[TRAVEL] MY JETBLUE VACATION TO NEW ORLEANS!

So what are JetBlue Vacations?

JetBlue offers their Vacations booking program as a way to not only simplify the travel booking process but also to help us save some coins along the way! To get started I would first recommend you join their True Blue Points Program. Its free, takes two seconds to sign up, and allows you to earn and use points for all your flights and hotel bookings with JetBlue. Additionally, you can register your information and home airport to receive notifications on up coming JetBlue Vacation Deals!

Once you’ve signed up, click on the “Plan My Vacation” Button in the top right corner.

There you will be directed to a screen which allows you to enter in your starting airport, desired destination, and dates.

If you are not sure where you want to go but are in need of a vacation, they’ve got you covered! Click on their JetBlue destinations link and it will bring up their popular destinations to help you figure out what’s best for you.

Don’t know very much about a place?? Click somewhere you’re curious about, and then select the “Explore” tab.

They have information on things you should know, what you can do, where to see, and more!

EXPLORING NOLA!

So I invited my friend and fellow travel fanatic Danni Washington to join me on my JetBlue Vacation to New Orleans.

Together we have been to the Grand Canyon and Sedona in Arizona, Miami, Los Angeles, Cabo + Cancun in Mexico, and now… the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans. Additionally, we both absolutely love Essence Music Festival so this weekend was a win-win all around!

WHERE TO STAY?

For our 5 night stay in NOLA we enjoyed a lovely double room on the 40th floor of the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel! The location was perfect. The hotel is situated right on Canal Street allowing you easy access to all the popular places around the city. We enjoyed our morning workout in the hotel gym, the daily breakfast and evening snack in the Club Room, and most of all, the incredible service! The staff at The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel go ABOVE AND BEYOND to make sure you have the most comfortable stay at their hotel.

They also have a bustling bar crowd and lots of activities and events for hotel guests to get involved with. I will definitely stay there again! Massive thank you to John Brewster, Director of Marketing and Sales, for going the extra mile in making us feel welcomed to not only the Sheraton, but New Orleans too.

Website: http://www.sheratonneworleans.com/

Address: 500 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

Phone: +1 504-525-2500

WHERE TO EAT

If there is one thing NOLA has no shortage of, its good restaurants! The food is incredible. Here are a few places I recommend!

OCEANA GRILL

Amazing food and a fun ambiance! Try their signature dish, the Redfish Oceania. It’s perfection.

DRAGOS

This is probably one of my favourite restaurants in New Orleans! It’s a chain but their food is consistently good and their menu is EVERYTHING! I wish I had a photo but I ate it too fast haha. You HAVE to order the Dragos Original Charbroiled Oysters. Every single bite is packed with flavour. Even if you’re not an oysters person, trust me, you will be for theirs!

MOTHER’S POBOYS

You can’t come to NOLA and not try a Po Boy.

Mother’s is a top destination for the dish so you won’t be disappointed! My fav is the Fried Shrimp + Oyster Combo but their signature is the Famous Ferdi Special.

DICKIE BRENNAN’S TABLEAU

Now pay attention here. THIS is where you go for the best shrimp and grits! We loved Tableau for their beautiful venue, lovely service, and life changing BBQ Shrimp and Grits.

ST. LAWRENCE

St. Lawrence is a great place to go for a quick lunch or a late night bite with your friends. We loved the cocktails too! Their menu has all the NOLA fav’s and a few traditional American staples like wings and dips!

CAFE DU MONDE

A trip to New Orleans is NOT complete without a plate of hot, fresh out the frier beignets from the iconic Cafe Du Monde.

We got a plate to share and honesty it wasn’t enough! Haha every person needs their own so they can eat to their hearts content. On a hot day, order yourself a blended ice coffee too. It’s kind of sweet but so delicious and satisfying! The New Orleans heat is no joke!

LAURA’S CANDIES

This candy shop has been around since 1913! They have a huge selection of sweets, including all your traditional favourites and some you haven’t heard of. New Orleans is know for their pralines so make sure you grab some here!

FRENCH TRUCK CAFE

I am a HUGE coffee lover and this place was adorable! Their coffee is delicious too. Grab a coffee to go or chill out for a while 🙂

SAINT CECILIA

This place has traditional New Orleans food with a modern twist on it!

LIVE MUSIC:

2nd to their restaurant scene, is the music scene. New Orleans is the birthplace of Jazz and an evening stroll down the street could have you grooving and swaying a long to the sounds of a soothing saxophone melody. Here are a few spots I recommend to grab a bite, a cocktail, and enjoy some tunes!

ONE EYED JACKS

Pop by here for a great drinks and to check out a concert one night! Check their website to see who is playing while you’re in town.

THE HOWLIN’ WOLF

The Howlin Wolf also has a delicious food menu so you can enjoy some live music while you eat!

SHOPS:

Maybe you didn’t pack enough? Maybe you got invited to a really snazzy party and none of your current wardrobe options are gonna work? Maybe you just don’t like what you packed anymore? It happens all the time… Here are a few shops you can pop into while in NOLA to pick up something fabulous!

SWEET PEA & TULIP

This shop has adorable accessories. I found a lovely two piece co-ord set here!

HEMLINE

This is a really cute boutique for shoes and clothes.

FEET FIRST

Feet First only sells shoes but they have some amazing options! I saw some adidas I hadn’t seen before and if I had the room in my luggage I would have got them!

ICONIC AREAS:

New Orleans is one of the most beautiful cities! Their architecture has so much character. If you have time, try to schedule a walking tour where they will inform you a little more about the history. If not, just make sure you stop by Bourbon Street for a cheap drink and good groove (everyone does it!), the beautiful French Quarter where so many of the restaurants I mentioned are located, and take a ride with one of the awesome boat companies at The Riverfront.

ESSENCE FEST 2017

So as I mentioned, our trip to NOLA coincided with Essence Music Festival, a weekend long event featuring live music performances from top artists like Solange, Chance the Rapper, and Mary J. Blidge as well as a beauty, hair, and lifestyle expo with presentations, panels, previews, and lots of amazing products! I saw so many of my favourite brands at the convention center. In addition to the Essence Music Festival activities, there are plenty of other events going on all over the city. Here is a little photo recap featuring our weekend highlights!

THAT’S A WRAP!

As you can probably tell, my JetBlue Vacation to NOLA was incredible! I am IN LOVE with the city of New Orleans. The food, the people, its vibrant rich welcoming culture… EVERYTHING I have experienced this weekend inspired me while writing my recap. Visit JetBlue to book your dream trip to NOLA right nowww!

Thank you for reading! This blog post was made in partnership with JetBlue but as always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own.

**Shot By Hanan Saleh for Essence Street Style**

~Travel Love Grow~

René Daniella xxo