Soul Rebel playing at Le Bon Temps Roule , there are plenty of places to hear free music in New Orleans
Visiting New Orleans – or any city for that matter – can often become expensive but it doesn’t have to be that way. From free walking tours to free accommodation, there are plenty of ways to keep your travel costs to a minimum.
#1: Take a Free Walking Tour
Experience 300 years of history for free! New Orleans tour guide like David G. Hedges, make their money entirely from tips so unlike a paid tour guide who has a salary coming in every month, they work extra hard to ensure you have an amazing experience. You can sign up for a free tour online, or check out the reviews on sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor.
#2: Stay Somewhere for Free
Accommodation costs can quickly force a travel budget to spiral out of control, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of free accommodation options out there for New Orleans. Two of the most popular are:
- Couchsurfing: Although there are plenty of spin-off websites, Couchsurfing.org is the original one. The website sets those who have a couch, spare room or spare bit of floor up with those that are passing through the area and want somewhere to stay. It’s a fun way to travel and a great way to meet new people; especially locals who can show you where to go in the area.
#3: Take Part in One of New Orleans’ Many Festivals
New Orleans is home to many festivals, from Mardi Gras to French Quarter Festival to Satchmo Summerfest. Festivals are one of the essential New Orleans experiences that really aren’t to be missed and as it doesn’t cost to visit one, there really is no excuse not to.
#4: Eat for Free at Le Bon Temps Roule
They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but they could be wrong. On Friday nights, Magazine Street’s Le Bon Temps Roule transforms from a standard daytime watering hole to one of New Orleans’ most famous music venues complete with free oysters. You’ll have to be quick though: free lunches (or evening snacks) is still a novelty and these go very quickly.
