Current population estimates for the New Orleans area range from as low as 190,000 to as high as 280,000 people. Major industries in the region focus on energy (crude oil and natural gas) production and tourism; the Port of New Orleans, the fifth largest port in the US, is also a major player. Sales tax in New Orleans is 9%. At hotels, an additional 4% tax is added to bills, and a nightly tax of up to $2 is assessed based on the number of rooms a hotel has.

The area's largest airport is Louis Armstrong-New Orleans International Airport (airport code: MSY). AMTRAK, too, services the New Orleans area. Union Passenger Terminal, at 1001 Loyola Avenue in the Central Business District, is the city's main rail station. If you're traveling to New Orleans by car, Interstates 10 and 55 are the major routes.

New Orleans is extremely easy to navigate on foot. If you insist on vehicular transport, give the public transportation system a try. NORTA buses operate routes all over the city, and the St. Charles streetcars make regular (9am to 6pm) runs in the CBD and along both Canal Street and the Riverfront. Both buses and streetcars cost $1.25 to ride. One-day, three-day and monthly VisiTour passes are available for $5, $12 and $55, respectively. United Cabs, Inc. (504-524-9606) has been around since 1938 and is one of the city's most reputable companies; they accept all major credit cards and offer 24-hour service.

The major daily news source in New Orleans is the Times-Picayune. The monthly offBeat focuses on the regional music scene in addition to restaurant reviews and Katrina-related features. The Gambit Weekly has a thumb on just about everything cool that's going on in Orleans Parish. New Orleans Magazine emphasizes the finer sides of life, from real estate to Jazz Fest. The local financial climate is the focus of Biz New Orleans, and there are also specialized periodicals like Louisiana Weekly (African-American) and La Prensa (Hispanic).

In New Orleans, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) operates a vistors center at 2020 St. Charles Avenue (504-566-5011or 800-672-6124).

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab. Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).