Mardi Gras tips

Visiting New Orleans and going to Mardi Gras is an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. However, for some of the younger visitors, memories of the annual bacchanal are not positive. The endless party atmosphere, cheers, and parades are just part of the overall story. There are criminals lurking on the city's famous Bourbon Street and along the parade routes, waiting to prey on intoxicated and wealthy young revelers, while the city police are busy contending with murder, guns, and drugs, during Mardi Gras. It goes a long way to use your common sense to stay safe while in New Orleans, to make your Mardi Gras experience memorable.

Take public transportation or walk to get to all of the Mardi Gras events that you want to attend. It is nearly impossible to find a parking spot, and you definitely don't want to take the risk of driving while you are intoxicated.

Head out early to the parade route. During Mardi Gras, there are festivities going on all throughout the city of New Orleans, so your best option for figuring out when and where you should go every day is the hotel staff. Get to your preferred destination two hours or earlier before the festivities begin so you can choose a good spot.

To get the best view of all of the action, use a ladder. Just make sure to set up your ladder behind the barricades. Find a decorated ladder and get set up next to them. Locals often own those and know where all the good spots are. Get fun throws for parades to join in and enjoy the carnival atmosphere.

Stay together. Always travel with one trusted friend or more, and ideally within a group. Plan to meet in a certain spot if you end up getting separated from each other. Designate a certain bar front or street corner on Bourbon Street as your meeting place since those areas have plenty of police and are safe areas to wait for friends in.

Leave expensive items at home, like designer purses or high-priced cameras. Wear comfortable shoes and either small, inexpensive jewelry or none at all. Individually fold up a couple of bills and tuck them into your front pocket so you can just pull one out to pay for something. The pickpockets search for individuals wearing flashy clothing or holding a lot of cash and then target those people later on.

Only drink beverages that are prepared by a bartender right in front of you. Don't drink until you are falling-down drunk. It isn't worth the risk even if everyone else around you is doing it. In between each alcoholic beverage, drink some water.

If a stranger asks you to go with them away from a populated area, say no. Remain within sight of the police and your friends so that you can get away safely at any time if you end up talking to someone who appears to be dangerous.

Once your night is over take a taxi to your hotel. Or, take public transportation if you cannot afford a cab. Don't ever walk to your hotel when it is more than just a couple of blocks away, or if you have to go through deserted or dark areas to get here. Ask your hotel's desk clerk or concierge which train or bus lines are nearest to your hotel so that you can get home safely at night.