My college kids and I began planning our after-Christmas visit to NOLA summer 2023, with the goal of highlighting music, history, and food, the signature features of the city. I soon discovered Soul of New Orleans and Cassandra Snyder. What initially attracted me to Soul of New Orleans was Cassandra's mission of tailoring our New Orleans experiences to our particular interests. Cassandra and I worked together to develop an array of activities. She arranged 2 morning walking tours, guided by Derek, who is soon completing his Ph.D. in history. Derek was really fun (my 3 college kids loved him), entertaining with both history and local "lore," and a continuing resource for unique experiences in the city. For example, Derek recommended we visit the New Orleans Museum of Art and its incredible, outdoor sculpture exhibit. We also enjoyed a photography exhibit at the museum. Derek knew the photographer and provided a personal perspective on her work. Cassandra, on the other hand, directed us to Snug Harbor for New Year's Eve, where we enjoyed one of the most amazing musical experiences of the trip. In fact, we returned to the venue a number of times for various shows: the musicians were varied and exceptional, think Jason Marsalis, Oscar Rossignoli, Mahmoud Chouki, and Victor Goines. One of my sons is a pianist/organist, and the crowning moment of his trip was the lesson Cassandra arranged for him with a jazz pianist. If you have a particular interest, Cassandra will help you realize a personal experience in your area of inquiry. She worked over a month to arrange the music lesson for my son, maintaining regular communication as she located the instructor. Cassandra's fees are reasonable and the quality of her assistance was superlative. Even after we finalized our plans with Soul of New Orleans, Cassandra continued emailing us new ideas, advice on navigating the city, and upcoming events we might enjoy. Derek also offered to assist us in any way, even after our tours with him were completed. To conclude, our trip was amazing, and we attribute much of its success to Cassandra Snyder and Soul of New Orleans. As a result of her guidance and resourcefulness, we had a unique and dynamic experience in New Orleans. Every traveler needs at Cassandra Snyder! We fell in love with NOLA, and Soul of New Orleans/Cassandra Snyder opened its doors to us with such hospitality and service!
This tour exceeded expectations! Our guide Derek shared his extensive knowledge of New Orleans history, architecture and culture in an engaging and entertaining way. He tailored his presentation to our individual interests - no small feat with a group of eight spanning ages infant to senior. Highly recommend this wonderful company - they are organized and communication is superior. Thank you!