Is travel alone in New Orleans dangerous? 10 points for the best advise. Thank you?

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traveler

I think if you are stay in the touristy areas and are street smart you would not have a problem. Although I always recommend to try not to walk alone and stay on the busier streets that are well lite. But I would suggest that to anyone in any major city. With that being said I think you will be fine if you are smart about things but there is always safety in numbers. The french quarter has a strong police presence for the tourist benefit to feel safe and keep them safe. Hope you are able to come visit.

Est.1992

IM 16 and iv lived there all my life..most of new orleans is safe theres just some bad parts witch there really isnt a reason if you dont live there to be in those parts most of the crime is about drugs...just stay away from the bad parts expecially at night and youll be fine

I live in Metaire with is about 5 mins away..and its very safe half the time we dont even lock the doors when we are home.

You might want to bring some firends you will have alot more fun

MsMac

Not unless you walk on dark streets late at night or you're trying to buy drugs...

i live in new orleans.
i'm a 20 yr old female. i've wandered through new orleans by myself before, you're probably not going to die.

unless you take a stroll through the projects looking for crack in the middle of the night i think you're alright. anyone has a chance of getting assaulted or whatever ANYTIME they're in a big city. its not like new orleans is the murder capital or whatever.

everyone exaggerates the **** that happens here.
i say...come visit us for spring break!

*****

There is no place that is 100% safe. Crime can happen right out of the blue unexpectedly.

Sally J

When you travel you always have to be careful no matter where you are. It's always good to just keep our eyes open. But I love New Orleans. Keep within the local streets, NO SIDE Streets, and if you are going alone, but tell anyone where you are staying, and get a hotel that's a bigger one, nothing wringky dinky.

Jeff

If you avoid the poor black residential areas, you'll have a much less chance of anything happening to you.

rjr535

I lived in Chicago for 10 years and New Orleans for 5 1/2 years. So I am no stranger to the streets. I have visited a few other cities in our country. I like the streets at night. New Orleans is one of the most dangerous cities I have lived in. My neighbor was gunned down in front of our place and then after moving to a "better" neighborhood, my car along with several others took a 9mm slug through the driver's side door when some kids where just driving around shooting cars. There were a few other things to numerous to mention, But I would advise against it unless you have been trained for combat. The tough part about New Orleans is reading the neighborhoods, there are a lot of old homes there and it is easy to find yourself in bad place before you know it. The French Quarter was always a fight waiting to happen. Having said all that I love the place, the good people there are the best, unfortunately the bad people are the worst. I would never have left there except Katrina destroyed all I owned. I spent 3 days on a balcony before getting out. I've been back 3 times since and it just is not the same, it's worst. The friends I am still in contact with there say it is not getting much better. I now live in Manila, Philippines, we do have the occasional terrorist bombing thing but it is rare. I have found the Philippines to be a very safe place at least in the North and Central regions. If N.O ever comes back I will beat you there. it will always have many memories for me, very good and a few bad.

kell_coun19661966

No way there are much better places to go for spring break plus new orleans still has a ways to go we moved out and you better believe that during a heavy travel period like spring break it will really be dangers.

HERE IS SOME GREAT ADVICE FOR WHAT TO DO FOR YOUR SPRING BREAK ! ! !

try looking into an all inclusive spring break vacation they are always the best option and by far the most affordable. Plus with booking through a company they can connect your with a group of people that meets your interests, age etc. Here is a blog entry that helped me out they show several options for many destinations starting at under $100.

Enjoy

http://web.mac.com/adventurebrat/AdventureBrat/Blog/Entries/2008/1/31_this_is_a_test.html

sixoneurdun

I wouldn't advise you to go to any City alone.

If you want to come here bring a friend.

If your worried do your sight seeing in the day and
stay on Bourbon street at night.

don't get drunk an go wandering around in places you don't know where your going.

if your worried about being out at night drink during the day
the bars are open 24 hrs and you can walk around with a drink in a go cup.

Spring Break is not a all out party with a ton of college kids here if that's what your looking for go Fla.

You Wish U Knew

personally i wouldn't travel anywhere alone, not unless i know someone in town. i say get your friends to come. new orleans is not the war zone or nasty palce the media makes it out to be. it is beautiful here!

NOLA guy

New Orleans is a big city and has crime like all cities. However, NOLA is not even in the "top 25 most dangerous cities in America": http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/30/real_estate/Most_dangerous_cities/index.htm

Note that 5 Florida cities were in the top 25.

I live in the City of New Orleans and have done so for 40 years. Reality is you only need to use the same basic common sense you need everywhere in the world and you will be fine in New Orleans.

New Orleans has been in the news because the number of murders is up a bit since Katrina. Almost 98% of the murders happen within the crack cocaine community and are about territorial competition. The other 2% are "domestic" homicides. That doesn't make the crimes OK, but you don't have to worry about it unless you buy or sell crack cocaine while you are here.

To give a personal example, I lived in the central business district for most of 2006 and in the French Quarter for most of 2007. I walked around alone at all hours of the day and night and my job took me to all areas of the city (including the "lower 9th ward") day and night. The worst thing that ever happened was I was twice politely solicited for a handout.

All but one of the negative answers you got were from people who live in the suburbs and who have the same attitude towards NOLA that people in upstate New York have toward New York City. I don't know what sort of life rjr535 had (he claims he lived in the City), but I suspect much of his answer is based on urban myths.

Please post another question if you do decide to visit New Orleans. You are also welcome to write.

mtb801

YES, travel alone in New Orleans is dangerous, especially at night. A friend of mine got mugged at 9pm on a crowded street in the quarter. Bring someone with you or learn about the safe areas in the city.

If you have to go alone, arrive during the day and don't go out alone at night (yeah, that's lame, but it's really not safe at night). I'd suggest you find someone to go with you. Plus, New Orleans is the kind of place that's a hell of a lot more fun if you're not alone.

fractalarmor

I'd probably go for a place that's a little safer. Like Kabul.

god is love

i live in new orleans and the city is bad but where i live in metaire its not bad at all.everywhere u go theres the good n bad side of a place.new orleans is filled with things to do parting and just fun.hope u come.NO,its not dangerous!wha city does have crime?good point huh!that article also says 2006..we in 2008 dude!

Charlie

I do not think it would be safe for you. Below is just one of many articles about the current level of crime in New Orleans. It is really out of control. Please consider going somewhere else...and go with friends. It is just not worth risking your life and safety.

Gypsyking

Well,miss 'God is Love' if you think what the other person posted is too old and doesn't reflect the current conditions then please take a look at my link,it's a little more recent.

I also lived in Metarie and made excuses for the crime but no longer.Nola is a sewer! Recently,my best friend and his father were both pistol whipped and robbed when they went back to make some repairs on one of their rental properties.
Laissez les bon temp rouler! Right?

To the person asking the question; please go somewhere, anywhere, else for your spring break.

http://www.nola.com/crime/

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