Tag Archives: tips

#newinNOLA tip, Big Easy life advice, Moving, New Orleans

How to get a driver’s license in Louisiana

12 Comments

You are supposed to change over your driver’s license to a Louisiana one within 10 days of moving. We haven’t seen that rule enforced, but it is on the books.

If you are swapping your license from another state, you can’t do that online. You have to go to a DMV office. Click here for a list of locations.

Our friends suggested going outside New Orleans for a new license. Good to know – you can get a new license or car tag anywhere in Louisiana. They aren’t specific to a particular parish.

Our friend recommended a quick drive to Westwego, a small town on the West Bank (419 Avenue A, Westwego). It took us less than 30 minutes to get there from Uptown and we were rewarded with no more than 30 minutes of waiting at the DMV. Nice change of pace from waiting four hours for our last driver’s license.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Continue reading →

french-quarter-balcony
Apartment hunting, Big Easy life advice, French Quarter, Garden District, Mid City, Moving, New Orleans, Uptown

Good places to live in New Orleans

5 Comments

New Orleans has many good places to live. The first step is identifying which neighborhood appeals to you. Each one has its own character and flavor.

blue-mailbox-new-orleans

We found this mailbox in Uptown. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/New in NOLA)

There isn’t one neighborhood that’s “bad to live in.” Every neighborhood has good places and bad places in it. It’s important to find a neighborhood that has a place you can afford and amenities you desire. For some, that might mean a small studio in the French Quarter. For others, that may mean a standalone home with a yard in Gentilly.

If you have time, it’s important to drive and walk through your block BEFORE you get your apartment/house. The neighborhoods sometimes change dramatically by block by block. And don’t rely on Google Streetview. Our city is changing so rapidly that Google’s images are frequently outdated.

We love this neighborhood breakdown from ExperienceNewOrleans.com. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it helps get you started. And, click here for a simplified neighborhood map.

Once you’ve identified neighborhoods you’re interested in, check out our guide to finding an apartment in New Orleans.

Neighborhoods highlighted on ExperienceNewOrleans.com:

Continue reading →