Travelling Through America & Canada

History:

Disney's MGM studios were officially opened in 1989, and spans approximately 135 acres in size. It has become one of the main tourist attractions Disney has to offer, attracting millions of people all year round. The parks concept came from the original idea of Epcot, the developers wanted something different to what Epcot was already offering, and thus they decided on a movie epic concept that would attract a wider range of fans.

Tickets and Prices:

Now the prices of tickets vary from how many attractions you plan on visiting and the duration of your stay. My advice is that if you are staying for longer than 4 days you should purchase a 7 day theme park pass, this allows you access into all the Disney attractions for that period of time. For instance purchasing a 7 day pass would set you back $219 for ages 10 and over and $182 for under 10's. However, if you were to simply purchase a single day ticket it would set you back $71 for adults.

My Tip: If your staying for a week, purchase the week pass, its not only the cheapest option, but it allows you to explore all the Disney parks, and allows you to go back to the park as many times during that week. Always purchase the tickets before hand, it saves you hours of waiting at the front, and gives you more time in the park.
How to get there:

There are several methods of getting to MGM studios, most common methods include a rental car and public busses. With regards to rental cars, Disney is located towards the Southwest of Orlando, off interstate 4. However, there are plenty of road signs that help assisting you get there.
The Park:

The park is split into five different sections, like most theme parks, each section has different things to see and do, and caters for both the young and the old. What's great about this park is that there is no specific order one must go in, you could start at the back and work your way forward and so on. Each area of the park blends in with the next and at times it's hard to notice that you're in a totally new section. This section of my review will focus on each area; however I won't go on too much about all the rides, just the main ones I think people will enjoy going too.

Hollywood Boulevard:

As soon as you enter the park, Hollywood Boulevard is the first area that you enter, it's packed with tons of things to see and do. This area is so welcoming and just magnifies the experience your about to have in the park. We were greeted by jazz players, playing on the side of the streets and several stands selling merchandise such as maps, hats, t-shirts and so on. My tip would be if it's your first time, spend some money buying a map, it costs around $3.00, but it's well worth it. Some of the major attractions located in this area include the great movie ride, and the ATAS hall of fame. You will also see a construction site, which is currently building the new American Idol attraction, too bad it's not open until 2009.

The Great Movie ride: This ride is perhaps the main feature of this specific section, and its one I urge you all to go on. It's a ride that takes you across all the famous movies Hollywood has created throughout the years. What's fascinating about this ride is that the queue line is just as exciting as the actual ride, its gets you ready for what's to come. Whilst waiting, you make your way through the queue, were you first get to watch a trailer of varies movies from the past and present. The queue also has several movie props located around, such as props from the Indiana Jones movies, to the merry go round in Mary Poppins. Once you've made your way to the end of the line, you reach a 1930's style Hollywood stage, flashing in red bright lights. You are then told to sit on the seats, which will take you through the different areas of the attraction.
The ride focuses on many movies from past and present such as the famous lamp post Featured in singing in the rain, and when it actually starts to rain you really get a sense that you are in the film. Perhaps the best part of the ride is when the alien from the Aliens movie comes out and just before it attacks you, a character portraying Ripley comes out to save us.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular:

The Indiana Jones attraction is by far the best thing the park has to offer, and im not just saying that because im a huge fan of the films. It's not a ride as such, but rather a live action performance that shows some of the most famous scenes from all three of the films. This is the most popular ride in the park, so my advice would be to get there early, as we waited well over an hour just to get into the theatre. Once you've made your way through the queue, you're seated in a big platform, with a gigantic stage in front of you.

The opening sequence takes place during the first film, were Jones is in the Peruvian temple. He manages to make his way through the dangerous spikes, and fire balls, and all of a sudden the huge gigantic ball comes out of now where, exactly like the first film. The live action show also shows the fight scenes in the Nazi airstrip during the second film, and the fight sequence, also from the second film.

