A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wellington vs. New Orleans for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Wellington or New Orleans?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Wellington or New Orleans? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Wellington

Wellington is a funky, compact, and laid-back city. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a energetic, fun-filled, and festive city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the live music, food, and nightlife.

Wellington and New Orleans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Wellington or New Orleans?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New Orleans than Wellington. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. New Orleans is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, big city activities, and quaint atmosphere, while Wellington attracts visitors for its museums, beaches, hiking, and shopping. New Orleans is more touristy than Wellington and is known for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also well known for The French Quarter. Wellington is famous for its waterfront promenade, quirky cafe culture, and relaxing beaches.

The French Quarter

How is Wellington different from New Orleans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between New Orleans and Wellington. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Wellington or New Orleans?

Wellington is a city with good options for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Wellington is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the capital city, you'll find a number of museums and sights around town. Check out the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Beehive, the Wellington Museum, and the City Gallery.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Wellington or New Orleans? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Orleans is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

For foodies, New Orleans is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Dining out in Wellington is an experience not to be missed. There are waterfront restaurants and a vibrant cafe scene around town. You'll also find local markets and many diverse eateries that you can explore.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Wellington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

New Orleans is a world class party destination. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

Wellington is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The best nightlife scene is found along Courtenay Place. There you'll find nightclubs, pubs, and cocktail bars. Cuba Street is another fun area with a bit more of a local vibe, and the waterfront is another great nightlife district in the city.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Music?

New Orleans is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. However, Wellington is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in New Orleans. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Wellington is not a live music destination.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Beaches?

Wellington is an excellent place to visit for its beaches. However, New Orleans is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Wellington attract visitors from all over. There are nice beaches within walking distance of the city center. There are also beaches that are well worth the drive if you're looking to get a bit out of town. In the summer months, there are swimming beaches, and year around they have nice views and a good atmosphere.

New Orleans is not a beach destination.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is a very popular place for its old town. However, Wellington does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Wellington does not have a historic old town.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Hiking?

Wellington is a city with good options for its hiking trails. However, New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Wellington. The area has rolling hills and beautiful coastlines that are filled with walking trails and scenic views. Some of the more popular trails in the area are the Red Rocks walk and the City-to-Sea walk.

New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Wellington or New Orleans?

Wellington is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Wellington. For the city's best shopping, head to the "Golden Mile". This is the area defined by Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place. There are boutique designers and high end fashion outlets throughout the area. The city also has many great markets and local shopping areas.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Families?

Wellington is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Wellington is a very family-friendly destination. There's the Wellington Zoo as well as Island Bay Marine Education Centre, both of which are great for animal-lovers. Waitangi Park is a nice park where kids can run around and play, and if you're looking for something indoors, head to the Space Place at Carter Observatory. If everyone needs some down time, there's always the beach with is fun to hang out at.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Wellington and New Orleans make for a nice place to visit.

Wellington makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The botanical gardens are beautiful to explore, and there is also a bird sanctuary in the area as well. Couple's will also enjoy the many nice restaurants and beautiful outdoor space around town.

New Orleans is a good city for couples to visit. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Wellington is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Wellington is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Located on the south side of the North Island, many backpackers use this city as a gateway to the South Island. There are many hostels around town and other fellow backpackers to hang out with.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Students?

Both Wellington and New Orleans are nice destinations for students.

Plenty of students visit Wellington. The locals are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is a nice setting for students.

New Orleans is popular with students. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Is Wellington or New Orleans Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Wellington is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit in Wellington is fairly effecient and thorough. There are city buses, trains, and ferries that are popular with tourists and locals alike.

Public transit is generally limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Is Wellington or New Orleans a more walkable city?

Wellington is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Wellington is very walkable. This is one of New Zealand's most walkable cities and it has a compact city center.

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable place. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

For even more information, also check out Is Wellington Worth Visiting? and Is New Orleans Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in New Orleans or Wellington?

How long in Wellington or New Orleans?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Wellington and New Orleans. In our opinion, Wellington has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Wellington than New Orleans. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Wellington than New Orleans. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Wellington, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Wellington than New Orleans. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Wellington that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Wellington than New Orleans if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Wellington.

One day in Wellington or New Orleans?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the funky city of Wellington. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With food and nightlife around the vibrant city of New Orleans, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Wellington or New Orleans?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the laid-back destination of Wellington. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

With nightlife and live music around the destination of New Orleans, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Wellington or New Orleans?

The compact city of Wellington offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

New Orleans, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Wellington or New Orleans?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Wellington. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

New Orleans is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wellington and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Wellington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wellington is in Pacific and New Orleans is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Wellington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wellington and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Wellington.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wellington Expensive? and Is New Orleans Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Wellington or New Orleans?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Wellington and New Orleans, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Wellington or New Orleans?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Wellington is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but New Orleans has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Wellington or New Orleans in the Summer?

Both New Orleans and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Wellington in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to New Orleans for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In January, Wellington is generally much colder than New Orleansin July. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 18°C (64°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

It's quite sunny in New Orleans. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wellington. Wellington usually receives less sunshine than New Orleans during summer. Wellington gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 264 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. In January, Wellington usually receives less rain than New Orleansin July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Wellington or New Orleans in the Autumn?

Both New Orleans and Wellington during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Wellington is cooler than New Orleans in the autumn. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and New Orleans fluctuates around 69°F (21°C)in October.

In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Wellington often gets less sunshine than New Orleansin October. Wellington gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 240 hours of full sun.

Wellington usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as New Orleansin October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Wellington or New Orleans in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and New Orleans. The winter months attract visitors to Wellington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.

In the winter, Wellington is cooler than New Orleans. Typically, the winter temperatures in Wellington in July average around 10°C (49°F), and New Orleans averages at about 51°F (11°C)in January.

Wellington usually receives less sunshine than New Orleans during winter. Wellington gets 122 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 158 hours of full sun in the winter.

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. Wellington gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Wellington usually receives less rain than New Orleansin January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Wellington or New Orleans in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Wellington as well as New Orleans. The beaches are the main draw to Wellington this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to New Orleans for the activities around the city.

In October, Wellington is generally much colder than New Orleansin April. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 13°C (55°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. In the spring, Wellington often gets less sunshine than New Orleansin April. Wellington gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 254 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in New Orleans. Wellington usually gets less rain in October than New Orleansin April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for New Orleans and Wellington