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?

My experience of NYC a few years ago, with young children, was great. We had so many great encounters with locals. We watched some softball teams practicing in Central Park and when the players saw the interest my DC took they gave them each a ball. A woman on the subway train offered my grizzly toddler a banana from her shopping! Lots of people gave us directions, including one of those Jehovah's Witnesses handing out leaflets at a subway station.

The art museums are amazing, especially the Met, MOMA, and the Guggenheim.

I absolutely loved the gritty urban vibe. We even had fun buying a buggy for the aforementioned toddler in the Target in Harlem!

Agreed re tipping - it's part of everyday life and their average pay and they expect it. For a tourist not to factor this in, is not good of them.

The idea that the customers pay the wages of the staff is one of Capitalisms great swindles.

@GreetingsFromVenus You clearly aren't going to the right places if you think the coffee is NCY is horrible.

For good coffee in the city head to Birch Coffee, Coffee Project, La Colombe, or Intelligentsia.

People don't really drink instant coffee in the US (because its truly terrible) so you might just not like the real deal? Maybe head to a store and see if you can pick up Nescafe gold, I believe it's sold in the US too.

I have lived in both London and NYC and the both cities have their good and bad points. You are visiting the city in winter and in the middle of a pandemic, I am not sure what you expected but it would have been far better to have gone in the Spring when the city is alive and in bloom. I was just in NYC a few weeks and did not have the same issues you are having. Everyone was nice and helpful, the food was great and I certainly did not smell weed everywhere we went. I am not sure what you expected from The World Trade Center, its a business center. Did you not look it up prior to going? Are you confusing it with the 9/11 memorial and museum?

I would try to have a bit more of a positive mindset and your experience might just change.

YABU
It’s an endlessly interesting city but probably not if you stay midtown and just visit the big name sights. Times Square is truly awful.
Walk, explore and get to Harlem ( take the bus to The Cloisters and enjoy the ride), Brooklyn ( lovely neighbourhoods to wander) and Queens. Pay what you can nights at museums are the most fun. It’s what you make it and I’ve had some of my most memorable times there.
I do think tourists not tipping is a bit obnoxious. If you travel, you need to adapt to local expectations and not shortchange waitstaff. It’s their livelihood. It’s tight, not a stand against capitalism…

Nescafé Gold. Is this thread real?! 🤣🤣

All this makes me want to go to New York again ❤️❤️❤️❤️

@User135644

Agreed re tipping - it's part of everyday life and their average pay and they expect it. For a tourist not to factor this in, is not good of them.

The idea that the customers pay the wages of the staff is one of Capitalisms great swindles.

Why, though? When you think about it.

The idea that the customers pay the wages of the staff is one of Capitalisms great swindles.

Oh this is bonkers - what do you think you’re paying for when you pay for a meal? You’re paying a proportion of th

@LaChanticleer

The idea that the customers pay the wages of the staff is one of Capitalisms great swindles.

Oh this is bonkers - what do you think you’re paying for when you pay for a meal? You’re paying a proportion of th

I always tip but the tip should be that - a tip. Not wages.

Oops fat fingers

When you pay for a meal in a restaurant, You’re paying for a proportion of:
The rent
The running costs
Staff wages

And so on

The food is but a small part of the cost!

Cannot wait for a cup of Nescafé Gold when I get home.

Well, if that’s your idea of good coffee … there’s no hope really.

Hilarious. Maybe just stay in your comfortable suburbia, OP.

I have to say, the High Line won't be fun in January either. It's glorious in the spring and summer, but it'll just be sleepers and winter foliage dead shit

I worked in New York and lived in Brooklyn. It’s absolutely amazing but also filthy!

I loved every single day in New York there is always so much to do. On a cold winters day how about afternoon tea at the Plaza followed by a film at the Paris cinema and then downtown for cocktails.

I agree, OP. Went a few years ago and was SO disappointed. It had been built up by family and friends to be utterly wonderful, but it was so far from that.

