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?

If you go to New York to eat posh burgers, you are an idiot.

NY made me really appreciate how much London has to offer. I really didn't get NY, it was all 'meh' not much architecture, Central Park, yep it's a park, the tipping thing pissed me off, why would you tip for bad food and service and that was 15 year's ago!

The cab drivers in New York don't know everywhere, obviously the main things but not every hotel there are literally thousands. Give them a block and they will get you there.

Driving a cab is often a first job for new immigrants, so they may do it for a year while they settle in and then move on to a better position. It's not generally a long term career. I always give a cab driver the street and cross street rather than the destination, unless it someplace iconic, like Grand Central Station.

*JackieWeaver" there was a thread on the awfulness of LA here a few weeks ago.

It's hard to stomach the disparity between the wealth and the dire poverty that you see there.

@Ericaequites, the expected tip everywhere in the US is 20-25 percent.

I went in winter and I HATED the place. I went years later in the summer and LOVED it (went back for a wedding).

This took about 1 second of research and has all kinds of interesting cuisines, from Uyghur to West African:
ny.eater.com/maps/best-inexpensive-affordable-restaurants-food-nyc

Here is another article with some tasty suggestions (I agree with a bunch of them):
ny.eater.com/maps/new-york-city-iconic-dishes-restaurants

I’ve been to NY multiple times and at various times of year— I like spring and Autumn best— I always have a fun time but In all honesty I enjoyed California more and if I wAs a neutral tourist I would in all honesty prefer London . I’m not mega in to shows or museums so for just enjoyable walking round I think London is way more varied. I don’t like Florida much at all . Thing is OP , NY is one of those grubby but kind of ‘cool’ places, seen at its best I think in Brooklyn but if you don’t go for that kind of vibe then chances are it would never be for you.

@CurtainTroubles - 'there's very little history or culture'

In NYC???

One note about tipping, since it gets mentioned here a lot. Servers here share tips with the rest of the restaurant staff. Some places pool tips, then divide them up at the end of the night. In others, the server has to "tip out" a percentage of their sales to the busser, the bartender, the kitchen staff, etc. If you eat in a place that uses the tip-out method and don't tip or leave a very small tip, the server will actually lose money on your table.

Whatever you think of how it's done, it's really unfair to your server not to follow the local custom. A lot of places in NYC have started adding an automatic 18-20% gratuity to the check because the staff gets stiffed so regularly by tourists.

@MissConductUS

One note about tipping, since it gets mentioned here a lot. Servers here share tips with the rest of the restaurant staff. Some places pool tips, then divide them up at the end of the night. In others, the server has to "tip out" a percentage of their sales to the busser, the bartender, the kitchen staff, etc. If you eat in a place that uses the tip-out method and don't tip or leave a very small tip, the server will actually lose money on your table.

Whatever you think of how it's done, it's really unfair to your server not to follow the local custom. A lot of places in NYC have started adding an automatic 18-20% gratuity to the check because the staff gets stiffed so regularly by tourists.

Not only that but wait staff are presumed to receive tips for the purposes of the IRS so are taxed on tips whether they receive them or not. You can agree or not agree with the tipping system but it exists and refusing to tip in the US only stiffs the workers who serve you - it isn't sticking it to the man.

When we were very young backpackers, we had breakfast in a New York deli on our first day there. I think we left a tiny tip. The waitress gave us a bit of a bollocking and we have left at least 20% there ever since!

Venus: When is the last time I went to New York and was not asked for money? The last time I was in New York, which was a week ago. Maybe you How much would I spend for fruit in New York? There are fruit vendors on the street all over the place who sell four bananas for a dollar. I don't know what you're doing wrong in that deli, that sounds crazy. The problem with travel is that wherever you go, there you are.

I loved it. I’ve been in January and adored it. The christmassy feel is straight off a movie set, skating outside the rock, great sales. It’s got so much to see and do, history and cutting edge art and culture. Food scene incredible, read up and stay away from Times Square spots. Central Park is fantastic at any time of year. The poverty is really exacerbated by the pandemic sadly and more prevalent in certain areas so if that’s where your hotel is you will feel it more prevalent. But it’s ok not to like everywhere. I think San Fran is overrated personally.

It’s the middle of the afternoon and the temp is -7C here in NYC. The last thing I would feel like doing in this weather is exploring a new city so that may be colouring your view

I loved NY, went there 4 years ago and always thought I would go back in a heart beat. But after reading what has happened, lack of police, people moving out of the city, the homelessness, crime and the issues with rat infestation...............I will leave it. Just guess you pick the wrong time.

@PrincessNutella you'e making me soooo homesick with those restaurant lists ! I have dear friends in Manhattan & Brooklyn & I'm usually in NYC at least 2 or3 times a year for a mix of work/pleasure. I miss it terribly atm. I also work in DC and Boston - both lovely cities (I love DC!) but they're not NYC. It's like comparing London with Sydney or Moscow (all cities I know well).

As you say, for some tourists the issue is not the places, but that wherever we travel, we aways bring ourselves.

Frankly, if I had to choose between living in London or NYC, all things considered, I'd choose NYC. I choose to live in England, I'm a northerner and couldn't be far from the fells, but I'd never choose to live in London. Nice place (fabulous place!) to visit, and I'm there for work at least twice a month, but give me a provincial English county town (or Leeds). NYC doesn't dominate US politics and planning in the way that London dominates England and the UK more generally, in terms of resources and planning, to the detriment of the whole country.

dreamingbohemian I could give you a list of 20 reasons I hate NY on any given week grin, but Central Park is a Park and cheap filter coffee is a bit shit aren't two of them.

I wish people would think about how these complaints would sound if you switched them to London

'Hyde Park is meh, it's just a park'

'What's the big deal about Nelson's column, it's just a column with some dead guy on it'

'Leicester Square is full of drunks and beggars, London sucks'

'The Globe doesn't even have a roof, it's like a third world country here'

'I didn't queue for the bus and this lady screamed at me, what is with Brits and their stupid queueing'

I disagree. My experience was completely different. I was dazzled when I first saw Times Square at night. Met amazing people and had a fab time. I live in London so used to big cities and it reminded me of home but obviously on a much larger scale. It helps when you have amazing people you know there like I did to show you not just touristy places but how everyday people live. Going back this year and can’t wait!

Thanks for your post, NY never been high on my wish list, and you’ve confirmed how I feel!

@jobling

NY made me really appreciate how much London has to offer. I really didn't get NY, it was all 'meh' not much architecture, Central Park, yep it's a park, the tipping thing pissed me off, why would you tip for bad food and service and that was 15 year's ago!

I mean what did you think Central PARK was going to be if not a park? That’s saying Museum of Art? Just a museum with a bunch of art.

I still don’t get all the comments about Central Park It’s a large and well appointed park, just like Hyde Park or Regent’s Park (or even Hampstead Heath.) Surely like all of those it’s a nice place to walk around and experience a bit of calm in the middle of a hectic city? What were people expecting of a park?

People often get daft about parks in the middle of big cities, mythologise them. It's weird. Central Park is just that, a park. A nice big one. They're all just parks. Fine, great if a park is what you happen to want, nothing more.

Not sure where the feck you are hanging out in NYC but I’ve been 20 or more times and it’s one of the best cities anywhere. Absolutely bloody amazing.
I’d give you some tips of what to do and where to go but you seem set in hating it. You don’t like Central Park?? Seriously? Not one bit of it?? You’re a hopeless case.

@dreamingbohemian This thread just keeps on giving - the superior provincialism of some British tourists is just precious!