I Traveled Solo to New Orleans for a Date With Jazz Fest, and This Hotel Was the Perfect Base Camp

Traveling solo to a new destination can stir up a mix of emotions. But when I landed in New Orleans, I felt all the excitement with none of the accompanying hesitations. I didn’t worry about whether the restaurants’ vibes would welcome a table for one or if I’d end up lingering without making friends while going out. I was there for Jazz Fest, nothing more, nothing less. As someone who grew up in Miami and went to Ultra Music Festival every year before I learned to drive, massive musical celebrations hold a special place in my solo traveler heart.

For starters, it behooves you to attend alone, especially if you want to follow the beat of your own taste regarding the varied performances across multiple stages. Sure, there are always marquee names that draw crowds during peak hours, but for me, the real fun is bouncing from stage to stage on a whim all day, discovering new artists.

“Jazz Fest isn’t like Mardi Gras or Halloween,” a guy at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, where I was staying for the weekend, told me. I’d been to the French Quarter twice before for those occasions, and I assured him I wasn’t there to party but to vibe.

Typically held over two weekends on the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, Jazz Fest (officially the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival) is considered New Orleans’ biggest music festival — an impressive feat for a city that’s famous for its music scene and throws upwards of 130 festivals each year.

Photo: Jamie Valentino. Shot on Fujifilm X100VI Digital Camera

The Sheraton had a VIP tent at the festival, so transportation was a breeze, considering the hotel had buses transporting guests on the clock throughout the day. The night before, the club Oz on Bourbon Street kinetically summoned me to party like the nightlife version of Call of the Wild, so I arrived at my seat with shades on, already feeling like it was day two of the festival even though it had just started. But that’s part of the culture here — always erring on the side of indulgence. It didn’t help that the Sheraton is just blocks away from the coolest neighborhood in the US. It’s hard to ignore the French Quarter when you know what lies inside, beads and all.

I made a rookie mistake and showed up at Jazz Fest at 11 AM. Needless to say, there were other people there but definitely more grass than feet. Later, a more seasoned attendee told me the ideal time is around 1 to 2 PM. Unfortunately, as the crowd grew, people seemed more interested in watching than dancing. It’s not just Jazz Fest — it’s a national crisis where phones are replacing getting your groove on. Not me, though. I got to work making society a little less sedentary, even if it was just with my own two feet.

Thankfully, the crowd got more dancey as the day went on (yet another reason to go later, people are a few cocktails in by then). Being there was a reminder of how many incredibly talented indie artists there are in the world, and how important it is for them to access platforms that bring them together.

Photo: Jamie Valentino. Shot on Fujifilm X100VI Digital Camera

It also felt like an inclusive melting pot of jazz, blues, Zydeco (native to Louisiana), rock, R&B, and hip hop for the new age — Gen Z and Millennials’ take on the soulful music my parents wished I listened to when I was a kid, rather than the dubstep and house music playing at Ultra. While I’d recommend researching Jazz Fest to understand what artists are non-negotiable, make sure to give yourself time to get lost in blissful genres you weren’t even aware of.

One of my highlights was unknowingly walking into a tent playing banda and mariachi. I’d lived in Mexico City and Tulum for a few months, but the club scene was so dominated by expats that I felt like I was in any major city with better views. This was true regional Mexican music, and I looked like a fool trying to make my dancing look more like the professionals on stage (and, apparently, the audience members who were there for a reason). I loved it anyway. As a writer, being vulnerable (and oversharing about it later on) feels like my mission on Earth.

I’m embarrassed to say my favorite musical acts at Jazz Fest were predictably Kacey Musgraves and Lil Wayne, the last main stage acts on Friday and Saturday, respectively. But the producers paid them to headline because they’re timelessly great. One surprising aspect was the food, which felt like its own festival. I tried salmon on polenta, an alligator hot dog, lobster rolls, and a KitKat — all delicacies in their own right.

Another unexpected solo travel perk was discovering that the Sheraton was hosting a business convention. It facilitated meeting someone on the apps: my date was literally zero feet away. I wished I had a boss who would turn a company retreat into a one-of-a-kind memory. Then I remembered I didn’t have a boss, which was even better.

Still, the Sheraton struck me as the perfect hotel to mix work with play: all the commercial facilities and amenities you’d need, neatly contained in a convenient environment, just steps away from one of the world’s liveliest neighborhoods.

I woke up each morning to explore the French Quarter. I enjoyed window shopping through dozens of knick-knack shops, art galleries, design and furniture boutiques, and my one true love: fashion retail. One fun activity was discovering all the nooks and crannies of side streets, with entrances and alleyways leading to the town’s best-kept secrets.

Photo: Jamie Valentino. Shot on Fujifilm X100VI Digital Camera

New Orleans’ Sheraton is a perfect humble abode for the solo traveler, especially if you land a room on one of the higher floors. The building towers 46 stories over the city and the sea. As far as four-star hotels go, my stay didn’t feel as luxurious or distinctive as boutique hotels or other high-end chains, but the rooms and service left nothing to be desired. (Request the king bed because you need luscious rest after all the play.)

When I travel alone, I care less about a hotel with an Instagram-worthy aesthetic and more about practicality that truly enhances my stay. The Sheraton is free of influencer pretense. Instead, it offers a 24-hour gym that lets me complete my full workout without having to “adjust,” bountiful spots to get work done, and a location that makes it easy to jump in and out of the action depending on your mood.

Various dining options are within and next to the hotel, including an adjacent Starbucks. There’s also a rooftop pool near the gym (for a dip after some dips!). Beyond the French Quarter, you’re also in the city’s business district and just a few streets from Harrah’s Casino. That location makes for easy access to entertainment once you’re checked into the hotel, but it also makes getting there a breeze, whether you opt for public transportation or the 20-minute drive.

Oh, and at 1,110 rooms, there are plenty of other guests to mingle with — so even if you’re traveling solo as I did, you only have to be alone if you want to.

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