- lsktravelz@gmail.com
It was a full flight Saturday morning to New Orleans for the Bears game. There was a sea of orange and blue occupying every single seat. Of course, it was my first road game of the season. Sometimes, I wait to buy a game ticket when I book my accommodations. For this trip, I waited until I arrived in NOLA before committing. Justin Fields would not play Sunday due to an injury.
I booked my flight when Southwest released fares for May. Because this was a quick trip, I redeemed 11,202 Rapid Reward Points for the flight to New Orleans. For my return flight, I used 15,580 Rapid Rewards Points. I paid $11.20 in fees. The Troubadour was the only brand in the Hilton portfolio with available rooms, and I wanted to use points plus cash.
Take a taxi. The flat rate is $36. I checked both rideshare companies, and fares were double because of demand. There were a lot of Chicago fans in town. Although the line was long, my taxi arrived within 15 minutes. My driver was friendly. However, he was concerned about customers who pay with a credit card because the taxi company takes 4%. I paid with cash on the ride to the hotel but used my card when I returned to the airport. Another option is to wait about 40 minutes. Lyft sent a notification when fares went down.
I made a reservation for Fogo on Open Table. Yes, I could have dined at the one in Chicago, but I was trying not to spend money on this quick trip. Besides, I had a $25 gift card. I enjoyed the Market Table along with the churrasco experience.
It was National Candy Day. I stopped by Southern Candymakers. After I sampled the plain pralines, I purchased a half pound of assorted candies: plain pralines, turtles, and toffee. You cannot leave New Orleans without trying the pralines. Unfortunately, the candy never made it to Chicago. I may need to place an order online. Yes, the candy is that good.
I stayed at the Troubadour in 2019. The rooftop bar is now partially enclosed, but the view is still beautiful. I could see Bear Fans tailgating from the rooftop. After much debate, I chose not to attend the game. There is a large-screen television at the Monkey Board. The bartender was great. Try the peach lemon drop. If you want food, order from the Listening Room on the 1st floor and take it to the rooftop. Try the wings. They were delicious, and you will need plenty of napkins. I used my $15 Food & Beverage Credit.
Even though I knew several people in town for the game, I decided not to attend at the last minute. A group from Chicago reserved a venue for fans without tickets, but the weather was beautiful, and I wanted to be outside. By the way, the Bears lost the game.
The Priority Pass Lounge was at capacity, and I had to wait 40 minutes before entering. It was worth the wait. Each table had a QR code to place your order. I enjoyed teriyaki rice made with locally sourced ingredients. The bread pudding and pineapple upside-down cake was heavenly. Why two desserts? The portions are small. Check your travel rewards programs for access to an airport lounge.
Using a combination of points from travel reward programs, I offset the cost of this trip. I also did not go to the game; I wanted to see Fields play. Visit my website to learn how I applied travel rewards to visit 46 states.
