New Orleans , General info:
9/10

New Orleans is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana. City is located in southeastern Louisiana along both the east and westbanks of the Mississippi River. Its status as a world-famous tourist destination is due in part to its architecture, music, cuisine, its annual Mardi Gras, and other celebrations and festivals. The city is often referred to as "The most unique city in America".

The city's primary airport is Louis Armstrong International Airport, located in the suburb of Kenner.

New Orleans , Cheap stuff:
10/10

The seafood is relatively cheap compared to many places.

New Orleans , Different stuff:
10/10

New Orleans is one of the most visited cities in America and has many major attractions, from the world-renowned Bourbon Street and the French Quarter's notorious nightlife, St. Charles Avenue (home of Tulane and Loyola Universities), and many stately 19th century mansions. Magazine Street, with its many historic antique shops, is also an area visited by many tourists. Also on St. Charles Avenue is the historic Pontchartrain Hotel.

Favorite tourist scenes in New Orleans include the French Quarter (known locally as "the Quarter" or Vieux Carré), which dates from the French and Spanish eras and is bounded by the Mississippi River, Rampart Street, Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue. The French Quarter contains many popular hotels, bars, and nightclubs, most notably around Bourbon Street.

New Orleans , Don't miss:
9/10

Mardi Gras or Carnival Time is the biggest celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana. The yearly festival includes numerous events throughout the city, and is known as the biggest free party on earth.

New Orleans , Food:
9/10

New Orleans is a culinary delight, but don't look too hard for healthy food; some would say don't look at all (although those demanding, say, vegetarian, vegan, or kosher food can with effort find it). Take advantage of what they prepare best here. New Orleans has good food for people on any type of budget.

New Orleans , Hotels:
10/10

The numerous hotels in the French Quarter and Central Business District are most centrally located for most tourists, but there are good accommodations in many other parts of town as well. Hotels on or near the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line in Uptown are popular with many visitors, and the smaller hotels and guest houses in neighborhoods like Marigny and Mid-City can provide an immersion in New Orleans away from the larger masses of tourists.

New Orleans , Safety:
10/10

During the height of the hurricane season, from July through October, be sure to check with the weather service before going to New Orleans, and if a large storm is threatening the Gulf Coast, consider a change of plans. Following the widespread displacement of people, destruction of property, and general disruption of city services following Katrina, the city has been experiencing a spike in violent crime, even increasing from 2006 to 2007. The majority of this is away from the parts of town of interest to most visitors, but no part is as safe as it once was.

Looking for drugs or illegal activities can expose you to danger; if someone you just met is trying to lure you into a strange part of town for something decadent, assume you're probably being set up for a robbery. It's the same with any city, be smart and keep your wits about you.

San Jose , General info:
8/10

San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the center of the country, sprawling across the Central Valley, the city is the seat of the government, the focal point of political and economic activity, as well as the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.

San Jose , Cheap stuff:
9/10

Super markets and grocers usually have better prices than shops that cater to tourists.

San Jose , Different stuff:
9/10

There are no street addresses in San Jose, or for that matter, in Costa Rica. This does create problems. People here give directions by referring to landmarks.

San Jose , Don't miss:
9/10

Gold Museum, which offers a rare look at various gold artifacts of the ancient Latin American civilizations. The collection consists of 1600 pieces of Pre-Columbian gold work dating from 500 AD to 1500 AD. Information is given on the processing and making of the pieces as well as their social, cultural and religious meanings.

San Jose , Food:
8/10

Restaurants in San Jose, Costa Rica, offer dining opportunities that span the globe. From sushi to Italian, from fast food to French cuisine to Argentine beef to Peruvian seafood, you will find far more than just rice and beans in local restaurants

San Jose , Hotels:
9/10

San Jose is full of hotels from one star to perhaps three. Just a few luxury hotels with great service.

San Jose , Safety:
9/10

The traffic is dangerous. Cars don't stop for pedestrians, and they generally drive fast. The area around the Coca Cola Bus Terminal is not safe at night, and you should watch your belongings at all times in the city. If you have a flat tire on the main highway to the airport, don't accept help except from an established service station, and never accept help from a person who offers to help on the highway. It may become a car-jacking. If you travel by bus, never put your luggage into the storage space, even if the driver wants you to at the beginning of the travel. Crime is a serious problem, so be constantly on the alert. Also, police may stop you and take you to jail for not carrying your passport, or a photocopy of the main page and the entry stamp.