New Orleans from Raleigh-Durham, 11 – 14 Dec: £797 for two, all in
This page’s text is in English for now; a translation is on its way.
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- £93 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Lowest in 30 days on this route
- Bywater Suite Hotel, rated 8.8 by 425 guests
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 4h 56m in all.
Worth it if you want to walk, eat and see things; skip it if you want to switch off.
Round-trip flights from Raleigh-Durham to New Orleans are $217 per person ($434 for two) for Dec 11–14, 2026, 3 nights, on American with one stop. Typical highs run 63–69°F this time of year, and the best-value hotel, Bywater Suite Hotel, comes to $624 for the stay.
The total, before you go
£797 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £327 |
| Bywater Suite Hotel, 3 nights, two guests, taxes in | £470 |
| The total, before you go | £797 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£93 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £30 each way per bag on American, £121 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£164 per person, return
£327 for two, taxes and fees included · American · 1 stop · 4h 56m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 8:03 PM – Fri, Dec 11, 11:59 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American | £164 | 1 stop | 4h 56m |
| Southwest | £164 | 1 stop | 4h 10m |
| Southwest | £164 | 1 stop | 6h 35m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 08:43 GMT-4. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Tweak this trip
Why now
At $217 per person, this fare is $123 below the typical fare on this route, which sits at $340. That's a 36% drop, and it carries the Lowest in 30 days badge. We checked 12 offers, and fares ranged from $217 to $264. Southwest also matched American at $217. Prices include taxes and fees as found when we checked, and they can change. Mid-December is outside the February and March Mardi Gras stretch, when hotel rates triple, so the city moves at a calmer pace. Typical highs are 63–69°F with lows near 53°F, which is jacket-at-night weather that works for walking the Quarter, long dinners and live music. Add flights, the Bywater Suite Hotel and $130 per person a day in spending, and our sample budget comes to $1,838 for two.
The kind of trip this is
This is a city and food long weekend: jazz clubs, Creole and Cajun cooking, old architecture and a few museums. It suits a couple or a small group of friends who'd rather eat and listen than tick off sights. You can take it slow, with late breakfasts, an afternoon on the streetcar and evenings out for music. Mild December weather keeps the walking easy.
Weather in New Orleans, 11 – 14 Dec
Typical highs 63–69°F, lows near 53°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 11 Dec | 64 °F | 52 °F | Rain |
| Sat 12 Dec | 63 °F | 50 °F | Overcast |
| Sun 13 Dec | 68 °F | 56 °F | Overcast |
| Mon 14 Dec | 69 °F | 53 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in New Orleans
Bywater Suite Hotel is the best value at $624 for 3 nights ($208 a night) for a Deluxe Suite. It scores 8.8 from 425 reviews. The Mansion on Royal is the top-rated pick at 8.9 from 128 reviews and costs $708 for the stay ($236 a night) for the #4 King Suite. It's in Faubourg Marigny, close to the Frenchmen Street music clubs that make Marigny / Bywater good for nights out. Comfort Suites New Orleans East is the budget pick at $647 ($216 a night). It's a 4-star King Suite scoring 8.3 from 425-plus reviews, and it's the only one of the three that includes breakfast and free cancellation. For walking to balconies, jazz clubs and Bourbon Street, the French Quarter is the historic heart of the city.
Bywater Suite Hotel
£470 for 3 nights, two guests · £157 a night
See roomsThe Mansion on Royal
£534 for 3 nights, two guests · £178 a night
See roomsComfort Suites New Orleans East
£488 for 3 nights, two guests · £163 a night
See roomsAll hotels in New Orleans for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in New Orleans
- French Quarter: Historic heart with balconies, jazz clubs and Bourbon Street.
- Central Business District / Warehouse District: Modern hotels, museums and restaurants a short walk from the Quarter.
- Garden District: Grand mansions and oak-lined streets along the streetcar line.
- Marigny / Bywater: Frenchmen Street music clubs and colourful shotgun houses.
