Surviving Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is an experience like no other. In the weeks leading up to “Fat Tuesday,” the whole city of New Orleans eagerly prepares for the biggest celebration of the year with parades, music, and of course plenty of alcohol.

 
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After weeks of jubilation, this small corner of Louisiana all but shuts down as the entire city turns into one huge block party.

The whole experience could be overwhelming for some, but hopefully the following tips help you let the good times roll.

1. It’s going to be expensive

Visiting most places in the southern part of the United States is typically inexpensive, but be prepared to pay a premium when going to New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

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Thanks to the principles of supply and demand, prices for flights, hotels, and AirBNBs are going to be at least two to three times as expensive as they are at any other time of the year.

As with most flights, you can save money by booking far in advance to ensure you get the best price available. Most ticket prices are dictated by an algorithm and when a large demand is detected for certain dates the prices will jump up. Booking far ahead of time will help you get a flight before the algorithm catches on ensuring a better price.

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Getting cheaper accommodations won’t be so easy. Most hotels (and all AirBNBs) set their prices on a local level meaning they know when to expect a surge in demand and Mardi Gras means all the rooms will be booked no matter what.

In our opinion, the best way to save money on accommodations during Mardi Gras is to rent a large AirBNB, like the one we stayed in, and go with friends! By divvying up the price among several people you will not only save money, but have more people to enjoy Mardi Gras with! Believe us, it’s better with friends.

2. Where to stay

Deciding where to sleep during Mardi Gras can definitely impact the type of experience you can have during your stay in the Big Easy.

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If you are like us and don’t think you can hang with a 24 hour a day party, Uptown New Orleans is a good choice. Although several parade routes go right through the heart of Uptown, once the parades are over, most people keep the party going elsewhere, meaning you should be able to get a good night’s sleep.

Prices for accommodations will also be better here as you stay further from the main action, however you will end up paying more to get to the best parts of Mardi Gras as public transportation is usually very limited at the time. Road closures mean the buses and trolleys are not able to get very close to the French Quarter. Expect to take a Lyft or an Uber and definitely expect to pay surge pricing.

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If on the other hand you want to keep the party going nonstop, aren’t afraid to lose sleep, and are willing to pay a pretty penny, then you must immerse yourself into the heart of Mardi Gras by staying in the French Quarter.

In the final “push” before Mardi Gras, the French Quarter is a round the clock party. New Orleans has some of the most lax liquor laws in the country. Bars are allowed to remain open 24 hours a day and people can even drink publicly in the street.

Louisiana was one of the last states to raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 and only did so by force. This may explain why I noticed very little enforcement of the drinking age age. Security people were at the door but I barely saw any of them checking IDs.

Being this close to your hotel can definitely come in handy if you find yourself too drunk and don’t want to vomit in the back of an Uber.

3. Always carry cash

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Bars during Mardi Gras are slammed. Bartenders have to deal with hoards of people clamoring at them for more booze and taking a credit card payment can definitely disrupt the flow of service. As such, most bars (and a lot of restaurants) are cash only during Mardi Gras.

Most bars conveniently have ATMs for this very reason, but make sure to pull out all the money you may think you need at once. You don’t want to withdraw money five times while paying a $3 fee each time you use and ATM.

Paying with cash is also a good way to keep track of your money.

Don’t forget to tip.

4. Stay fed and stay hydrated

Staying hydrated is important when you plan on drinking heavily, unfortunately most bars will not give you free water or ice during Mardi Gras. Save yourself some time and money by not having to pay for water everywhere you go.

New Orleans is also in the deep south and as such Mardi Gras can get pretty hot. Sweating profusely combined with alcohol is a great way to end up dehydrated or really sick (alcohol poisoning is not fun).

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It’s also important to remember to eat! Eating will help you absorb some of that alcohol so it doesn’t hit you all at once and your body (especially your liver) needs nutrients to process all that alcohol.

New Orleans has some of the best food in the country so you should be able to find good local eats no matter where you go. There’s also plenty of places that sell pizza by the slice for reasonable prices.

5. It’s a marathon…not a sprint

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Bars in New Orleans pour heavy. Singles are doubles and doubles are triples. Don’t make the same mistake I did and drink too hard too fast.

Not to sound like your dad, but when you feel yourself getting drunk slow the pace down a little and drink some water.

Hold your friends accountable and help each other from ending up with alcohol poisoning. If one of the people in your group start to get a little too tipsy, encourage them to take a little break.

If you are going to be at Mardi Gras all day like we were, you have anywhere from 10 to 16 hours of drinking ahead of you. Don’t black out in 2 hours and end up in the hospital.

6. Bring a portable charger

You’re going to want to take a lot of pictures and you’re probably going to want to post it on social media. You’d be amazed how quickly this will drain your phone’s battery. The last thing you want is to get separated from your friends and be unable to find them because your phone is dead.

Backup batteries for your phones are now cheap and very discreet. Our Away travel bag came with a 10,000 mAh battery that is roughly the size of my Samsung and can charge most modern phones two or three times.

7. Leave the kids at home

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One thing that we were not expecting to see at Mardi Gras was children.

Mardi Gras is a fun spectacle full of debauchery, drunkards, topless women, naked men, and other things you may have to have difficult conversations with your kids about.

If you are one of those “cool progressive” families that want their kid to grow up in a way where sex isn’t so stigmatized, great for you, but if you are like most people and want to delay your kids learning about the birds and the bees, then I suggest you get a nanny or leave them with their grandparents.

Mardi Gras is truly an experience like no other. Hopefully these tips help make sure you not only survive Mardi Gras, but have the best time of your life!

Happy travels. Adventure is out there!

Luis Fayad