To absolutely HATE New York

[GreetingsFromVenus]

Dreamed of going there for many years. Thought it would be amazing. Everyone seems to think it is.

Here now and I hate it. Extortionate prices, rude ignorant locals, so many aggressive beggars. mentally ill people shouting in the street. loads of homeless people. The subway stations are disgusting and feel very menacing compared to London.

I find it really depressing actually and feel that the way Hollywood has portrayed New York is all smoke and mirrors. It is nothing special at all IMO. In fact it has a LOT of social issues and it made me feel quite sick to be spending $100 just for a mid range meal for 2 (no dessert) while there were people asking for food outside.

Central Park - pffttt!

Cannot wait to get home next week and will never complain about London prices again!

Anyone else felt the same?

@pastypirate

Each to their own. I lived in Manhattan up to the cusp of 9/11. It was my childhood teenage dream. I wore pink shade Kandies and rode the subway. It was and still is everything to me.

I don't get how riding the subway is the dream. I think you have pink shaded spectacles.

I was not keen on New York. Liked Washington DC, Boston and Toronto a lot more. On a different trip went to San Fran and that was lovely.

It went from "whaddywant" from new york waitresses in NY to "oh let me show you, im heading that direction, mum is english and my dad is irish, enjoy your visit! " in Boston.

My big pre shared- milestone birthday trip with a friend in May 2020 was cancelled due to Covid. We agree we want to go back but when the city is on the up again & still in May. We did a lot of research to make sure we weren't really wandering around, other than some time put aside for shopping.

NYC is ok. That's about as much as I can say. Southern California is much better to visit, if you want yo go back to the US in future. Much friendlier. And warmer! Lovely beach towns like Balboa, Malibu, San Diego. Still expensive, and you'll need to hire a car, but well worth it.

The Tenement Museum in Glasgow is better

Gentuine lol. Reminds me of the time I was on a flight to Mexico City and someone told me not to bother with the pyramids at Teotihuacan, because “they’re not as good as the ones in Egypt”

Just wanted to thank all the Pp here for even more ideas of places to visit in NYC and their tips & hacks.

I also follow some new yorkers on insta and whilst I appreciate I'm still getting a lot their "highlights", from their insta stories it's definitely less glossy than tv & film would have you believe. I'm prepared for this and know I'll still be surprised by it irl!

I am a city girl though. Still love London (I live just outside) and enjoy a city break. Think the trick is to find your vibe/your version of a place. I love Vienna but much prefer it in the summer to Christmas. Similarly, I accept that to get out the touristy bits and visit some less central spots on public transport, we'll be passing through the burbs and waiting in less glossy areas to make connections etc.

@dreamingbohemian

Everyone saying DC is nicer, it's not really, it's just they've done a better job segregating all the 'bad bits' (aka real city life) away from the tourist areas. And it's much much smaller.

I'm also curious where everyone is hanging out in Boston to think people there are more polite lol

Oh I know Washington DC where poorer people live is supposed to be dire and I know overall it is a very dangerous City. But as a tourist, it is fabulous.

I love New York. We have a place just over in Hoboken NJ. Bloody freezing in winter though. Also, August is too humid there.

What puts me off is the passport control people. They assume a jumped up attitude well above their station. Every single one has been a tosser. There is one particular one we have had the misfortune of getting three times! Real creep. States at me - mimics the English accent. Says my daughter must be mine because we have the ‘same beautiful eyes’ (in a creepy way). Then, after that, takes one look at my husband who is Iranian heritage and tells us all to go to the ‘holding area.’ Once we were in there 4 hours with small children and missed a connecting flight. The whole ‘holding area’ was basically all Arab men, all praying. And then there is us with whinging kids. What drives me mad is the bland officiousness and the meaningless pseudo-military jargon they assume - ‘At this time I am not able to respond to this query ma’am. Please proceed to the holding room at this time.’ Everything is ‘at this time’ - as if there is an alternative ‘time.’ . Also, signs that could just read,”Please use the bin,” would be, “At this time, we would request that all patrons utilize the facility of the waste disposal at your convenience. We thank you for your cooperation at this time.” Something like that. Does my head in.

Apart from that, we love it over there.

Everywhere is shit in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. I don't think it's the time for holidays at all but that's clearly me in the minority.
I've been to NY three times, no urge for a 4th visit but it was always enjoyable, there's no shortage of things to do.

Need show hubby this later

@koalacat

I love New York. We have a place just over in Hoboken NJ. Bloody freezing in winter though. Also, August is too humid there.

