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?

Even seeing it on TV makes me shudder. So noisy, so busy. Friends who aren’t hard up went a few years ago and ended up living on McDs because the restaurants were so extortionate.

@rosewater20 I respectfully disagree. I lived in the US for 3 years, my DH for even longer, so not basing this on one trip to Time Sq I promise! Maybe I had the wrong friends as yours sound great but amongst mine grim coffee pots were everywhere. We didn’t even have milk in the office, only half and half or weird flavoured creamers 🤢 Don’t get me wrong there were some great coffee shops I could have gone to instead, of course they exist, but they were expensive for every day and it was often too cold to willingly walk there.

Not sure what happened with the post there! Sorry about that!

oh my god will people stop whining about how expensive the food is! Do your homework! There are a gazillion cheaper places to eat, you can get a big pizza slice for like 3 bucks, bagels or subs for lunch, it's not that hard.

I just googled for like 3 seconds and found this:

www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/budget-nyc-eating/

That will keep you fed for a short stay easy.

YANBU!

@Angelil

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…

Look at some videos of Philly now on youtube.

I grew up in NJ; most recent visits to NY in 2011, 2013, and 2017 so pre-pandemic but not in another age altogether.

I very much get that this is the worst time of year to visit and also the city will definitely be suffering mid-pandemic. I'll allow for all of that.

By 2017 prices were ASTRONOMIC. $35 for two middling glasses of wine in an average place. $42 for a green salad with a bit of walnut and goat's cheese in, at a pizzeria. The prices are beyond belief and sucked the joy out of it for me. I missed out on the art museums in these trips but took the DCs to the Natural History in 2011 and it did not compare well to London. The taxidermy was hysterical. Maybe they've upgraded in 10 yrs tho.

Lots of the US is rundown overall and was long before COVID. Goodness knows what shape they're in now.

@Nanalisa60

I have not visited New York since 2014 and it was fantastic. I have been reading that a lot of USA city’s are really struggling since the pandemic, New York and lost Angeles being the worst. The gap between the rich and the poor is getting worse every year the middle classes are really struggling to keep up there standards of living. Remember there is no national health care and there social care is not great. I have traveled to the USA for the last forty years and the last few times I have seen the poverty and drug problems get worse and worse. The American dream is falling apart.

I agree with this. I went in 2010 and loved it. But there no definitely no harassing from beggers that I can remember ! I have heard Los Angeles in particular is a mess and that they are advising tourist not to visit.

I think America is good at convincing people especially its citizens it's the 'best country in the world.' In terms of health and social it's nowhere near the best. Employee rights are also shocking.

and fgs look at the prices of things before you buy them, it's like the tourists who go to cafes in Piazza San Marco in Venice and then freak out when they get charged 50 euros for two cups of coffee

If you go to tourist traps they will scam you, everyone knows this

January is a terrible time to visit NYC! Weather can affect how much we can appreciate a place- Central Park in late spring is a different place! I do agree about cost of meals- I used to live there and recently visited and was shocked how much prices have gone up (I live in London so not easily shocked). Also the homeless situation has become so much worse in the last decade and accelerated during the pandemic. NYC was hit hard.

Wow some people are getting quite defensive on here 😂

OP, it actually sounds awful! Being harassed and walking over pools of blood? No way. I’ve always wanted to go to NY at Christmas, to see the lights etc. now I don’t think I will xx

@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.

Doesn't sound far off to me.

I went to New York in January a few years ago, I hadn't actually wanted to go very much but a friend really did. Anyway I lived it. We were there 10 days and only got asked for money twice and I think I only felt nervous once. The sirens were crazy though and I agree about it being hard to sleep.

Anyway I think what you're experiencing is the effects of the pandemic, as others have said it's hit hard and people are out of work and desperate. Even where I live (sleepy ville in South West England) when I go to the neared big town to shop it feels somehow edgy.

I hope it gets better for you OP and sorry you're not enjoying it!

We didn’t even have milk in the office, only half and half or weird flavoured creamers 🤢

Half and half is half whole milk and half light cream. It's outstanding in coffee.

@dreamingbohemian

and fgs look at the prices of things before you buy them, it's like the tourists who go to cafes in Piazza San Marco in Venice and then freak out when they get charged 50 euros for two cups of coffee

If you go to tourist traps they will scam you, everyone knows this

Souvenirs are a ripoff. In other news, water wet, Pope Catholic.

You know OP, I'm very much a 'New York or Nowhere" person, but I totally get that it can be a bit marmite, but the reasons you hate it are really, really odd. I'm just a bit baffled as to what you were expecting? How did you think Central Park was going to look?! What TV show did you think it was gong to be like? Don't forget Carrie gets mugged in Sex and the City...

I'm so surprised about the immigration comments, my daughter visits all the time and never has a problem. Meanwhile as a US citizen I was treated like shit at the UK border. I guess it depends on who you get and how they want to wield their power.

Oh no NY is on my bucket list!.. I was watching a docu-series the other week where they visited NY and described it a grimy, dull and very misleading!

I guess this is the trouble, we see it through the eyes of TV, Hollywood and the glitter of holiday magazines.
But when yoy considered, a lot of people living in America cannot get medical help for there mental health, due to not having medical insurance.
I also believe that they don't have a great social health system, like we get benefits, I don't think they gey as much help, when you fall on hard times, (don't know, so don't hold me to this) then when get tourists coming to visit, the homeless, will think easy money.
Plus there is things such as cabs, who aren't registered, so can over charge and are very dodgy.
I guess at lot people are mabye priced out of affording, places to live due to 2nd homes etc.

I’m not a big fan. I been there once on holiday and had to travel there with work a lot in the past. There are many places in New York that are lovely but in general, I think it’s an overly hyped up place. I much prefer London.

Exactly @allfurcoatnoknickers

I don't expect everyone to love New York but a lot of the reasons given on this thread are silly or ignorant

Half and half is half whole milk and half light cream. It's outstanding in coffee.
I’m sorry I love America, I even like TSA, but you’ll never persuade me that stuff belongs in coffee

YANBU because you're entitled to your opinion and not everyone likes the same things. We went 3 years ago and absolutely loved it. Even it the August humidity. Yes, it's expensive but we stocked up on drinks and snacks in Target and there are cheaper (and better) places to eat. We loved getting around on the Subway and felt fairly safe most of the time. We were underwhelmed by Times Square - overpriced and people trying to rip tourists off. Not the friendliest place, but we knew that before we went; but a homeless person went out of his way to give us directions (and refused any money). I definitely want to go back (probably not in the heat of summer!) because there's so much more I want to see

Sweetheart go on a bus trip to woodbury common it is the outlet for a lot of the big stores www.sightseeingpass.com/en/new-york/attractions/woodbury-common-premium-outlets?aid=17&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8vSOBhCkARIsAGdp6RT6oVF9XSI5rHGC_wdn5LidtHA5YbZRent4aXDEBFc6mHYuMIGvJQYaAqe3EALw_wcB

I do want to add that we were totally overwhelmed the first night though and thought we'd hate it, but I think that was the flight/tiredness

It’s awful. And I tell you when is worse to visit, August. For 5 weeks. In Manhattan. With two children. Whilst your husband works out there (and loves it).

The heat, the smell. Traipsing round in 35 degree heat every day trying not to spend a small fortune. The people are rude and awful. So unfriendly and downright hostile sometimes. I cried a lot. And felt claustrophobic.

To be fair the kids loved it. And I just drank lots of wine (which I couldn’t even buy from a supermarket). Had to go to a bloody liquor store!