New New Orleans is a city of excess. Nicknamed the Big Easy, it's renowned for its vibrant live-music scene, round-the-clock nightlife and rich, spicy cuisine - all of which comes thanks to its melting pot of French, African and American ancestry. With its distinctly Caribbean-meets-European feel, extensive history and ornate buildings, New Orleans is unlike any other city in the US. While the city's public transport links carry you easily, and cheaply, between neighbourhoods - it's the old-fashioned streetcar that provides the most romantic form of transport as you ride the rails, head stuck out of an open window.

The city is easy to visit on the cheap. Its tantalising streets are packed with impromptu soul musicians and unique street food offerings. Grab a po'boy filled with fried oysters, snack on some crayfish or sit down to a portion of gumbo before perusing the French Market and the charming French Quarter. Alternatively, find a quiet corner in the up-and-coming Bywater district, which has a more local feel to it.

Built on a swamp, New Orleans has lots of incredible wildlife spots. Get up close to poisonous snakes and huge alligators by taking a tour of the shack-lined bayou, where you'll discover an entirely different side of Louisiana.