What puts me off is the passport control people. They assume a jumped up attitude well above their station. Every single one has been a tosser. There is one particular one we have had the misfortune of getting three times! Real creep. States at me - mimics the English accent. Says my daughter must be mine because we have the ‘same beautiful eyes’ (in a creepy way). Then, after that, takes one look at my husband who is Iranian heritage and tells us all to go to the ‘holding area.’ Once we were in there 4 hours with small children and missed a connecting flight. The whole ‘holding area’ was basically all Arab men, all praying. And then there is us with whinging kids. What drives me mad is the bland officiousness and the meaningless pseudo-military jargon they assume - ‘At this time I am not able to respond to this query ma’am. Please proceed to the holding room at this time.’ Everything is ‘at this time’ - as if there is an alternative ‘time.’ . Also, signs that could just read,”Please use the bin,” would be, “At this time, we would request that all patrons utilize the facility of the waste disposal at your convenience. We thank you for your cooperation at this time.” Something like that. Does my head in.

Apart from that, we love it over there.

I LOVE Hoboken. That's where we stayed when we visited NYC and I always felt a little lift of the heart when we came out of the tunnel into Hoboken. Lovely riverside park with stunning skyline of Manhattan and a proper neighbourhood with a bodega with a white cat guarding the entrance and supermarkets with all the produce written in Spanish. That felt like a place you could breathe. Cute houses too.

@pastypirate

Each to their own. I lived in Manhattan up to the cusp of 9/11. It was my childhood teenage dream. I wore pink shade Kandies and rode the subway. It was and still is everything to me.

We were probably there around the same time. It was like being in a film for me too, I loved it.

I agree, I wasn't mad keen on New York either. So busy and so much going on but I felt massively lonely there and I also found some locals rude and abrupt. Only been the once, probably won't go back.

Went a couple of times in the early 2000s, was pretty good then.

I can understand how it is worse.

@VenusClapTrap

The Tenement Museum in Glasgow is better

Gentuine lol. Reminds me of the time I was on a flight to Mexico City and someone told me not to bother with the pyramids at Teotihuacan, because “they’re not as good as the ones in Egypt”

Like the time someone looked at my shoes and said she could get something just as good in Deptford Market. That was nearly 40 years ago and I still can't think of an answer.

I don't agree at all! I was desperate to go to New York and LOVED it. Last visited in 2019 so unless it's changed massively since the covid shiz I can't imagine why you're this disappointed.

I am not saying the Tenement Museum in NY is not good it is. But I am talking about the lack of reasons to go. I would recommend going there for a few days then moving on. Anything special/different can be done in a couple of days.

Totally agree! I've never met anyone who agrees but I went once about 10 years ago and everyone was so rude. There was an uneasy and miserable vibe everywhere, and I'm used to big cities. I cut my trip short and flew to California!

I know it’s pathetic but what really puts me off going to NY is that they’ve had an explosion in their rat population and they already had problems with the blighters. I am terrified of them!
The explosion has been put down to restaurants moving to more outdoor eating ( due to COVID) and the rubbish being left out in the streets in bags.
Perhaps it is no worse than London in this respect and it is just my perception?
I once saw a documentary about NY in the 70s and it looked bloody scary, but things improved in the 80s. It does sound like it’s in a slump currently, hopefully things will improve again.

@Overdon

I know it’s pathetic but what really puts me off going to NY is that they’ve had an explosion in their rat population and they already had problems with the blighters. I am terrified of them! The explosion has been put down to restaurants moving to more outdoor eating ( due to COVID) and the rubbish being left out in the streets in bags. Perhaps it is no worse than London in this respect and it is just my perception? I once saw a documentary about NY in the 70s and it looked bloody scary, but things improved in the 80s. It does sound like it’s in a slump currently, hopefully things will improve again.

I have seen some rats in outskirts of London (they were there before the pandemic) but haven't noticed that many in central London, indoor or outdoor eating taken into account when I've been recently.

New York increase in rats I really couldn't say but I'd guess it's no worse than London.

I've been twice (2017 & 2019) and I loved it. So I can't agree. I think it depends on your experiencing. I had people moving seats in the subway to let me and DH sit next to each other on more than one occasion (wasn't particularly bothered about sitting next to him but it was nice they did that!). Service was always friendly where we were. I love Broadway. I loved walking around Brooklyn. I loved the history. We also went when it was freezing but I'm a winter baby and love winter 😆

Sorry you're having a rubbish time. Hope you can find something to do that brightens up the trip a bit.

I love central park but I saw it in summer and cycling round it was lovely.

I really appreciate london tube more after new York, just so simple and better signage and information than the subway.

I did prefer Washington dc over new York. Coukd totally see myself moving there instead.

Experiences*

There isn't much to do in NY that isn't better in London. Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty is it. Everything else is better in London.

God, this thread is hilarious!

I suspect the limitation is you, not NYC.