[Beat the Heat offers interesting and entertaining ways to cool off and get the most out of New Orleans this summer.]

So my colleagues and I normally start to write about how darned hot it is in New Orleans this time of year. Actually, we're really a tad behind this year since it's already mid-July. Perhaps the heat hasn't been as unbearable. Or, perhaps, the heat has been so bad we've lost sight of everything.

And let's not forget the humidity! If there is one thing Nola knows best, it's humidity. How much there is of it (too much of it), what it does to us (wilts us) and when it will end (never...or maybe December!). I think it is safe to say that everyone in New Orleans, from the loyal citizen to the seasoned tourist to the dude who came down to check out the Katrina damage to the people who wouldn't dream of setting foot here know just how frickin' hot it gets in the Crescent City after the vernal equinox.

So let's not bother talking about that. Instead, let's talk about ways to beat the heat. After all, New Orleans is always going to be hot and humid and, at times, stickier than the floor at Cate du Monde. And truth be told we need tourism here in the hot summer months more than perhaps at any other time of year.

During the early months of the year events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest draw thousands upon thousands of fabulous tourists, but once July hits folks pretty much consider themselves crazy to take on the heat down here. They carry this sentiment even though some of the best deals EVER are to be had.

I know when I visited last August I stayed in a seriously swanky hotel in the French Quarter that normally cost almost $300 a night. We stayed for about $100. And it was NICE. And it had a pool!

So, let that be the first tip on how to beat the heat this summer in New Orleans:

1. Visit the city; stay in a hotel where there is a pool.

Also, in that vein:

2. Er, uh, call first to make sure the pool is functioning and isn't due for a chlorine treatment the day you arrive. Some ads for some hotels used to mention pools that no longer were in service, kind regards of the Big K.

Sometimes the pool is merely being renovated. Jazz Fest 2006 we stayed at the VERY nice Hilton near the World Trade Center (and Harrah's). I forgot to call and check and it turned out their pool was being renovated. Sigh.

By now (post-Katrina) most of what you read about a hotel is accurate. If the hotel claims they have a pool said pool should be in working order. And I can assure you, there is NOTHING like diving into a crisp, cool, blue pool in the middle of an August day. Whew!

Last August we stayed at the Maison Dupuy, which is tucked away in the French Quarter off the beaten path of Toulouse. Their pool resides in the middle of a very well kept courtyard and is marvelously refreshing. I was also preggers at the time so it felt good to relax in the water.

Another little tip:

3. If you plan on using the pool, make sure you bring your swimsuit! I forgot mine, even though one of the main reasons we chose the Maison Dupuy was for their (working) pool! I ended up hitting the Banana Republic in the mall off Decatur (by the river) to grab a swimsuit.

It's a good thing I did because, frankly, I don't know how I would have made it through that trip without frequent dips in the pool. We saw the sights and ate the food and all that good stuff, but we organized our day around trips to the pool to cool off.

Also good to note:

4. The pool is where you will undoubtedly make new friends. Other tourists trying to beat the heat--and enjoy a nice poolside cocktail (even at like 10:00 AM) can inevitably be found lounging around the pool. They are most likely interested in you and what you've been doing as well as sharing their exploits. More likely than not, you'll find yourself along for a ride with your new friends to at least one local favorite watering hole.

Not that you need any more friends. I'm just sayin'.

Check back with us for more tips on how to beat the heat this summer!