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?

I find it really depressing actually and feel that the way Hollywood has portrayed New York is all smoke and mirrors.

In fairness if you expect a place to be like Hollywood protrays it, you are doomed to disappointment (or joy - depending). Very few Hollywood movies depict any part of Ireland even remotely accurately. And my guess is all people don't actually live in London like they do in films like Notting Hill or Four Weddings. Smoke and mirrors is the definition of Hollywood given that it is in the business of making entertainment.

@GreetingsFromVenus

@PrincessNutella when were you last in NYC that you haven’t been asked for money?

We were accosted 3 times in the space of 2 minutes by men asking for money coming out of the theatre last night. One told us he needed to get high. It was very intimidating despite the NYPD being everywhere and obviously not caring that tourists are being harassed on the street. Twice on the subway from Lexington Ave as well, before the theatre we remarked that we hadn’t been hassled as much today .

We decided to go into a deli rather than a restaurant last night and filled up plastic boxes with food to take out. One was just fruit, mine had no meat just veggies and quinoa (as I’m a veggie) and DD’s was only half full. Together with 2 fruit drinks, it came to $77 or £60! The woman was very aggressive when we argued and we ended up putting the fruit box back but it still came to $50. So the portion of fruit was $27! It is fucking rip off central. I’d be embarrassed to be an American to be frank.

Overjoyed to be leaving today! I will certainly not be recommending anyone come here.

I don’t know why people are constantly talking about it being January. I haven’t moaned about the weather once in my posts. It’s not the weather that’s the problem.

You really are miserable, aren't you?

If you would have looked I'm sure the price of the buffet bar was clearly marked as a specific price per pound. Nothing to do with what you put inside it. And then you argue with the poor sales clerk? I'm not embarrassed to be American, but you should be ashamed of yourself.

@Pallisers

I find it really depressing actually and feel that the way Hollywood has portrayed New York is all smoke and mirrors.

In fairness if you expect a place to be like Hollywood protrays it, you are doomed to disappointment (or joy - depending). Very few Hollywood movies depict any part of Ireland even remotely accurately. And my guess is all people don't actually live in London like they do in films like Notting Hill or Four Weddings. Smoke and mirrors is the definition of Hollywood given that it is in the business of making entertainment.

Compare Notting Hill to some realist drama set on a council estate... very different views of London! I've met Americans whose views of council estates are still based on the Thamesmead scenes in Clockwork Orange.

You can find films set in American cities that aren't all about the glitzy parts too.

I had some sympathy up until Nescafe gold blend and your last 2 posts.

I encounter tourists like you OP all year round, determined to be miserable and find fault in everything.

NYC is freezing in January, and yes it has been battered by the pandemic but to create a post about how much you hate it and can't wait to leave requires a special level of misery and a spectacular lack of imagination.

Had a fabulous time I think it depends where you base yourself and the areas you decide to go to at what times?
All major cities have homeless and beggars - it’s unfortunate but there it is.
I actually felt very self walking around and on the subway - you just need to be streetwise - again as in any major city

Oh, just to add, OP talks of "rude ignorant locals".

I went in better times, a few times, and people were lovely. I'm curious to know who these people are and what they did to OP! "Rude ignorant locals" just rings alarm bells generally. The closest I've seen to this in the US is "slightly aloof locals" who are maybe just having a bad day or sick of tourists. Downright rude and ignorant seems an odd thing to say.

Did you spend all your time in Manhattan? It's okay there but I've been there four times and spent time in all boroughs and it was amazing, but this was in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 and I think it's gone right down the pan. The US is currently undergoing something of a collapse and once fine cities are like big open looney asylum crack dens. Glad I went when I did. Wouldn't go again.

Oh my goodness! I felt compelled to reply to this. No you're right - it's crap!!! I am well travelled, went there alone to visit a friend who lives there. Was expecting the most incredible experience, but it was rubbish! Dirty, you couldn't get a decent meal for under $50, the tipping is absolutely ridiculous. There were so many homeless people, people shooting up on the streets in your face, everyone seemed really angry and not that friendly. The food was mediocre at best. And there was so little history compared to London. The buildings were all so big it felt menacing and like the place was coming in on you. I vowed never to waste my money again and did not get AT ALL how anyone could prefer it to beautiful, cultured, historic London. Go to Portland and Seattle instead - much cooler!

