Traveller's Guide: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Getting there

The writer travelled with Lastminute.com, which offers short breaks to New Orleans from £731 per person, including return flights from Heathrow with Northwest Airlines via Detroit, and three nights' room only accommodation at the Hotel Monteleone, departing in July.

There are no direct flights between the UK and New Orleans, but connecting flights are available with airlines such as Continental (0845 607 6760; www.continental.com), US Airways (0845 600 3300; www.usairways.com), United (0845 8444 777; www.unitedairlines.co.uk) and KLM/Northwest (08705 074074; www.klm.com) via their US hubs.

To reduce the impact on the environment, you can buy an "offset" through Abta's Reduce my Footprint initiative (020-7637 2444; www.reducemyfootprint.travel).

Staying there

Hotel Monteleone, 214 Rue Royale, French Quarter (001 504 523 3341; www.hotelmonteleone.com).

Eating & drinking there

Café du Monde, 1039 Decatur Street (001 504 525 4544; www.cafedumonde.com).

Maple Leaf Bar, 8316 Oak Street (001 504 866 9359).

Visiting there

New Orleans School of Cooking, 524 St Louis Street (001 504 525 2665; www.neworleansschoolofcooking.com). Two and-a-half hour classes start at $27 (£14.20).

The Louisiana State Museum (001 504 568 6968; lsm.crt.state.la.us) in New Orleans comprises the Cabildo (600 St Peter Street); The Presbytere (751 Chartres Street), site of the Mardi Gras exhibition; the Old US Mint (400 Esplanade Avenue); the 1850 House (523 St Ann Street); and Madame John's Legacy (632 Dumaine Street).

All these sites open 9am-5pm daily except Monday, with the exception of the Old US Mint (10am-5pm daily except Monday, and until 8pm on Thursdays). Admission ranges from $3 to $6 (£1.60-£3.20).

Frenchy Galleries, 8311 Oak Street (001 407 758 5148; www.frenchylive.com).

More information

New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau: 001 800 672 6124; www.neworleanscvb.com

Louisiana Tourism: www.louisianatravel.com