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New Orleans area?

Commander91gm

Commander91gm

Moderator
Supporting Member
Glendale, AZ
Aircraft Type
112TCA
Reg Number
N91GM
Serial Number
13184
I am in the midst of planning the annual Bahamas trip for the first three weeks of May. I usually leave AZ and head for Fla without much sightseeing. Spend a night along the way in LA or Miss. This year I thought that New Orleans might be a good stop for a couple of nights, on the way cross country. It turns out that weekend is when they hold their annual Jazz festival.
I was looking at Lakefront as a good airport. Have been into Baton Rouge before.

Any advice on FBO's, airports, lodging and local weather nuances will be appreciated.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Joel, If you decide to visit New Orleans. Contact me I have a hangar here at Lakefront. And will help with you with your visit.
Jay 504-452-3490
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Thanks Jay - I have already committed to most of the lodging in the islands, so at this point the only thing that would change the New Orleans stop would be weather.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

May is my favorite time of year in New Orleans. Usually dry and clear skys with temps in the low 80's.

Unless of course its raining:)

It usually only rains a couple of days during the month. Usually on the first or second weekend of Jazzfest so that the field is sloppy.

The line up this year is great. Simon and Garfinkle (amongst many others) on the final weekend.

Use Lakefront and either park at Flightline First or use Jays hanger. Give me a call and I will get you to and from your hotel. Lakefront is an easy airport to use and 10 minutes from downtown.

Thousands of hotels and resturants. You take your pick and have a good time. Book now, availability may be slim by JF. I would choose a French Quarter hotel then you will never have to drive. Everything in walking distance and a $7 shuttle to Jazzfest.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Thanks Ian

Appreciate the Flightline First recommendation. Couldn't find a room in the French Quarter. Anything available was either astronomically priced or required cancellation more than a week in advance to avoid paying for the stay. Wound up booking a room at the Comfort Suites, near Lakefront. It can be canceled up to the day of arrival. Weather is always the ?. Might be getting in a little late since the plan is to leave AZ in the AM.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Joel,

Flightlinefirst might arrange to get you to the hotel with thier courtesy car no matter when you arrive. I will ask them.

The Comfort Suites hotel is not readily adjacent to where you want to be so you might want to have a rental car. This adds to your cost and parking at Jazz Fest is expensive and usually next to impossible. That is why we recommend that you stay downtown. When you add up the savings and convenience it just makes it worth it.

Also, if you don't mind the suburban hotels I can get you our corporate rate at a hotel close to my office that has a shuttle to downtown. (Usually about $90 a night although it may jump up a little bit at Jazzfest.)
Send me an email with your contact details and we can make sure you are well taken care of.

ian.cairns@sabinesurveyors.com
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Ian

If you know of a hotel that is closer (wanted to stay in the French Quarter), isn't $800 a night, and can be canceled 24 hours in advance without penalties I will switch. Could not find anything that suited the bill when I was looking. Comfort Suites was kind of a last resort.
If it turns into too big of a hassle I will just skip the stop and stop where I usually do on the trip to the east coast.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Joel you might want to reconsider staying in the East side of New Orleans. It's not the best place to be at night. Ian's Idea of his side of town is much better.
If you don't mind a fifty minute ride from the coast I can set you up here. You can hangar here and use one of my cars to commute. You have my phone number. Give me a call if you want more info.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Jay

Thanks for the very generous offer and thanks for the info on the east side. Have never spent any time there and would not have known that. Another reason why this owners group is so great! Phoenix AZ to New Orleans will be a long day and I might not get in till after dark. Probably better to plan to a well lighted field that will be open a little late just in case. I will see what Ian has to say and decide if I should either bypass it for now or stop on the way home instead, after the Jazz Festival.
 
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Re: New Orleans area?

Joel,

I believe I can get you a 1st class hotel downtown for waaayyyy less than $800. Probabably in the mid $200 range for a really good hotel.
I'll set you up and let you know.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Commander91gm said:
Jay

Thanks for the very generous offer and thanks for the info on the east side. Have never spent any time there and would not have known that. Another reason why this owners group is so great! Phoenix AZ to New Orleans will be a long day and I might not get in till after dark. Probably better to plan to a well lighted field that will be open a little late just in case. I will see what Ian has to say and decide if I should either bypass it for now or stop on the way home instead, after the Jazz Festival.
Click to expand...

Joel,

Coming back from Alaska I did the trip from Santa Fe to New Orleans leg in an easy day including a 3 hour stop in Texas to get bar-b-que at the Hard 8. Leave early and you should have no problem with your Super Commander. Likely have a nice tailwind if you stay high.

Coming back from Houston yesterday I was hitting 200 knots at 9,000'. Gotta love a 50 knot tailwind!

By the way, send me an email with the date you will be here so I can book the hotel. Don't worry about canellation fees, if you don't use it I will pick it up and Regina and I will have a date night in the Quarter.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Now, that's a very kind and generous offer Ian. What a fine gent.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Ian you are acting as if your from the south. Its a shame some of our Yankee friends like Hopkins, Sven, Bunn and the Gaggle of Seagulls don't act the same way LOL!!!!!!
 
Re: New Orleans area?

If you have ever spoken in person to Ian.... you'll know he's not from the south. He is however, a gentleman.
Lonnie on the the other hand..... well lets just say he's a fascinating ex-Rodeo clown. :)
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Jim B, Yes Ian C is certainly one of the best, don't be so hard on Lonnie, aren't his deficiencies easily made up by his cute daughters.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Lonnie can take some ribbing..... it's obvious his daughters take to their mother's side of the family. It's probably a laugh a minute having him as a dad.
 

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Re: New Orleans area?

I wasnt a rodeo clown. I was a concession stand manager at the rodeo. what a life that was...
 
Re: New Orleans area?

that is two of my friends one on left is Frank Newsome and he is still fighting bulls but the guy on the right is Jimmy Anderson and he has retired. I have been in trouble many times and guys like them would get you out of a bind more than most people would ever imagine.
 
Re: New Orleans area?

Yeah I 'm only kidding with Lonnie. It's amazing what you find when you Google someone. Don't let that gentlemanly southern draw and sanguine (look it up Lonnie) personality fool you. At heart he is as ruthless a businessman as any Yankee. It seems Lonnie not only has people to rescue him from himself (and the bulls) but people to fish for him as well. .....

:)
 

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Re: New Orleans area?

The Bunnanator is on the prowel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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