THE NEW ORLEANSJAZZ FESTIVALLes Bons Temps!

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ITINERARYDay 1 Welcome to New Orleans!Day 2 Dive Into Music — and the FestivalDay 3 Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez!Day 4 Preservation Hall and Festival’s Last DayDay 5 Departure for Home

There are few cities in this country that can boast as much soul as

New Orleans. Such jazz greats as Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino

and contemporary celebs like Harry Connick Jr. and Aaron Neville

all contribute to a rich legacy infused with Spanish, French, African

and Caribbean cultures. So what better time to experience New

Orleans than during its world-renowned jazz festival? With insights

and anecdotes provided by L.A. Times expert Randy Lewis, immerse

yourself in the sounds of jazz, blues, gospel, folk, hip-hop and pop at

numerous stages and tents set up at the New Orleans Fair Grounds.

This is not a fancy affair — prepare for heat, rain, mud and crowds

while reveling in some of the best tunes you’ve ever heard! And don’t

miss out on the crawfish bread or oyster po’ boys that make the festival

a culinary celebration.

The New Orleans Jazz FestivalLes Bons Temps!

3Call 855-890-5298 or visit LATexpeditions.com

DAY 1 Welcome to New Orleans!Arrive in the Big Easy and transfer to your hotel. After unpacking and relaxing, join your L.A. Times expert and fellow travelers at a welcome reception and dinner at a local restaurant. (R,D)

DAY 2 Dive Into Music — and the FestivalBegin this morning with an introduction to New Orleans music and lore by your L.A. Times expert. Then embark on a music-themed walking tour through 300 years of New Orleans’ musical history. Discover how the city became the birthplace of jazz and a nucleus for much great R&B, soul, blues, Cajun, zydeco and gospel music, and visit fabled music-making haunts, including Preservation Hall and Cosimo Matassa’s recording studio. Participate in a drumming session on Congo Square, fully immersing yourself in the local beat. Learn about such local jazz and blues artists as Buddy Bolden, Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Fats Domino and Louis Armstrong. Afterward, a privately chartered coach transfers the group to the jazz festival. Equipped with the day’s schedule, map out

which stages and tents are featuring your preferred acts — is it Congo Square Stage or the Blues Tent? The Fais Do-Do or Jazz and Heritage tents? Or perhaps a local celebrity such as Kermit Ruffins or a world-renowned band is playing on yet another stage! It is all available for your listening pleasure. Return to the hotel by coach in the evening for time at leisure. (B)

DAY 3 Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez!Your L.A. Times expert provides more insights and context during a morning briefing. Then meet a local musician to hear firsthand about what’s going on in New Orleans today and what life is like for artists. Enjoy a short, private performance before boarding the coach for the festival. Today you will want to hit all the stages and tents you didn’t get to the day before. And there may be a Neville or Marsalis playing here, or the Treme Brass Band playing over there. In 2017, big names such as Deacon John, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes were on the program. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

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DAY 4 Preservation Hall and Festival’s Last DayOur last presentation by your expert will take place this morning. Depart the hotel on a short walk to Preservation Hall. With a rich history dating back to 1961, when traditional jazz had taken a back seat in popularity to rock ‘n’ roll and bebop, Preservation Hall played a key role in a jazz revival. In addition to rejuvenating the music, Preservation Hall engages with the New Orleans cultural community by emphasizing education and social programming. Here a representative of this historic site will greet you, provide insights and allow you to tour the hall when it is closed to the public. Your coach will take you to the festival one last time. Make the most of your time, and soak up every last bit of music! Depart the festival this evening and get ready for your farewell reception and dinner in town. Share your highlights of the weekend with fellow L.A. Times travelers — did you discover any new talent? Did you revel in the performance of any greats? (R,D)

DAY 5 Departure for HomeDepart your hotel for the airport, unless you have decided to extend your stay and continue your musical discovery of New Orleans!

EXPEDITION EXPERT

Randy LewisRandy Lewis has covered pop music for the Los Angeles Times since 1981, working in that time as a reporter, music critic and editor for the Calendar

section. He has interviewed most of the members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also written first-person accounts of performing the music of Shostakovich and Prokofiev on clarinet and singing Mozart’s Requiem with world-class professionals. In addition, he enjoys belting out “Wooly Bully” in dive bars with his band, the Rounders.

ACCOMMODATIONS4 NIGHTS Hotel Monteleone The Hotel Monteleone, family-owned and operated, is one of the grande dames of New Orleans, sitting on elegant Royal Street in the French Quarter and within easy walking distance of the Mississippi River and Jackson Square. This property dates back to the 1880s and features a stunning marble façade; classically decorated rooms with fine linens and four-star amenities; and the renowned Carousel rotating bar, hailing from Sicily, the origin of the Monteleone family. The rooftop pool and bar are a welcome oasis within the city.

DATES PRICING SINGLE SUPPLEMENT DEPOSIT

April 26 – 30, 2018 $3,995 $1,200 $500May 2 – 6, 2018 $3,995 $1,200 $500

A Note on VIP Passes:The price on this program is based on standard entry tickets. Because shade, seats and peace are scarce on the Fair Grounds during the festival, VIP passes are offered at an additional price. These all offer varying levels of access to various stages and tents, as well as your own space in which to relax, sit down, drink some water or lemonade, have a snack and use the private restrooms. For a detailed breakdown of the perks for each, please study the festival website carefully.

Upgrades to VIP passes are offered at the following prices (see the jazz fest website for details on services offered for each) for the duration of the festival: • Grand Chief VIP: $990 (April departure), $1,190 (May departure) • Grand Marshal VIP: $850 (April departure), $1,025 (May departure) • Krewe of Jazz Fest VIP: $390 (April departure), $490 (May departure)See complete Terms and Conditions at LATexpeditions.com.

DATES & PRICING

WHAT IS INCLUDEDComprehensive educational program by content experts and professional on-site guidesAll accommodations and meals as outlined in the itineraryAll ground transportation within the itinerary unless otherwise indicatedAll sightseeing as specified in the itineraryEntrance feesGratuities to porters, drivers and guides for all included arrangementsTransfers to and from airports for those arriving or departing according to the designated itinerary (exceptions may apply)The assistance of an ATA expedition manager for comprehensive logistical and customer service management on the expeditionWireless listening devicesThe assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights or other servicesComprehensive pre-departure information about the destination and what to expect on the expedition, including a suggested reading list

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDEDU.S. domestic or international airfare or other transportation from your home to the departure point of the trip and from the end point of the trip to your homeTravel and trip cancellation insurancePassport, visa, airport departure and baggage feesMeals not specified in the itinerary, and food and beverages not part of the included mealsPersonal items such as telephone, fax and Internet charges, laundry, room service and alcoholic or other beverages not specified as includedGratuities for non-group servicesExpenses you may incur resulting from delays due to bad weather, road conditions, sickness, government action and flight delaysExpenses incurred in making individual travel arrangements in conjunction with the trip, and sightseeing not included in the itinerary

The Los Angeles Times’ travel programs are managed by Academic Travel Abroad Inc. (ATA), a professional travel company hired as an independent contractor.

LAND COSTPrices are listed in U.S. dollars and are based on a person sharing a room with another. Although we do our best to maintain the listed price, because our prices are set over a year in advance, we reserve the right to increase costs due to circumstances beyond our control, tariffs, taxes and VAT received after prices are published and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange markets. The land cost is based on a minimum number of guests as described on the trip page.

BOOK NOW 855-890-5298 LATexpeditions.com (Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT)