Weekend getaway: Heading to the Final Four in New Orleans
Two years after COVID-19 brought March Madness to a halt, and one year after the pandemic kept fans out as players competed entirely within the state of Indiana, you can expect much more boisterous Final Four festivities in 2022 as the event returns in earnest, in New Orleans, no less.
Whether your team is booking its trip to Louisiana or your bracket is busted, the celebration surrounding college basketball's biggest weekend is sure to draw fans (or those who want to join in the atmosphere) to the French Quarter. That is, if you can find a way to affordably get there and find accommodations at the last minute.
What, when and where
The 2022 college basketball Final Four involves three games over two nights on Saturday, April 2, and Monday, April 4. There are two national semifinal games on Saturday, with the championship on Monday.
Related: How TPG Saved me $2,000 at the Final Four (2018)
The games are being played at the football stadium home of the New Orleans Saints – the Caesars SuperDome. It's also the home of the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which I attended a couple months ago on New Year's Day.
The indoor stadium is in downtown New Orleans and walkable from French Quarter restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions. I walked to and from the Sugar Bowl in January and found it to be an easy walk.
When it comes to attractions, by the way, I put the SuperDome itself on the list. Its sheer size is a sight worth seeing, even if only from the outside because you can't get tickets – which are still available, by the way: on Ticketmaster, the event's official vendor for tickets, the semifinals were going for $223 per ticket, $144 for the championship.
How to get there
If you're flying from out of town, there's a good chance you'll have to spend more than you'd prefer, whether you're booking in dollars or with miles; such is to be expected when traveling to an event of the Final Four's prominence.
Still, as I checked Google Flights and airline sites, I did find a common trend: the sooner you can leave, and the longer you can stay, the better off you're going to be.
With the games being played on Saturday and Monday nights, I started by looking at flights on the days immediately before and after: Friday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 5.
Just like you'd expect on the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving though, those are going to be the same days you're going to pay the most.
American Airlines seems to be charging around $1,500 round trip from the New York area, and $1,700 for flights from Chicago-O'Hare and Los Angeles International.
A round trip from New York is going for 89,500 AAdvantage miles currently and it's 100,000 miles from Chicago as of now.
If you can wait an extra day to leave though, your round trip from New York drops to $1,074 or 52,000 miles with a return flight on Wednesday, April 6.
I found a similar trend on Delta Air Lines on flights from Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL). Round trips from Friday to Tuesday are going for about $1,078 at the moment. If you wait until Wednesday, April 6, to come home though, the price drops to $708. When you book with SkyMiles, there's an equivalent improvement.
You'll save even more if you don't care about attending the games themselves … or just seeing the championship game on Monday at least. If you can clear your schedule for this coming week (or work remotely of course) a round-trip flight on Southwest from the D.C. area and Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) drops from $959 to $478 when you leave this coming Wednesday, March 30, and return the day of the championship game – Monday, April 4. To continue my Thanksgiving analogy, flying on Monday is like flying on the holiday itself: if you're willing to do it, there's a good chance you'll save.
Related: First timer's guide to New Orleans
I found a similar drop-off in rates by making that same adjustment to the itinerary on Southwest flights from Chicago-Midway Airport (MDW), and drop-offs on Rapid Rewards expenditures of more than 50% with when you make that change.
Where to stay
Hotels in and around the French Quarter are in high demand as we close in on Final Four weekend. In fact, even as I checked hotel sites working on this story, I had to navigate deals that would be there one moment and disappear the next. In some cases, this involved hotels no longer being available. More often, it involved hotels that had point redemptions available momentarily, but minutes later they were gone.
So, the first piece of advice would be to book the hotel now if you think you'll be making the trip.
That being said, I did find some opportunities to save in value by booking with points instead of cash.
Related: 10 TPG-approved hotels in New Orleans
One option involves the Saint Hotel, which is part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. It's right in the middle of the French Quarter, and you can find any number of restaurants, bars, jazz, and of course, the stadium within walking distance.
The nightly rate for a four-night stay from Friday, April 1, to Tuesday, April 5, is $589, for a total of $2,356 for the stay. However, I found the same stay available for a total of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. According to TPG's March 2022 Points and Miles Valuations, 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points are worth about $1,920. That means booking on points offers you significant savings in value. On top of that, when you book four consecutive nights on points with Marriott you get the fifth night free. So if you have the time to stay until the Wednesday after the Final Four, you'll save significantly on your airfare, and the fifth night won't cost you any additional points.
For IHG Rewards Club members, I found a good redemption rate at another hotel right in the heart of New Orleans. The Holiday Inn Express New Orleans Downtown/French Quarter area is just a half mile walk to the SuperDome.
You can book the nightly rate of $402 or the average nightly points rate of 44,500 – which TPG's valuations say is significant savings in value. IHG also gives you a number of options for booking with a combination of points and miles.
Finally, another property right in the middle of New Orleans' most popular attractions is the Eliza Jane, part of World of Hyatt's Unbound Collection.
Going by TPG's valuations, you spend about half the amount in value when you book the 12,000 nightly points rate instead of the $449 per night in dollars.
Bottom line
The first Final Four with a stadium full of fans since 2019 means fans may be ready to splurge, book a last minute ticket and head to New Orleans to take in the games and enjoy the atmosphere.
If you're looking to get a flight and a hotel at a reasonable price, it looks like your best bet is to book it now and consider leave this coming Wednesday. And maybe leaving before the championship on Monday. It appears anything you can do to shift your itinerary away from the days just before and after the Saturday and Monday games will help you save significantly.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.