I wasn't impressed with NY either when I visited. Immigration were rude (and racist). I found the whole place quite behind the times if I'm honest. There was a weird vibe and in the cafes and diners, the waiters literally looked like they had stepped out of 1977 Saturday Night Fever. Fashion wise, shopping was not a patch on London.

I went pre pandemic and was disappointed it was as you described. I live in London so used to the tourist trap (I think) but NY was an absolute rip off, the worse food I’ve ever had. We went off the beaten track I researched/planned our trip. I love the shows and even in winter I loved Central Park. But NY was a huge let down. To enjoy NY you have to me mega rich. People of NY were the rudest ever and in the end we found it hysterical.

🤣🤣🤣 crying, this is why I keep coming back to Mumsnet, Nescafe Gold Blend, I feel like I've time travelled back to 1993.

OP, could you be anymore stupid, little friends ref there for ya seen as you're in New York and being all 1990's with your Nescafe n'all! Seriously though I feel sorry for you as it is a big and expensive trip for most, but what were you expecting, we're still in the midst of a global pandemic and a cursory Google would tell you the US has been hit really hard. Also doesn't matter that your birthday is in January it's still a terrible, terrible time to go to a city in the Northern Hemisphere. Madness.

I think it's unfortunate you're so familiar with London though, as you will probably come to the conclusion which I have that London really is one of the best cities in the world. It's
also very, very clean and feels a lot safer in comparison to many cities I have visited.

That said I LOVE New York, but I agree some of the touristy things aren't amazing but kind of have to be done, it's great that you're there for longer and can do some of the more interesting things which have been suggested on here, but I just think COVID is going to impact it massively.

I've had some amazing food in New York, I expect you're ot researching properly and going to touristy places possibly or it could be COVID.

I liked it but it is a dirty city especially the subway. Food was nothing special but I found most people over friendly that it seemed fake

London really is one of the best cities in the world. It's also very, very clean and feels a lot safer in comparison to many cities I have visited.

I love the city of my birth and I think, like NYC, it can be fab (but also like NYC has issues), I wouldn't say it's one of the best cities at all, nor super clean. Perhaps better and cleaner compared to some places and of course it's all subjective and down to personal taste.

Now if you want clean, Tokyo's the place to be. Fantastic place too. Well worth a visit (when Japan lets us in again).

I just think COVID is going to impact it massively.

Agree with this.

I've only been once but, after London, it's my favourite city. Admittedly it's almost certainly not at its best at the moment but usually it is the most vibrant cool place to be. I loved how it matched up with so many films and TV shows. I loved the history and the culture. We went to shows and saw the sights and there was never a dull moment. I'd gladly go back there every year.

That is a good point. When you buy a piece of clothing, you aren't just buying fabric, you're buying labor, shipping, design, advertising, and a whole lot of other things. It's a whole process that gets a piece of clothing into a store.

There is amazing food in New York that is interesting and cheap, but you aren't going to find it in Times Square. Lazy tourists get lazy results.

I went to what I read is one of the best Italian restaurants in New York. The food was amazing.
But at the time, I though San Francisco had a better restaurant scene.

Went to NY over 25 years ago. Stayed with a local (went with uni friend from states) in Greenwich Village.

Loved MOMA.

Every morning went on a hunt for the best bagel in town. Loved walking around different areas- all with their distinct character.

Listened to jazz musicians in small Greenwich Village bars. Seemed like hidden treasures.

Humongous Chinese meals (only ordered for two). Was a relatively poor student so didn’t eat anywhere fancy.

Crisp autumnal walks in Central Park.

Somewhat awed by the well built gun toting police officers (both male and female).

Loved the city vibe. Perhaps as others have said- difficult to enjoy in a pandemic.

Like many big cities, New York food is best at the cheap end and the expensive end. The middle ground is for tourists and suckers who didn't do their research.