The live show is simply amazing, it really gives you a feeling of how the film was made, and some of the stunts they took part in during the filming. It's got explosions, which again really make this seem so real, the stuntman even looks like Jones.
Mickey Avenue:

Mickey Avenue is the next section of the park; this is more of a child zone, in the sense that it caters more for them, no fast rides, but just simple laid back calmness. I liked this area, although no fast rides, it simply gives you a chance to catch your breath back. Mickey Avenue has many small rides, but the major one you should try checking out is the Studio Backlot Tour. Again whilst waiting for the ride to start, you can see many props from famous movies such as Pearl Harbour, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Rock. Once at the front, your places inside a tram, this takes you around the lot, to different film settings from various movies. The first stop is outside the bone yard, which holds a great collection of cars and planes used in films such as Back to the Future and Star Wars. Once past this area, we visit a movie set, which is currently filming a high action sequence; this area is called Catastrophe Canyon. What looks like an ordinary film set soon turns into an explosive action sequence with explosions, surges or water and an earthquake.

Sunset Boulevard:

Sunset Boulevard is the last stop in this theme park, and it defiantly finishes with a bang. The main attraction in this themed area is the Tower of Terror. You can notice the ride from a huge distance away, the famous iconic hotel tower, with its sandy pinkish exterior. When you first enter the park, its perhaps the one major attraction that stands out throughout the entire park, your so anxious to go their first, but you can hold till the climax, because you not it's the one your looking forward to the most. Like many other rides, you start off with a pre-show that sets you up for what's about to happen. Once you enter the lift and sit on your seat, you will get an elevator assistant telling you the story about the hotel and the mystery behind what happened here. It takes you to the 113th floor, where the ride suddenly moves inside, towards door 113, its there the ride stops momentarily, before thrusting you back into the elevator and bang, it drops.
Food:
Like most themed parks, there is a wide range of food choices, there are plenty of café's were you can sit down and relax, or there are many fast food areas, serving anything from burgers, chips, pizzas and so on. Disney do allow you to bring in your own food, I would recommend brining in your own water and drinks as they can be very expensive inside the park. One of my favourite dining areas has to be the Sci- fi dine in theatre.

History:
Well it must be said that the Epcot centre does have a huge history, some of which people may not have known. The park was officially opened on October 1st 1982, at the time it was the largest theme park worldwide, however this was then overtaken by the Disney Animal Kingdom. The construction costs were estimated at over $1.2 billion, and took over three years to construct. The park is approximately 260 acres long.
The unique history of the development of Epcot is not known to many people, particular the millions that visit it every year. During the 60's the original idea was to create a model community. This community would be twenty thousand residents strong, all of whom would have jobs of some form working in the park as attendants, cleaners, and merchandise sellers and so on. The community would have had houses, schools, medical centres and forms of entertainment. The idea was to create a futuristic environment that would change the way people lived. No one would have voting rights; they would not need money as all aspects of social welfare would be covered. People would be able to commute to and from work by using the monorails much like the ones seen in Universal Studios or Disney Magic City. The plan however, was scrapped as it was seen to be too risky and unpredictable. Instead, the Epcot centre was created, a place for people to explore learn and have fun.

Prices:
Well like the Universal tour, Epcot really needs to 2 day tour to cover the whole ground, the sheer size of the area means if you really want to experience everything you should take your time and visit it in two days. We went all the Disney tours, which included Disney land and magic kingdom and that being said we got a ticket pass for all the Disney resorts the prices were as followed;


We paid $62 for two day pass to Epcot and we booked directly through the Disney website.
Online sellers usually offer a discount of some sort, especially if you bulk buy.
If on the other hand you only have one day to spare the prices for adults are $30 and for children (3-9) is $24. I would recommend booking direct from Disney, unless you booking a package tour.



