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Priceline.com Analyzes Travel Costs for This Year’s Mardi Gras

January 27, 2016

Average airfare to New Orleans $350; hotel room rates $207-$539 a night

NORWALK, Conn., January 27, 2016 . . . Mardi Gras is February 9th this year. Travelers heading to New Orleans to join the big party will find that the national average airfare is a bit lower this year, while hotel average daily room rates are up over 2015.

According to priceline.com, the national average airfare to New Orleans for Mardi Gras week this year is $350, compared to $364 in 2015. Average airfares this year range from $97-$800.

For hotels, the 2016 average daily room rate (ADR) for 2016 is $246, compared to $217 last year. Current rates for 4-star hotels in New Orleans for Mardi Gras week range from $286-$539 while rates for 3-star hotels range from $207-$487. Rates, fares and availability are subject to change at any time.

“Rates typically are higher the closer you to get to the actual Mardi Gras day, Fat Tuesday, which is February 9th this year,” said priceline.com Travel Analyst Brian Ek. “However, the parade schedule is already in full swing leading up to the big day. Travelers on a budget can visit the city anytime between now and Fat Tuesday and still get a taste of what Mardi Gras is like.” For example, today the 4-star Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter (a favorite among priceline.com guests) is offering rooms for $279 a night over this coming weekend (Jan. 30-Feb. 1). For Fat Tuesday, the rate is $439.

Priceline.com also has multiple Express Deals available for travelers headed to Mardi Gras. Express Deals are specially discounted hotel deals where guests choose their dates, neighborhood, hotel amenities and pre-negotiated discount of up to 60 percent. For this coming weekend, Priceline.com’s Express Deals has a 4-star hotel in the downtown New Orleans area for $105 a night, a 52 percent savings. The hotel offers free Internet, a fitness center, a pool, an on-site restaurant, and is pet-friendly. There’s also a 4-star hotel right in the French Quarter for this weekend with a $148 a night Express Deals discounted rate.

Fat Tuesday Express Deals include a 4-star downtown hotel for $164 a night, and a 4-star French Quarter hotel for $206 a night. Many priceline.com customers use their iOS and Android smart devices to get instant access to these heavily discounted last-minute deals.

For more information, please visit www.priceline.com/media or connect with priceline.com on Facebook and Twitter.

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