, and were much cheaper than flying from RSW. We leave here at about 4AM Wednesday to drive to FLL, with a 9:30AM flight, arriving in NOLA around 10:45 local time. Our return flight arrives in FLL after midnight Sunday, so we got a room there for the night. The next day we will sleep in, have a nice breakfast or lunch, and pick up some of the best subs ever at Laspada's before driving back to Ft Myers.

As mentioned, staying at the hotel attached to Harrah's. They are building a whole new one but it's not nearly done yet. I am keeping my expectations tempered for the hotel since I imagine they aren't sinking any money into it if they are building a new one.

We will have a daily gambling budget and definitely plan to spend some good time in the casino. We have dinner reservations for Muriel's in Jackson Square Thursday, and The Steakhouse at Harrah's Saturday. Plan to use the streetcars to get around somewhat, since my stupid ankle is still not 100% and loves to swell up, especially in humidity. We are keeping plans fairly loose, so that if my ankle is demanding rest I can do that.

One more work day and then off we go. I'm ready for a vacay and some GAMBOL!

 

Last day at work. I have a thousand things to do, but it will all get done, it always does. I have R getting some snacks for the dog, who will be home with a sitter while we are gone. He's also going to run to the bank to withdraw the remainder of the bankroll + spending money.

He wants us to try to do carry on only, we will see if that's possible. It's going to swampy as all get out there, so I'm not planning to be able to re-wear clothes. When I get home after work (leaving at 2 today) I'll give it a shot packing in a carry on. If not, oh well.

Plan upon arrival is grab a cab to the hotel, I'm sure we won't be able to check in at 11 AM so hopefully they will hold the luggage, and then we will go to Felix's for char grilled oysters. It's a first stop tradition for us in New Orleans.

I had some mild concerns about safety, based on some things I have read. But honestly, you can have issues or "wrong place, wrong time" just about anywhere these days. We will take some basic precautions - R will keep wallet and phone in front pockets, I'll have a cross body that zippers shut, going to make sure phone settings are such that if they are stolen they won't be useable, and we plan to be back at the casino/hotel by around 10 each night. Beyond that, going to not worry and will just focus on having fun! And winning!

 

So, I asked R to go to the bank and withdraw a relatively sizeable amount of cash. And to request a certain breakdown of bills - so many $100's, so many $10's, $5's etc. You'd think that a reasonable person would know to go inside to do that right?

No, he did this at the ATM and we now have a grand in all $20's that I have to carry around until our room is ready, and then hope we have a safe. Good lord.

 

Got up at 3, left house at 4, uneventful drive to Ft Lauderdale. Boarding shortly - first win is flight is less than half full so we should have some elbow room .


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Row 12, empty seat between. Next stop: New Orleans




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What in the Monsanto fake food hell is powdered lime????



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Honey, we’re home!!!



A lot of construction going on here. The new Sports Book is nice but all the machines are multi play, which I don’t prefer. We found a half abandoned older bar that has single play.

Waiting for our room to be ready, had a couple drinks and played a bit. Probably heading to Felix’s soon to eat.


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Well, first slight let down is that Felix’s was definitely not as good as it used to be. I’m assuming high food prices have led them to lower the quality. Char grilled oysters were tiny, and red beans and rice had almost no sausage. But we ate, paid, said thank you and moved on.

No biggie, happy to be here and now wandering the Quarter having a few drinks while we wait for room to be ready.




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My expectations for the room were pretty tempered, but it’s actually quite nice! Big bathroom, comfy bed. I’ll try to get some pics tomorrow.

After wandering about the FQ, we finally got into our room around 4. Took an hour or so nap, went back to casino where nothing great happened, and then had some really good tenders at Willies Chicken Shack on Canal.

Came back to casino and I won about $120. Decided to save that for tomorrow. Having a final final at Gordon Biersch before getting a good nights sleep.



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Slept in a bit today, showered then walked into the quarter. Picked a place at random and had a GREAT breakfast. Original Pierre Maspero’s.




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Back at the casino for a bit, can’t get anything going. Playing VP. Heading to the room soon to change and freshen up before heading to dinner .



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After changing and freshening up, we called a guy who did golf cart rides and he took us back over to Jackson Square. Had a drink somewhere and then walked to Muriel’s for our anniversary dinner. Food and service were both excellent.










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Today we don’t have any set plans, which is a nice feeling. Spent an hour or two in the casino, and now we are aimlessly wandering in the Quarter.

Rest assured I am fully dressed despite what the neon sign says.






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