When I lived in New Orleans, I learned the term lagniappe, a little something extra.
The RIck Steves tour offers a nice balance of planned group outings with fantastic guides with downtime to explore what personally interests you. You have the time to search out and experience your own lagniappe. My fellow tour members were the same as I experienced on my first Rick Steves tour- friendly, outgoing, and ready for an adventure. During my downtime I explored the city solo and with newly met friends. In addition, I had the unique opportunity to meet up with a local. My friend Cate from New Orleans introduced me via email to a Parisian named Aurore who met up with me for a drink and invited me on a Lourve picnic with her friends. This only further disproved the idea that the French are rude and unfriendly.