From New Orleans to Atlanta is one hour 25 minutes, to Los Angeles is four hours 10 minutes, and to New York is two hours 50 minutes.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) (website: www.flymsy.com) is located 29km (18 miles) from New Orleans' city centre (journey time - 20 to 30 minutes). To/from the airport: Shuttles, public buses, taxis and limousines are available at the airport. Greyhound (see below) also has buses from the airport to many destinations. Facilities: Bank, car hire and post office.

None.

The Delta Queen Steamboat Company (tel: 1 800 543 1949, in the USA only; website: www.majesticamericaline.com) runs scheduled paddlewheel cruises up and down the Mississippi River, stopping at several cities.

The New Orleans Steamboat Company (tel: (504) 586 8777 or 1 800 233 2628, in the USA only; website: www.steamboatnatchez.com) offers a number of harbour cruise options. Information and tickets are available at booths behind Jackson Brewery and the aquarium in New Orleans.

Amtrak trains serve New Orleans (tel: 1 800 872 7245, in the USA only; website: www.amtrak.com). Services include the ‘Crescent', which links New Orleans with New York via Atlanta (Georgia); and the ‘City of New Orleans', which heads north from New Orleans to Chicago via Memphis (Tennessee). Trains depart from New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, located at 1001 Loyola Avenue.

Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222, in the USA; website: www.greyhound.com) buses connect all Louisiana's major towns and cities with destinations throughout the USA. Buses stop at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (see above).

Approximate driving times: From New Orleans to Houston is 6 hours, to Birmingham is 7 hours and to Memphis is 8 hours. All times are based on nonstop driving at or below the applicable speed limits.

Approximate bus journey times:
From New Orleans to Mobile is 3 hours, and to Memphis is 10 hours.

New Orleans: Bus: The famous ‘Streetcar Named Desire' that Blanche Dubois dreamt of has been replaced, rather prosaically, by a bus. However, bus services are extensive and available throughout the city. The Regional Transit Authority offers a VisiTour pass allowing unlimited rides on buses and streetcars all day (website: www.norta.com/passes/visitour.php). Streetcar: These run from 0430-midnight on St Charles Avenue and Carrollton in New Orleans, starting from Canal Street. A streetcar runs every 10-15 minutes along the riverfront between the Convention Center and Esplanade Avenue. Car hire: A national driving licence and a major credit card are needed to hire a car. Horsecab: Horse-drawn carriages offer a scenic means of transport through the French Quarter.