The Epcot Centre:

We were very lucky to be in the Epcot centre on July the 4th, we were told that the evening would offer a spectacular firework show with free barbeque food for all paying guests; the park had even extended its opening hour by some 4 hours, lucky us hey. We got to the Epcot centre by a rental car my friend has hired, it took us about 30 minutes from our Holiday Inn hotel to get to Epcot, the direction were really straight forward as most the road signs are pointing to the location in big bold letters. One must point out if you bring cars into the theme park, there is a small parking fee that must be paid, but this is standard in most parks. However, you can also take a Disney bus that picks guests up from certain locations around the Disney area, you would have to ask the tour organisers for more info regarding this matter. (407) WDW-MAGIC (939-6244)
you seemingly come out of the car on a sunny morning and the first thing that stands out is the huge golf ball figure, its something unreal. I had been to the park before and thus I wasn't new to the experience of seeing something big like this. But my friends just stood their, minutes went buy and they were really just trying to figure out what this circular object was. Was it a ride, was it a building or was it a sculpture, I kept them guessing.

Rides:

One of the first attractions that any guest must go on is the "Spaceship Earth" tour, which yes is inside the golf ball figure. The original ride was actually constructed in the late 80's and since then the general theme of the ride as stayed the same to some extent. The ride had obviously changed since I went some 8 years before my latest visits, but I have to say it's more of an educational and innovative ride, added with a big of rollercoaster drama. The ride takes you through different sections of the Earth show, which show the medieval ages, the ancient Egyptians ages, and son on. The total lists of scenes that you visit during the tour are listed below;

* Starfield
* Face-Recognition Program
* Starfield
* Prehistoric Man
* Cavemen
* Egyptian Temple
* Phoenician Merchants
* Greek Math Teacher
* The Roman Road Network
* Islamic Empire
* Cathedral Abbey
* Gutenberg Press
* Renaissance Italy
* Industrial Revolution
* The Age of Invention
* The Age of Information
* Tunnel of Facts and Figures
* Spaceship Earth Planetarium
* Infinite Stars
* Descent Tunnel featuring Starfield and touch-screens within the Omnimover vehicles that allow guests to create their future

This is defiantly a tour that young children would love, I actually quite liked it too, and it was very informative and was something different to the normal rides you see when in a theme park. The tour does have some scenes were all the lights turn off and the carriage starts moving faster and in one instance it moved backwards. This was a brilliant feeling, because it was something unexpected, people were getting the feeling it would be an education tour, then all of a sudden it switches into something more electric and exciting. The sound effects, the indoor sculptures were done perfectly.

Our next attraction was the Test Track area, which was not open during my first visit and thus was excited about seeing something new, I had hard this ride was quite good and more to the point once you have got out of it, you have a totally different view about your own car. The waiting time for this ride varies, we waited about 25 minutes, which wasn't too bad. During the waiting time we got to see test performed on certain car parts, i.e. how the engine works the wheels etc. The ride itself lasted over 5 and a half minutes and was quite unique to say the least. The test performed on a car, a quite brilliant its both educational and yet exciting, I felt like I was Jeremy Clarkson on Top gear. The car we were in was testing the breaks, so in one instance they stopped the brakes and tested the reaction time of the car at 65 mph, considering the breaks didn't work the curve turned left rights and centre. They then tested the tires and purposely shot one tire to shot the effects this has on the car. The final surprise was the car driving at 65 mph into a wall, showing the effects of a car crash. I was scared to say the least, it actually felt so real, and out me off ever going into a car again.


The final ride that im going to talk about was the best one, it was called Mission Space. Yes it's got something to do with space, it was a simulator that showed what it felt like being an astronaut going into space and the effects of being in space. The ride covers all aspects include simulating the effects of travelling into space at a speed of above 2G's, the mental and physical affects this may have one one's body, and they also had a weight free simulator, which meant you flowing into space. We get to experience what it would be like when the spaceship is taking off and landing back to earth. I really enjoyed this ride, its exciting features and out of body felling was brilliant.
The end of the ride would take us to a stage were people can pretend to be mission control in NASA. We also got a chance to play a two way game, in which you would race your opponent to see who comes back to earth the fastest. When we were their we also had a chance to try and land an aircraft, it was so hard, because the simulator takes into consideration wind speed, the weight of the aircraft and so on.
Any budding space man would enjoy this ride.

