You know you are going to a special place when every film, play, song or book set there effuses such rare ambient charm that it is immediately recognisable, like a favourite scent. Few places can claim such easy familiarity as New Orleans…The Big Easy. For anyone it becomes their Storyville and Jazz: their soundtrack. The Streetcars make us feel like riding all the way to the end of the line, the Mississippi makes us feel like drifters and the music…makes us feel.

The Historic French Market Inn is a 19th century brick-built labyrinth of courtyards and its rooms are in keeping with their Quarter ambience but with practical modern touches like Wi-Fi internet access and plasma screen TV’s. It also has a small pool and a Voudoo lounge bar. The Inn is perfectly located on Decatur Street in the French Quarter a block from the Mississippi and halfway between Jackson Square and Canal Street. The regular Festival shuttle service runs from the Sheraton hotel, a five minute stroll away on Canal Street, directly to an easy-access parking area for the Fairgrounds, the site of events. This is the most convenient mode of transport because of its access to a designated drop-off area.

The Jazz and Heritage Festival takes place over two consecutive weekends, we will have tickets from Thursday 1st to 4th May. There are several performance stages and tents with their own daily-published schedule, available from February on www.nojazzfest.com. In 2008, Stevie Wonder, Santana, Steel Pulse, Bobby McFerrin, Billy Joel and Diana Krall are among the headline acts. On previous years, we have enjoyed Santana, Hugh Masekela, Elvis Costello, Wyclef Jean, Dave Brubeck, Joss Stone, Harry Connick, the Neville Brothers and Smokey Robinson (a personal highlight, especially seeing hard old men with tears streaming their cheeks beside young schoolgirls dancing and EVERYONE knowing every lyric). There was music and food for all tastes from Zydeco to Blues and soft-shelled crab Po-Boys to Crawfish Bread.

30th April- Depart London Heathrow, by United Airlines UA923 0755h. Flight arrives Washington Dulles at 1114h where we clear customs and immigration and continue to New Orleans by UA233 at 1220h arriving 1413h. We are met at the airport and transferred to the Historic French Market Inn or equivalent.

1-4 =May- Phil Haines will be on hand to help with transfers, restaurant and bar suggestions and optional trips. New Orleans has restaurants to suit all budgets and moods and a memorable aspect of any visit is its distinctive cuisine and cocktails (the word is said to originate when a local pharmacist, Antoine Peychaud, mixed cognac with his own bitters recipe- a Sazerac- in an egg cup, or, in French, a coquetier). During Jazzfest, bars and music shops provide additional out-of-hours musical performances- you can listen to some of the world’s best music 24-hours a day.
Possible optional trips could include: walking tour of the French Quarter, cable-car rides along St. Charles Avenue and the Garden District, Swamp and Plantation excursions, paddleboat along the Mississippi or a sundown cruise on Lake Pontchartrain. If any of these interest you, please notify LIVE Travel when booking.

5th May- Depart UA216 at 1725h, lands Dulles 2049h & by UA924 at 2141h, arriving London Heathrow, 1000h, 6th May.

COST- £1150 on twin-sharing basis & single supplement £180; includes flights London Heathrow to New Orleans return, 5 nights at the Historic French Market Inn, transfers to the airport and Fairgrounds, tickets for the four days of the Jazz and Heritage Festival. The air holiday and flight is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 6151.

Excludes:  Optional trips, Insurance (comprehensive policies available through LIVE Travel at £32 per adult or £85 annual multi-trip), meals, drinks, gratuities, laundry and other items of a personal nature.

Please ask about the 15th Istanbul Jazz Festival 10-14 July from £500 inc flights & hotel!