A holiday in New Orleans should be on every music loving foodie’s hit list. In this little corner of Europe and the Caribbean in the American South, the history is as colourful as the local architecture; and the food is the stuff of legend. Haitian and African Creoles developed an exotic, spicy cuisine and were instrumental in creating jazz and Zydeco. In New Orleans, music pulses through the moonlight, French doors sway in cool breezes, and the sweet scent of Kus Kus wafts on the air.

It’s a city of extremes, from the vibrant party atmosphere exemplified by Mardi Gras to rampant poverty and urban decay in the suburbs. Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the city in 2005 and the rebuilding process continues at a snail’s pace.

You’ll make a bee-line to the French Quarter; the rollicking neighbourhood of bars and unique buildings, the oldest neighbourhood of New Orleans; where the city was born. The area is authentic, not a reproduction of history; and many of the buildings date back to the 1700's. On Bourbon and Decatur, the pubs, bars and clubs pound out their sounds and the streets swarm with staggering merry-makers.

Of all the nicknames New Orleans has, the “Big Easy” and the “Crescent City” are probably the most well known, but the one expression that typifies the tradition and attitude permeating N’awlins’ lifestyle is “Let the Good Times Roll”.

New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and the place some of the world’s most popular musicians have called it home. Chefs are celebrities here too, and for every culinary passion you can imagine, New Orleans has an inspired menu to match. You’ll be tempted at every turn by New Orleans’ signature Cajun and Creole dishes.

A city that takes joie de vivre to new levels, New Orleans naturally organises its celebratory approach to life into some of the world’s most popular and eclectic festivals. A time of revelry, fraternity, festivity and unabashed indulgence, Mardi Gras reflects New Orleans’ rich heritage, unleashes the joyous soul of the city and invites everyone to join in the fun.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts started in 1937 when Vernon Rudolph bought a secret recipe from a French chef from New Orleans

In New Orleans, under state law, biting someone with your natural teeth is considered a simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth is considered an aggravated assault

A po’ boy is a New Orleans sandwich consisting of fried meat or seafood on a baguette