The other rides we visited, but will not talk about are;

- Universe of Energy
- Innoventions
- The seas with Nemo and Friends

The second day, which again was a fantastic morning, clear blue skies and no clouds saw us taking on the second leg of our tour, which focused more on the World Showcase. The world showcase, takes us through eleven countries, all with their traditional architecture and scenery. The countries, which are currently there are;
Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, Morocco, France, UK, Canada.

This next review is about my experience at the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas Nevada. I went to Las Vegas once before, which I think most people would no if they had read some of my previous reviews, however the excitement and thrill of Vegas once again attracted me to the Sin City.

Hotel Information:

Ok so let’s give some background information about the hotel, the Luxor hotel is located in Paradise, Nevada, along the main Las Vegas Strip, which has the famous casinos and hotels. Construction began on the Luxor in 1991, with the idea of creating the first fully themed hotel resort in Las Vegas; the idea was to create an Egyptian theme, which revolved around creating a pyramid design for the main building to incorporate the name. As noted the hotel is named after the famous city of Luxor in Egypt. The Luxor was fully opened in 1993, and at the time the building was the tallest on the strip, with a total estimated cost of $375 million, however in 1998, two extra hotel towers were added along with a theatre, with an additional cost of $675million.

Upon making your way inside the hotel you soon arrive in a dream fantasy, I have seen the normal conventional hotels, which are normally shaped, but when you enter the Luxor your standing in amazement, if the exterior looks amazing the interior is ten times more magnificent. The main lobby is shined with bright lights, palm trees, restaurants, small casinos and everything else you would expect. What really hits you in the face is that the rooms and levels get smaller and smaller as you go up and up, as you would expect with the design and shape of the building. We checked ourselves in and found our way making ourselves into our suite. We were staying in the QUEEN
TOWER DELUXE ROOM:

The room itself is 449 square feet long, which is actually quite a big room for three people to stay in it. You have the option of having either a large king size bed, or the option of two queen size beds. As there were three of us we opted for the two beds, and worked out the sleeping arrangements afterwards. What is also a bonus is that regardless of if you only have two beds; you are allowed to bring up to four additional guests into your room, which can be a bonus if you meet a nice lady friend. Anyway the room had the following features;
• 27" colour television
• AM/FM radio with alarm
• Separate tub and shower
• Lighted make-up mirror
• Spacious armoire
• Internet access available at an
additional charge
A Daily Resort Fee of $10.95 plus the current Clark County Room Tax will be charged to your stay which includes newspaper delivery, 2 bottles of water, Nurture Fitness Centre Admission, and unlimited local, toll free and domestic long distance telephone calls
Now the hotel comes with everything you really need I guess, you have a television if you wish to watch some films, however you have to pay for the pay per view events.
The room is spacious, and you can bring guests into it, the interior is pleasant, warm and welcoming, we were staying in one of the cheaper rooms, but it still looked like a brilliant place. As noted they do charge you an extra $10.95 everyday for resort fees but they change your sheets, ring up a daily newspaper and bottles of water, so it isn’t a big financial strain.

