The best time to go? Obviously April ... You'll find weather in the 70's and 80's as their "humid season" starts in May and runs through September-ish. If you are looking to avoid a crowd - avoid festival season (jazz fest, mardi gras, french quarter fest, etc.) One of my favorite sites to check is http://www.neworleansonline.com/
You can order a travel guide through that site with great info and coupons.
If you're planning a trip of leisure down to New Orleans, you're fine booking with Travelocity, Expedia, etc. Make sure though to book in the French Quarter and read up people's reviews through Yelp or Trip Advisor as some hotels near Bourbon Street might be noisy compared to others. You can also book in the business district/Downtown which offers chain hotels and definitely away from the chaos of Bourbon Street. I've stayed in both areas. We stayed at the Hotel St Marie last year and I do recommend that place - it's close to Bourbon Street but far enough away to avoid the noise.
When arriving in NOLA, I suggest taking a cab to your hotel as cab rates to and from the hotel and the airport are already set in advance. There is only one cab service there. You may also rent a limo or take a shuttle but keep in mind that the shuttle service might take a bit longer as they drop off people at other locations.
During the day there are different excursions you can book such as haunted tours, voodoo tours, cemetery tours (it is not recommended that you tour them on your own), french quarter tours, and more. You can also venture out to the Garden District for a different feel or do shopping on Magazine Street.
Walking the quarter is just fun to do as well - there are vendors around Jackson Square, or grab a coffee and Beignet from Cafe du Monde. There might be a line but it's sooooo worth it!!!!
It is not necessary to rent a car as parking at the hotels is very $$$ - cabs are available as well as streetcars.
As for nightlife there is the ever-so-popular Bourbon Street where you can walk up and down all night, collect beats, drink Hurricanes, and Hand Grenade drinks. There are many bars to check out live music (the bands play based on tips down there) or just bars to hang out, dance, or visit the Bourbon Cowboy to ride the mechanical bull. Other tasty alcoholic beverages include Abita Beer (brewed in Louisiana) I recommend the Strawberry one when it's in season or Purple Haze, there are also a number of daiquiri bars along the way. Some of my favorite spots are: Bourbon Heat, Cat's Meow, Fat Tuesday, Funky Pirate, Razoo, Howl at The Moon, or one of my most recent favorites - The Dungeon (you cannot bring in outside drinks down here...it might seems scary at first but it's a few levels down, it's dark, plays metal music and just a cool bar overall).
If this scene gets old, there is also Harrah's Casino or Frenchmen Street (a short cab ride away) where the scene is less crazy but full of great bars and restaurants and places like Snug Harbor for live music. It is definitely worth the trip at least one night during your visit. There are also two dinner riverboat cruises along the Mississippi. I went on the Creole Queen, and I would recommend doing this at least once while down there.
Last but not least...THE FOOD!!! For great gumbo try The Gumbo Shop, if you're looking for a good greasy hangover cheeseburger go to Yo Mamma's, the BEST Italian food is at Vincent's which is outside the French Quarter but definitely worth it. The Alpine is great to grab a Po Boy, or The Praline Connection is good if you're in the Frenchmen Street area. I'm from Chicago and this place is among the best Italian places I've ever eaten at. There is dining at all prices - something high end which is worth checking out is Emeril's "NOLA Restaurant" but again, check out the websites and reviews on Yelp...there are few places that disappoint down there.
On a different note...A majority of my graduate work was done studying New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. It is now 2012, and almost 7 years later and there is still much to be done down there. Many hotels offer significant discounts if you are down there for services work. If you're looking to help out while visiting down there, check out Habitat for Humanity or St Bernard Project
I know I'm excluding many more great finds in this wonderful city so be sure to check out the website I included above - there is something for everyone down in the Big Easy!
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