5-Day New Orleans aka 'The Big Easy' Tour
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Trip Dates5-Day Trip
April 28-May 2, 2025 Only $199 deposit to reserve your seat. Deposit fully refundable if you cancel for any reason by February 28, 2025.
PricesAll prices are per person, in Canadian dollars. All taxes and tips are included!
Airfare is not included.
For explanation of the words Double, Triple, Quad & Single click here
To book over the phone
please call (866) 208-2950 |
Inclusions
- Local transportation on deluxe motorcoach (including New Orleans Airport transfers) with a washroom and WiFi.
- 4 night stay at the very highly rated Drury Plaza Hotel included.
- 9 meals (4 hot breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners) included.
- Jazz Dinner Cruise included.
- Tabasco Factory and Museum Tour included.
- Visit to Mardi Gras World included.
- French Quarter Walking Tour included.
- Oak Alley Plantation Tour included.
- Swamp Boat Tour included.
- New Orleans School of Cooking Demonstration and dinner included.
- St. Louis Cemetery Walking Tour included.
- Brunch at the Court of the Two Sisters included.
- Escorted tour with ShortTrips.ca tour director available during the tour.
- All tips & taxes included.
Flight Arrangements
The cost of the airline ticket is not included in the pricing of this tour. You are welcome to make your own flight arrangements or please call Marville Travel at (905) 891-0111 and one of the agents will be pleased to book your air travel.
PLEASE DO NOT BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS UNTIL WE HAVE RECEIVED ENOUGH BOOKINGS TO GUARANTEE THAT THIS TOUR WILL BE PROCEEDING AS SCHEDULED! WE WILL ADVISE YOU AS SOON AS THIS TOUR IS A GUARANTEED DEPARTURE.
PLEASE DO NOT BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS UNTIL WE HAVE RECEIVED ENOUGH BOOKINGS TO GUARANTEE THAT THIS TOUR WILL BE PROCEEDING AS SCHEDULED! WE WILL ADVISE YOU AS SOON AS THIS TOUR IS A GUARANTEED DEPARTURE.
Mon April 28, 2025 • Toronto to New Orleans (YYZ to MSY)
- We recommend taking Air Canada flight AC 1711, as this is the only non-stop flight from Toronto. We will be scheduling our bus for the airport transfer to coincide with the arrival time of the Air Canada Flight.
- At the time of writing this (Nov 2024) this flight departs Toronto at 12:35 PM and arrives in New Orleans at 2:50 PM.
- If you plan to fly with another airline and would like to take advantage of our airport transfer please aim to land in New Orleans by 3:00 PM on April 28, 2025 and you will have enough time to collect your luggage and meet our tour director in the arrivals hall for the transfer to the hotel.
- If you decide to arrive in New Orleans at another date or time, you will need to make your own arrangements for transportation from the airport to our hotel. The drive time from the airport to the Drury Plaza in a taxi or ride share is approximately 30 minutes. There is no discount if you decide to make your own transportation arrangements. Please note that the first official event of this tour is a welcome dinner with live cajun music and dancing on the evening of April 28 and our bus will depart our hotel at 7:00 PM.
- The recommended return flight is Air Canada flight 1710, again this is the only non-stop flight from New Orleans to Toronto. This flight departs New Orleans at 3:15 PM and lands in Toronto at 7:10 PM.
- The last official event of our tour is our brunch on the morning of Fri May 2. Our bus for the airport transfer will depart from the restaurant at 12:45 PM.
- If you plan to plan to fly with another airline and would like to take advantage of our airport transfer, please book your flight for departure at any time after 3:15 PM.
Deposits, Payments, Cancellations & Refunds
- $199 deposit required to reserve your seats. Deposit is fully refundable if you cancel for any reason by Friday, February 28, 2025.
- Final payment is due by Friday February 28, 2025. Reminder emails will be sent a few days before the due date for the final payment. Final payments are not refundable once paid.
- If the tour has to be cancelled due to travel restrictions or government shutdowns, a full & prompt refund will be done regardless of how many days are left before departure.
- You can transfer your seat to anyone else you know up to the time of departure without penalty, there is no cost for name changes with ShortTrips.ca however please note that airlines generally do not allow name changes or if they do allow name changes, it's usually with a fee.
Travelling With Children
- Children 10+ are welcome on this tour, same price as adults.