DINNING:

The Luxor has a number of different restaurants, cafes and snack bars that you can visit whilst inside the hotel, and it caters for people with different pallets, you could find anything from pizza, burgers to fine dining cuisine.
The TENDER steak & seafood, was one of the restaurants that I found myself visiting once, I’m a huge fan of steak and thus I heard this was one of the best steak house restaurants in the whole of Vegas, so I thought what the heck lets give it a try.
The restaurant is open from 17:00 till 23:00 daily, however they have a bar lounge which is open slightly earlier. I would recommend you ring up or go down to make a reservation, as the seating tends to pack out daily, so it’s a worth while tip ringing from your room in the morning and asking the concierge to book you x amount of spaces.
The restaurant has a happy hour policy, much like all the bars in Vegas, and happy hour drinks cane range from anywhere from $4 to $6, but this is always subject to whatever they have on their drinks menu on that particular day. We opted for their $39 Prix Fixe Menu, which is available from Sunday through Thursday. The menu can varies depending on the time of month you go, but it usually includes a stake dish as well as a seafood dish, starter and a pick or ice cream, etc.

FOOD COURT:
If you don’t fancy eating out in one of the post restaurants, or simply don’t want to waste time then the hotel also offers a food court, much like the ones you get in most shopping centres anywhere in the world. They offer a variety of different food styles, flavours catering for ones needs and tastes.
Conveniently located on the Atrium Level, the Luxor Food Court has the ultimate fast food on the Las Vegas Strip. For a quick snack or beverage, the Food Court offers a wide selection of Luxor restaurants:
• Quiznos Sub
• McDonald's
• Nathan's
It seems that anywhere you go you cant escape the Starbucks brand, there were countless number of people going in their day and night to get a quick fix for their hangover, I would no as I went their on a number of occasions. The prices are reasonable within the food court, and is what you would expect to pay anywhere in Las Vegas.

ENTERTAINMENT:
Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of America, well in my opinion anyway, there is so much to both see and so whilst your there, and becomes really hard to decide what you want to do. If you’re primarily looking for entertainment within the Luxor then you will be happy to no that they have a variety of things to see in terms of entertainment.

Believe:
A Haunting Journey inside the Mind of Criss Angel
This is one of the main entertainment attractions the Luxor offered whilst we were their, this is a Cirque du Soleil production and as I had never had the opportunity to see one of these shows, I felt the need to go once, if only once at all.

Ticket Prices
$59, $79, $99, $125, $160, the prices obviously depend upon were your sitting, the closer you are the more you inevitably pay, but regardless of where you sit, you have a huge screen that shows you up close of what is going on at the stage. The show was amazing; the mixture of lighting, acting, acrobatics, music and storytelling really makes you go through a journey with the cast.

NIGHTLIFE:

The nightlife in the Hotel is amazing, I actually didn’t want to leave and found myself hopping from one club/ bar to the next. One of the most famous hotspots to go to is the LAX, which is a huge nightclub, which plays a variety of different music, ranging from techno and house, to r n b and hip hop. The complex is about 26,000 square feet long, which is huge, and consists of two main floors, along with a special VIP section. The clubs open from about 10: pm till the early hours, however do remember that the dress code is smart, so shirts and trousers, no shorts, and if your young make sure you have either your ID or your passport, because they have some really strict over 21 policies, and believe me they will have no hesitation in chucking you out.

ATTRACTIONS:

BODIES...The Exhibition

This is one of the main attractions the Luxor offers to its guests, and this specific attraction has had a lot of great reviews from both tourists and experts. The exhibition is open from 10 in the morning till about 10 in the evening, and general admission is in the region of $30, but this may have changed since I went. BODIES...The Exhibition, which showcases real full-bodies and organs, provides a detailed, three-dimensional vision of the human form rarely seen outside of an anatomy lab or a morgue.

The Exhibition showcases 13 whole-body specimens and more than 260 organs and partial body specimens. These real human bodies have been meticulously dissected, preserved through an innovative process and respectfully presented. It’s actually quiet an insightful tour, and something strange, weird and unique, its education in Las Vegas, something I never thought could be done, well in a hotel anyway.

