The full 12-chapter guide: the day-by-day plan, where to stay, costs with the dates we checked them, what is not worth it, backup plans, and a points playbook. You read it online in your PerkJolt library.

Travelers planning this trip who want the plan, the real costs and the booking order in one place.

Does it cover points and miles?

Yes. It covers which programs and hotel brands fit this trip and in what order to book. It does not quote card offers.

Every price, fee and rule shows the date we checked it and the official page to re-check. Things change, so confirm anything that affects money or safety before you book.

Can I get every guide instead?

Yes. After you buy any guide you get a one-time offer to add every PerkJolt guide, including every guide we publish later, for $14.99.

Long weekend on points: New Orleans (3 nights)

Long weekend on points: New Orleans (3 nights): free sample chapter

Read the first chapter free. No email or account required.

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Disclosure: Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; facts checked on the dates shown. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

Things change. Fares, hours, festival dates, and award availability move without notice. Every stamped fact in this guide was read on 2026-10-10. Where we could not open an official page, we say so and tell you which page to check.

Cover block

Promise: a calm, well-ordered three nights in New Orleans where your points do the heavy lifting and your cash goes to music, food and a museum.
Trip length: 3 nights, 4 days.
Best months: cooler months suit walking best, but festival weeks cost more; summer is hot and falls in hurricane season (general knowledge). Pick your dates before you search awards.
Budget band: low to mid, if the hotel is on points.
Best for: first-timers with a short window, points collectors who want a real redemption and not a theory, couples and friends who like walking, and anyone who wants culture, food and music without a rental car.
Base guides: our base guide /guides/new-orleans/ covers the city overall, /guides/new-orleans-mardi-gras/ covers carnival season, and /guides/new-orleans-jazz-fest/ covers the festival. This guide covers only what changes for a three-night points trip.

At a glance

Taxi from the airport: $36.00 flat for up to two passengers to the CBD or French Quarter (west of Elysian Fields); $15.00 per passenger for three or more (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Airport Express (202) bus: $1.25; pickup at Level 1 Baggage Claim, Door 2, Zones B4 and B5 (checked Oct 10, 2026).
RTA single ride: $1.25 adult; ferry single ride: $2.00 adult; 1-Day Jazzy Pass $3.00; 3-Day Jazzy Pass $8.00; Regional Ride $6.00 (checked Oct 10, 2026).
National WWII Museum: adult $37; exhibits open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park: no admission fee (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Police: 911 for emergencies; (504) 821-2222 for non-emergency (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Transfer partners used in this guide come from our chart checked 2026-10-08.