today 5/29 - just booked Newark 10/10 through 10/14 for $236 non-stop on Southwest - im in FFLD county so its not a bad departure - Hartford and NYC fares are already very expensive that weekend because of Columbus Day and Louisiana Seafood Festival. Dont know how inexpensive tickets from Hartford are, but all those flights have one or two stops - if you are considering this (fantastic) road trip, Jump on this - sale ends tonight
Have been looking for a couple months. There are not a lot of hotel choices left down there. They have been booked for a few months. Southwest prices were about the same as you quoted, but not non-stop.
Went to NO for the Womens Final 4, what a great place to spend 4 days at. Really, really wanted to go back for the football game, still may, but was hoping for more reasonable hotels costs...just bad timing because of the date and what's going on there.
I've been to 19 states to watch UConn games, and I have to say I, of all the places I've been in my life, New Orleans was my favorite.