Well having done quite a few reviews of my time in different American states, my next review is focussing more on a specific tourist attraction, rather than my visit to the state, the reason being that this attraction has so much talking time, theirs millions of things to describe about it, and to be honest its actually one im going to enjoy the most talking about. This new review is about the beautiful, magnificent universal studios in Orlando Florida

History:
Universal studios first opened on June 1990 and became universals second theme park after the original one was opened in Hollywood, its huge size and attractions made it a direct competitor with Disney Land, which had been around for many years. The investment cost Universal somewhere in the region of $250 million, however during the early stages of its life several problems with the rides occurred causing some negative publicity at the time.

Tickets:
Ok before we move onto the main attractions within the area, it would first make sense to show the prices for entry into the park. You can buy tickets at the main entrance, however we booked ours through a tour operator in Chicago before we left as we thought it would be quicker. One recommendation is if you buy your tickets on the day, be prepared to leave early, the waiting can be quite frustrating, so the earlier you get their more time you have to enjoy the sights and attractions. Ok so regarding the ticket prices, of course they varies upon length of visit, to be honest we took two days to cover the entire theme park, you could do it in one day, but to be honest its pushing it.
The prices are as followed;
 2 day 2 park tickets, which allow a two day access to both the Universal Studios and the Island of Adventure theme park. Adults cost was about $117, and children (3-9) was $107, this is the pass we got, it worked out cheaper booking it online as when we got their the prices were at least $15 more than the prices you see above.
 If you simply want to buy a one day pass just for the Universal studios tour the prices are; $67 for adults and $56 for children. The prices can be cheaper if you book in advance or if you book in group or bulk buying. So if their per say four or more people the prices reduce with each additional person.



Furthermore, you can also purchase a fast track ticket like most other theme parks, this would allow you to jump the line and go to the front. For more info and if you wish to book advance online, use the link below, found it to be very useful. (http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/parkinfo/tickets.html)


The Theme Park:
Ok will this next section focuses more on the actual theme park as a whole, the rides and attractions I saw and the general feeling about the place. Perhaps the most powerful thing you notice once approaching the studio is the big roman type deco near the entrance, with surrounding palm trees and bluer than blue sky it really makes you feel as if your in a tropical jungle, the huge sign that says welcome to Universal Studios just stands out and you soon realise you're here.
Once you've got past the ticket and security sections, which believe me is just as secure as an airport, they check your bags and in some cases search you, which is understandable considering the loom of terror can happen at any time. Once you pass this you approach a huge moving straight escalator, which takes you from the gates to the main park. The music playing in the background and kids talking loudly about how excited they are really make you feel as if your about to go somewhere special. Some two and half minutes pass and once you reach the end of the escalators your welcomed by a cartoon character, I actually remember being chased by Tom and Jerry, which was weird to say the least, but still fun.

The theme park can be broken down into six different areas, all of which have different rides and settings. The six main areas are;
 Kid zone
 World expo
 New York
 Production Central
 San Francisco /Amity
 Hollywood

The first section will be the Hollywood area, it's hard to miss as it's the only one next to the entrance, it's got some really cool aspects to it, and it actually has my favourite attraction, the Terminator 2:3D show. This show is something out of this world, and it has so many similarities with the actual film. The waiting time for this show is roughly 30 minutes so I would advice people to go here first as it tends to increase during the afternoon. Once you've got inside, your welcomed into a waiting room, were some welcome committee will welcome you to "Cyberdine" and they then take you into a theatre. I won't spoil the plot of the show, but it has a combination of some awesome 3D effects and real life character role playing, which is awesome. Believe it or not, but the character role play of Sara Connor was actually the real same women that played her in the film. It would seen she was doing some two week special appearance, I actually managed to get her autograph and to date is the most famous person I have meet.


The show lasts a while, but once you're finished you get a chance to visit the shops, were you can purchase some replica merchandise. I bought some delightful dog tags which cost me $30 lol, rip off, but heck it was the cheapest thing their. Theirs also a brilliant display of film props used in the movies, such as Arnolds jacket, the motorcycle he uses and the machine hand (You no which one im referring to).

