New York and New Orleans holiday

Itinerary in brief:

• 4 nights New York
• 1 night overnight train
• 4 nights New Orleans

Day 1: UK to New York

Depart the UK from your chosen airport. You’ll arrive in New York later the same day,

Included: International flights, 4* hotel  

Days 2 - 4: New York City

With several days to explore this huge city, we’ve included the New York Pass which gives you entry to various sites. This includes the Empire State Building where you can enjoy views over the Hudson as well as of the nearby Chrysler Building, the American Museum of Natural History, where dinosaurs come to life and a cruise around Manhattan, visiting Ellis and Liberty Island. Three days gives you plenty to time to hit the highlights of New York by day - spend your evenings searching for the perfect cocktail in the many rooftop bars of this glittering city.     

On your last full day in the city, go all out and enjoy a helicopter tour of New York. You’ll soar over the Chrysler and Empire State buildings with views down the sparkling Hudson River towards Hoboken. You’ll have 30 minutes in the air, plenty of time to enjoy the Big Apple from this unique viewpoint! The rest of the day is yours to enjoy, whether you head to a Broadway play or wander through the Flower District.   

Included: 4* hotel, New York Pass, helicopter tour 

Day 5: Crescent train to New Orleans

Today is your final day in New York City, take one final walk through Central Park before heading to the train station to catch the Crescent Amtrak train to New Orleans. You’ll be staying in a roomette, with 2 comfortable seats by day that transform into an upper and lower bunk at night. Your roomette includes a big picture window for watching the world go by, as well as fresh towels and linens, with complimentary meals available in the dining car. A private bathroom is available to use within the carriage. Sit back and relax, watching the city melt away as you cross the country, heading south towards New Orleans.

Included: Roomette on the Crescent train with linen, meals and towels  

Day 6: Arrive New Orleans

Spend the day onboard, meeting fellow travellers or staying cosy in your cabin while you watch the beautiful scenery whip by. You’ll pass through plenty of well-known cities, including Philadelphia, Washington DC and Atlanta. If you want to make your trip longer, you could stop for a couple of days in Philly to visit Independence Hall or visit Birmingham, Alabama, to learn about the Civil Rights history of this southern city. If you want to add to your journey, just let us know.

By the early evening, you’ll be pulling into New Orleans, with the sound of soft jazz in the air. Head to hotel and check in for four nights, ready to start exploring tomorrow.

Included: Roomette on the Crescent train with linen, meals and towels, 4* hotel               

Days 7 - 9: New Orleans     

Spend a couple of days exploring the eccentric city of New Orleans. We’d recommend you start with a stop at Café du Monde, where you’ll have to queue to get your hands on a bag of the famous beignets which will give you the energy you need to explore the city. Wander through the French Quarter past pretty balconies and colonial architecture and into one of the ornate cemeteries – “Cities of the Dead”, where huge carved angels look down on you from their plinths. New Orleans certainly has a spooky side to it – make sure you explore the voodoo history of the city and look out for ghosts that supposedly lurk around every corner. Finish up by enjoying a bowl of gumbo or a plate of ruby red crawfish served with buttery sweetcorn and andouille sausage for dinner.

On your second day, we’ve included a day tour to the bayou (wetlands), where you’ll drive alongside the Mississippi river and hop on a cruise through the swamp on the lookout for alligators, snakes and birds who make their home in the wetlands. Finish your time in New Orleans by dropping into one of the many jazz bars the city has to offer, settling in with a beer in hand to listen to some of the best musicians in America.

Included: 4* hotel, bayou tour   

Day 10: Depart USA

Today is your last day in New Orleans – grab one last café au lait before making your own way to the airport to catch your flight home.

Included: International flights

Day 11: Arrive UK