I LOVED New York!! But it was almost 20 years ago since I went there, gulp!!! But I do know people that visited in the 80's and 90's who described the same as you. I was under the impression, which may be wrong, that Major Guiliani cleaned up NYC by massively cracking down on crime. But I think the impact of this was just before I went. Someone else may well correct me if I am wrong about any of that. So if what you say is an accurate description it's really sad that it's possibly slipped back to the old days.

@EmmaH2022

Oh, just to add, OP talks of "rude ignorant locals".

I went in better times, a few times, and people were lovely. I'm curious to know who these people are and what they did to OP! "Rude ignorant locals" just rings alarm bells generally. The closest I've seen to this in the US is "slightly aloof locals" who are maybe just having a bad day or sick of tourists. Downright rude and ignorant seems an odd thing to say.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was the norm now myself. But I agree, when I went the people were lovely and that’s what made me enjoy New York so much. We were two single girls though and we met the loveliest people who took us into their groups, did karaoke, dined in Brooklyn with people from our hostel, and got put on the subway at 5am with a lovely fond goodbye. Some of the best times in my life.

Washington has one of the highest levels of crime and, in particular murders - I lived there for 2 years!
It’s a stunning city but no les secure than NYC

I agree. It’s overrated. I lived there in my early 20s. I’ve gone back to visit with my DC.

It’s dirty, difficult, brutal and expensive. All the things that made it famous have been surpassed by other cities now.

YANBU not to like it. No one can control your feelings. I've been twice both before Christmas. I loved it. Last time was 10 years ago though and I guess a lot gas changed. I live near Oxford and outside the theatre there is a permanent homeless camp.

Like someone else said I too went like 20 years ago, went twice and loved it. I wouldn't go for a holiday but a long weekend was great. But not sure I would want to be rushing back any time soon it has to be said and your experience confirms that.

We like NYC but do prefer Washington DC and Philadelphia. I have heard Boston is lovely too. Maybe try one of those next time? Also, what part of NYC are you staying in? Could make a difference…

I hated it too. Too busy and dirty. Loved Boston though and keen to go back there.

I love NYC. Been there about 10 times. Have read that it isn’t as nice as it was because of the pandemic. The museums are great. We love Jersey Mills Factory Outlet. So much to see and do!

Well, when you visit a failed country - no universal health care, constantly at war (rapaciously stripping poorer countries of their assets - OIL! and paying apartheid israel $4bn a year and with black people, in many areas, scared of their own 'protectors', the police, et al) what do you expect?

YANBU. It's an overcrowded, dirty, noisy hell hole where everyone is always rushing somewhere. Unbearably hot and humid in the summer, freezing cold in the winter, and shockingly expensive all year round.

@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?

OMG OP i could have written this, my hubby took me for my 30th a few years ago and i hated it. Literally felt on edge the whole time. Loads of mentally ill people/homeless, people singing /dancing crossing the road as if they were on a bloody film set...did my head in! There was also someone going around stabbing people on the subway at the time...so that unnerved me! I couldn't wait to go home. Not a city I would want to go back too, there are much nicer places to spend ypur holiday time!

TBF have any of you actually tried Nescafé Gold? I like my coffee (can’t stand filter though or have the patience to make it) and have tried all the more expensive stuff but that one is by far the best in terms of tasting fresh and aromatic, not bitter and like it came out of a drain!

Just got ripped off again when buying souvenirs to the tune of $10 (me) and $20 (DD). Obviously I was very naive to not expect this In one of the richest countries in the world!

... the portion of fruit was $27! It is fucking rip off central

Where the hell were you, Times Square??

Yes that was a rip-off - very touristy areas of London and other major cities can be the same - but what's wrong with turning a couple of corners and finding a much better place at a quarter of the price?

Just got ripped off again when buying souvenirs to the tune of $10 (me) and $20 (DD) why did you buy them then if you thought they were overpriced?

DD and DS went there five years ago (late December until the 1st Jan). They were staying very close to Times Square as DD wanted to be there for NYE. DS said he had never been so cold! DD loved it and wants to go back there in the summer. I have heard it has been hit hard by the pandemic, but I am sure it will bounce back!