Ok so once you've managed to tear yourself away from this exciting area, you can wonder into production central. I loved this area as a child because they had to nickelodeon studios, were I was actually a participant on one of the game shows aired in America, I even got to gung my parents, now that was something. However, most the main attractions in this section closed down, and in 2007 the new areas included the Shrek 3D tour, its much like the terminator ride, but it shows more about how the film was made, some of the areas were the voiceovers were done and so on. This area was my least favourite, perhaps due to the previous excitements I had revived their, it couldn't be beaten.

We gradually moved our way from this section after about three hours, and were then introduced to the New York area. What I really loved about this area was that it had different sets of what New York looked like, from New York 1920's with the old buggsy Malone cars, to the present day New York, with taxis, and modern deco. The rides in this section again were simply brilliant; we went on both the Twister and Revenge of the Mummy show. The twister ride is like a real life simulator of what it may be like when a real twister is in your city, and it's simply brilliant, the CGI affects makes it seem really real

Finally my favourite and most exciting area, San Francisco / Amity. You may have heard of the famous Jaws ride and the earthquake ride, well this is their home. The Jaw ride has perhaps the longest waiting time, it's roughly and hour waiting time, but its well worth the wait. You're riding in the boat, and all of a sudden some gigantic huge and realistic shark pops out of the water. It's something that seems really real, the special effects, the blood in the water and the famous Jaws music seriously makes you feel a bit scared.

Food:
There are tons of places were you can pig out and have some food, for those who want something classy they have a number of restaurants, however your betting booking in advance as some of the waiting times can be really long. Each attraction area also has small huts were you can purchase sandwiches, pizza's, burgers and so on. What's also pleasant about this place is you are in fact allowed to bring in your own food, which can also be a perk. They have several designated areas were you could sit down with your friends and family, benches to sit down on, and nice scenic views to add on top of that.

History:

New Orleans City is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and is one of the major US ports in America. It's evident that New Orleans has a French feel to it, and obviously this is natural considering the French found the city in the early 1700's.However, during the 1800's the city was captured by the Spanish, until Napoleon sold the land to the US in 1803. The European influence is still evident today, with the existence of the French Quarter of New Orleans, everything from the food, fashion, and architecture allows us to get an in-depth look at its history, its past and is growth.

Ok so first impressions, after the long tiring plane ride, I finally land at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, which is the main airport in the district of Kenner. The first thing upon leaving the airport is the humidity. I went in the peak of July and it was very humid and sticky, I suppose it makes you aware that you're in Louisiana. I quickly yell for a yellow cab, which doesn't take to long to arrive and it takes me to my accommodation. I'm going to go through my trip in stages, mentioning where I stayed, the resort, what the travel arrangements are like, and were to go and visit, were to eat, and so much more.
Accommodation:

I wanted to be at the heart of New Orleans, so I decided to stay in a accommodation that was in the French Quarter. I stayed at the Hotel Provincial, which is a beautiful hotel in the heart of the main square. I was thinking of staying at the local holiday in however, I really wanted to experience something new and different and so I opted for this hotel. It's a nice semi large hotel, which comes with one hell of an amazing view of the French Quarter. You can here the jazz musicians playing outside, whilst also having some privacy. I stayed at the hotel for 1 week, and it set me back $398.00 roughly.

My room came with two single beds, which is great if you're sharing a room with someone else. It also comes fully air conditioned something you really need in the summer, along with a television, a small fridge, and a en suite bathroom, which has a basic toilet and shower, nothing lavish, but at the same time its what you would expect from a hotel.

Travel:

There are so many modes of transport in New Orleans its great to have the option to choose how you would like to see the City. For me one of the best modes of transport is walking. Having my accommodation in the French Quarter I could easily access the main square and the surrounding areas by foot, all the shops, bars and small museums were in local proximity of each other. I also feel that by walking you really get to absorb the atmosphere, get a feel for the culture, the lifestyle and what the people of New Orleans are really like, it's also a good exercise tool.
However, there are times when you want to visit the larger areas of the City, in this can only be done via modes of public transport such as local trams, taxi's, the local railways systems and how can I forget the Algiers Ferry.