What to do in New Orleans
- Hear live jazz on Frenchmen Street or at Preservation Hall
- Eat beignets at Café du Monde, then gumbo in the Quarter
- Ride the St. Charles streetcar past the Garden District's mansions and oak-lined streets
- Tour the National WWII Museum near the Central Business District / Warehouse District
- Take a swamp tour to see alligators
- Visit the above-ground tombs of St. Louis Cemetery
Tours and tickets in New Orleans
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Getting there and around
| Airports in Raleigh-Durham | Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) |
|---|---|
| Airports in New Orleans | Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) |
| Flight time | 4h 56m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 775 miles each way |
| Time difference | -1 hour |
What 3 nights in New Orleans costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £327 |
| Hotel, 3 nights (Bywater Suite Hotel) | £470 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 3 days for two | £588 |
| Total for two | £1,385 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Raleigh-Durham to New Orleans
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £164 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £164 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £256 |
| Price checks | 10 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for New Orleans.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed, and you pay in US dollars.
- New Orleans is 1 hour behind Raleigh-Durham.
- The American flight takes 4h 56m with one stop. It leaves RDU at 8:03 PM on Friday, Dec 11 and lands at MSY at 11:59 PM local time.
- Bywater Suite Hotel and The Mansion on Royal are room only with no free cancellation. Comfort Suites New Orleans East includes breakfast and free cancellation.
- Mardi Gras falls in February and March, when rates triple, so December avoids that spike.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $217 per person round trip, or $434 for two, on American with one stop. That's $123 below the typical fare on this route of $340. Southwest had the same $217 fare too. The price includes taxes and fees but can change.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from RDU to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), and you pay in US dollars.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs are 63–69°F, with lows near 53°F this time of year. The normals point to rain on Dec 11 and overcast skies for the rest of the trip, so pack a layer and an umbrella.
Is 3 nights enough?
For a food and music long weekend, yes. You'll have time for Frenchmen Street, beignets, the St. Charles streetcar and the National WWII Museum. Our sample budget for two comes to $1,838, including flights, the $624 hotel and $130 per person a day in spending.
When does the flight land?
The American flight leaves RDU at 8:03 PM on Friday, Dec 11 and lands at MSY at 11:59 PM local time, so plan for a late check-in.
Which hotel should I pick?
Bywater Suite Hotel is the best value at $624 for the stay, scoring 8.8. The Mansion on Royal has the top score, 8.9, at $708. Comfort Suites New Orleans East costs $647 and is the only one that includes breakfast and free cancellation.
Also found for you
The newest finds from Raleigh-Durham.
Just found · from Raleigh-DurhamWorth it, if
Destin & the Emerald Coast
23 – 25 Oct 2026 · 2 nights
- Forecast highs 81–83°F with rain chances of 10% or less
- $563 per person, right at the median of 7 earlier checks
- Village Inn Destin scores 8.1 from 1,144 reviews, with free cancellation
£1,005 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights £849 + hotel £140 + resort fee £16, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
F9 + G4 · with a stop · 27h 51m
The catch: There are two stops each way and 27h 51m of travel round trip, and the flight home doesn't land until 8:05 AM Monday.
Worth it if you can take Monday morning off and want warm beach days; skip it if long layovers would spoil a short weekend.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from Raleigh-DurhamWorth it, if
Key West
27 – 30 Nov 2026 · 3 nights
- $221 per person, $23 below the typical fare on this route
- Typical highs of 75–77°F and lows near 73°F for your dates
- Blue Flamingo Resort Key West scores 8.4 from 1,583 reviews
£1,091 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights £332 + hotel £683 + resort fee £76, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £121
Breeze · with a stop · 25h 53m
The catch: The MX return leaves Monday at 4:09 PM with one stop and lands Tuesday, Dec 1 at 3:28 PM; checked bags are about $160 for two.