Travel Documents
- US Immigration requires that all travellers MUST have a passport (or Nexus or EDL cards). If you do not have a Canadian or USA passport, please make sure that you have the appropriate permissions or documentation to travel to the USA.
Emergency Medical/Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical insurance is required for this trip and we strongly recommend that you also purchase trip cancellation insurance in the event that you are not able travel on this tour at the last minute due to health or personal reasons.
- If you are not covered by a workplace or some other blanket travel/medical insurance policy, please consider purchasing emergency medical insurance online from CAA or TD Insurance or RBC Insurance or Manulife.
Itinerary
Day 1: Monday, April 28
Begin your five-day New Orleans adventure with a convenient airport pickup and transfer by deluxe motorcoach to the Drury Plaza Hotel, where you’ll enjoy a comfortable four-night stay. Experience the vibrant local culture with an included dinner this evening featuring live Cajun music and dancing for a true taste of Louisiana’s lively spirit!
Day 2: Tuesday, April 29
Experience a day rich in Louisiana culture, beginning with a trip to Avery Island, the exclusive home of the Tabasco Factory. Take a guided tour of the pepper sauce factory, watch a film on Tabasco’s history, and learn about the aging process in White Oak barrels. After exploring the bottling operations, browse the TABASCO Country Store for unique souvenirs, followed by an included lunch.
Back in New Orleans, enjoy a guided walking tour of the French Quarter, where historic architecture meets lively street performances. In the evening, attend an entertaining cooking demonstration and dinner at the New Orleans School of Cooking, where expert chefs teach Creole and Cajun classics like gumbo and jambalaya, served with a side of New Orleans history and charm.
Back in New Orleans, enjoy a guided walking tour of the French Quarter, where historic architecture meets lively street performances. In the evening, attend an entertaining cooking demonstration and dinner at the New Orleans School of Cooking, where expert chefs teach Creole and Cajun classics like gumbo and jambalaya, served with a side of New Orleans history and charm.
Day 3: Wednesday, April 30
Begin your day with a tour of the historic Oak Alley Plantation, an 1837 Greek Revival estate along the Mississippi River, renowned for its impressive 28-column colonnade. Enjoy a guided tour of the “Big House” and a self-guided exploration of the scenic grounds, along with a Cajun lunch buffet.
Next, dive into New Orleans’ history with a walking tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where unique above-ground tombs and famous resting places reveal fascinating stories. This afternoon and evening is your free time to spend as you wish. Perhaps explore the lively French Quarter, its restaurants, music venues, boutiques, and cultural landmarks along Royal, Chartres, and Bourbon Streets. In the evening, savor local cuisine, dinner is on your own this evening.
Next, dive into New Orleans’ history with a walking tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, where unique above-ground tombs and famous resting places reveal fascinating stories. This afternoon and evening is your free time to spend as you wish. Perhaps explore the lively French Quarter, its restaurants, music venues, boutiques, and cultural landmarks along Royal, Chartres, and Bourbon Streets. In the evening, savor local cuisine, dinner is on your own this evening.
Day 4: Thursday, May 1
Photo courtesy of
Paddlewheeler Creole Queen.
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On day 4, immerse yourself in New Orleans culture with a visit to Mardi Gras World, where you’ll explore the vibrant floats and learn the history behind this iconic celebration.
Next, experience a covered swamp tour through the picturesque bayous, where towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss set the scene for an educational journey with a local guide, who will introduce you to the unique swamp wildlife and ecosystem. End your day with a memorable jazz dinner cruise on the Creole Queen steamboat, featuring live music by Sullivan Dabney, Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band, along with a delicious Creole buffet as you sail along the Mississippi River. |
Day 5: Friday, May 2
Savor a legendary New Orleans experience with brunch at The Court of Two Sisters, where you’ll enjoy a delicious Creole and Cajun buffet accompanied by live jazz. Pass through the Charm Gates, make a wish at the Devil’s Wishing Well, and hear the enchanting story of Emma and Bertha, the sisters who originally ran a shop in this historic French Quarter location.
And now you will say goodbye to the vibrant hum of New Orleans with memories of jazz-filled streets, warm beignets, the liveliness of Bourbon Street, the gentle flow of the Mississippi and the friendships you will have made on this 5-day trip.
And now you will say goodbye to the vibrant hum of New Orleans with memories of jazz-filled streets, warm beignets, the liveliness of Bourbon Street, the gentle flow of the Mississippi and the friendships you will have made on this 5-day trip.