One of the main modes of transport which I would most certainly recommend is the ferry ride on the Canal Street Ferry, which connects the East and the West of the City together along the Mississippi River. This ferry road is like no other, I have been on the ferry to France, been their done that. The ferry ride here is ten times as better, and only lasts about 25 minutes to 30 minutes. The ferry leaves on the quarter hour mark and the quarter two mark, but there's plenty of stewards to help you with the times etc.

Things to see:

There is so much to see in New Orleans I don't want to mention them all because I will be here all day long, however ill point out a few places I went to see and visited, sorry if its not to your taste, but its mu cuppa tea.

Jackson Square:

Jackson Square is a nice, beautiful park in the French Quarter region of the city. It's very noticeable because it's got a three tower pillar on the building and slightly resembles the Disney land building. It's got a long history and heritage, which dates back from many centuries. During the 1800's executions of convicts and slaves would be held their so it's a place with a deep history.

Houmas House Plantation and Gardens:

Another historical aspect to see when in New Orleans, you have to absorb the culture and the historical aspect of the city, its all good going to the clubs and bars, but if your in a city like this its really not going to harm you to broaden your knowledge and understand the city more clearly.
Houmas House, is another place were you can just absorb the beautiful scenery New Orleans has to offer, the admission price is about $10, but its well worth it. It's got a museum, which really gets you up to speeds with the history and culture of the city, and a big garden. It also shows you the slave's quarters and the plantation area that was used during the slavery period.


The French Quarter has so many things to see and do, its amazing how you could not leave the quarter and just enjoy your trip their. The two main streets to keep an eye on are Royal and Bourbon Street, they have a number of the top bars, clubs and restaurants, some of which I will mention in this review. The Court Of Two Sisters Restaurant is one of the best places to eat for me. Its price range for food can varies from between $30 onwards, but its well worth it. The food tastes brilliant the service is even better, and the jazz musicians playing the jazz music opposite just make it such a party atmosphere, its usually polite to leave a small tip for the musicians, but again that's up to you.

Harrah's New Orleans Casino
If you come to New Orleans you have to go to Harrah's casino, and boy is it huge, the view from outside is gobsmacking the wonderful architecture, they bright lights in the nighttimes and the unusual shape of the building really make it interesting to visit. Even if you're not a gambling person, its still worth a visit, they have a variety so there is gambling, music, shopping and entertainment, all of which could keep you happily pleased for the evening. The main casino is something out of an old western film; it’s got the updated machines, the blackjack tables etc, and however the style and deco really makes you feel as if you’re in another century.

Crescent City Farmers Market:

Crescent city farmers market is also worth taking a visit to, you get to see some of the local produce, whilst also try tasting some of the freshly baked pastries, pies, pizza and so on. You can also pick up some arts and crafts as well as some small key rings, and badges which are usually hand made. There is also a nice flower market within the market, now I am not one for buying flowers, but the smell really does attract you towards it.

Dress Up:

Now I didn't not much about this, however it seems as if there is some what of a tradition to dress up in fancy dress costumes, and pop around the street, some bars and clubs even have special evening dedicated to theme nights, i.e. 1800's night, 50's night and so forth. You see a lot of people wearing fancy dress on the street, when I first arrived I simply thought they were slightly weird or unusual, however once I started to embrace their culture and lifestyle you get to understand that New Orleans is about being who you want to be, if by dressing up it means to turn into someone you want to be, then by all means do it.

Food:

Don't really want to go on too much about food, because there is so many places to eat, and I am sure you can find your way around to get a fancy of something to eat. Food ranges from New Orleans style foods, to a more inter continental plate, from France, England, Italy and even Indian if you look for it. You also get the street vendors, selling hot dogs, chips and pizza, but I didn't see too many of them as you normally would see in other cities.