Worth it if you want a warm long weekend and can give up Tuesday to travel; skip it if you need to be home Monday night.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from Raleigh-DurhamLowest in 30 daysWorth it, if
Bar Harbor & Acadia
23 – 25 Oct 2026 · 2 nights
- Fare $408 per person, $78 below the typical fare on this route
- Atlantic Eyrie Lodge: ocean-view balcony, breakfast, 8.5 from 1,325 reviews
- Free cancellation on the room, and highs of 53–56°F for hiking
£993 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights £615 + hotel £378, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
F9 + G4 · with a stop · 26h 25m
The catch: The outbound has one stop and takes 26h 25m overnight, landing Saturday at 10:08 AM, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you can sleep through an overnight connection for a short fall hiking weekend; skip it if you want two full, relaxed days.
Tweak this trip
More trips
Next weekend · from Raleigh-DurhamNot worth it this week
Orlando
16 – 18 Oct 2026 · 2 nights
- 119-minute Frontier nonstop out of RDU on Friday night
- Westgate Town Center Resort scores 8.5 from 1,755 reviews, free cancellation
- October brings the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and Halloween events
£666 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights £488 + hotel £177, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
Frontier · nonstop · 1h 59m
The catch: The fare is $324 per person against a typical $166 on this route, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if your dates are fixed and you want the October festivals; skip it if you can wait for the fare to come back down.
The weekend after · from Raleigh-DurhamLowest in 30 days
St. Pete / Clearwater
23 – 25 Oct 2026 · 2 nights
- Frontier nonstop, 2h, leaves RDU 4:48 PM Friday
- $190 per person, $125 below the typical fare on this route
- Clearwater Beach Hotel: 7.6 from 2,682 reviews, free cancellation
£555 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights £286 + hotel £268, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
Frontier · nonstop · 2h
The catch: Frontier's fare doesn't include a checked bag, which runs about $240 for two, and resort fees aren't in the $736 either.
Worth it if you want a short, warm beach weekend and can pack light; skip it if you each need a full checked suitcase.
A week away · from Raleigh-DurhamWorth it, if
Los Angeles
14 – 21 Nov 2026 · 7 nights
- $1,169 for two covers the flights and 7 nights, all in
- Fare is $96 per person below the highest we saw
- Highs of 67–76°F, and all three stays offer free cancellation
£881 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights £431 + hotel £450, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
Frontier · with a stop · 8h 37m
The catch: One stop makes the flight out 8h 37m on Frontier, and a checked bag is about $240 for two, which isn't in the total.
Worth it if you want a week of LA sights on a set budget; skip it if you need a nonstop or a private bathroom.
Just found · from Raleigh-DurhamWorth it, if
Destin & the Emerald Coast
23 – 25 Oct 2026 · 2 nights
- Forecast highs 81–83°F with rain chances of 10% or less
- $563 per person, right at the median of 7 earlier checks
- Village Inn Destin scores 8.1 from 1,144 reviews, with free cancellation
£1,005 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights £849 + hotel £140 + resort fee £16, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
F9 + G4 · with a stop · 27h 51m
The catch: There are two stops each way and 27h 51m of travel round trip, and the flight home doesn't land until 8:05 AM Monday.
Worth it if you can take Monday morning off and want warm beach days; skip it if long layovers would spoil a short weekend.
Just found · from Raleigh-DurhamWorth it, if
Key West
27 – 30 Nov 2026 · 3 nights
- $221 per person, $23 below the typical fare on this route
- Typical highs of 75–77°F and lows near 73°F for your dates
- Blue Flamingo Resort Key West scores 8.4 from 1,583 reviews
£1,091 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights £332 + hotel £683 + resort fee £76, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £121
Breeze · with a stop · 25h 53m
The catch: The MX return leaves Monday at 4:09 PM with one stop and lands Tuesday, Dec 1 at 3:28 PM; checked bags are about $160 for two.
Worth it if you want a warm long weekend and can give up Tuesday to travel; skip it if you need to be home Monday night.
All trips from Raleigh-Durham · New Orleans from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in December 2026 · Home
New Orleans in pictures
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. We use AI tools to draft the text of each page from the data on it; code checks every number in the draft against that data and rejects what does not match, and the team reviews pages and fixes or removes what readers report. How we pick · Report a mistake.
Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Dominik Gryzbon / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: K / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: K / Pexels, Pexels License