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?

People are mostly mirrors. You don’t see them as they are but as you are. I’ll accept the occasional person is just a dick but if it’s everyone, then it’s you

Spot on, and surely the only explanation for why some of us have such a great time and others damn an entire nation as rude
With the one exception of Scotland I've travelled most of the world and found nothing but friendliness and good manners wherever I've been

Appropriated objects from elsewhere are hardly interested because by being moved to the middle of NY they've lost all historical context and significance

For pity's sake don't ever go to Forest Lawn in LA and see the fake Michelangelo statues and the excruciating "LastSupper" presentation - you'll probably self-combust!!

Apart from US Immigration who are a special breed of arsehole I didn't find New Yorkers particularly rude and many people were kind and took pride in their city and helping a stranger.

People in Los Angeles tend to be relentlessly positive and dish out compliments but unsettling though it is to a so-called negative English person, it's not fake, it's just their way.

And I have also been astounded by the courtesy and friendliness of most people in other parts of the US. They're known for many things but rudeness is not one of them.

For pity's sake don't ever go to Forest Lawn in LA and see the fake Michelangelo statues and the excruciating "LastSupper" presentation - you'll probably self-combust!!
Or the Parthenon in Nashville 😬

Or the Parthenon in Nashville

Oh dear
Tennessee is one of the few states I've never visited, but now I'm desperate to go - especially as it seems that, not to be outdone, Memphis have a pyramid!!

Exactly how I felt about it when I was there … in winter though so that may hade contributed to the ills. Rude store attendants, not very nice locals either. I couldn’t stop comparing the services here in England to theirs.
Will I return? Yes cos my 8yr old daughter wants to.

I love New York. I find it feels safer than London, although it has been 3 years since we were last there so maybe it has changed since Covid. Central Park is lovely in the spring and Autumn. I have been when its very cold and rainy then its not so good but then neither is a park in England when its raining. Its exciting and vibrant. You dont get ripped off on taxi from airport as there is a standard price that is well advertised as taxi rank.

@Puzzledandpissedoff I’m clearly uncultured because I thought the Nashville Parthenon was way better than the Elgin Marbles. You MUST go!

Trust me, LakeShoreD, if I'm in the area I most certainly will

It strikes me that we could do with a few nice links to truly ghastly "attractions" in the US, since for a nation who do this kind of thing so well it's cheering to find that even they can mess it up
I can't really improve on the horror of Forest Lawn's chapel presentation, but there is this ... preciousmomentschapel.org/

Fantastic, it’s going on my list should I ever visit LA!

I've been to NY twice in mid-noughties, first time it was September (still quite hot and humid) and the second time was in January. I am from Scandinavia though so it didn't faze me at all.

My then fiance, now DH used to live there before we met so knew his way around. On both occasions we stayed in Soho which I loved. I've never been to Times Square apart from driving through it in a cab. Never visited any other "must do" sights either unless you count the Grand Central station and the flagship Macy's . We just loved mooching there and meeting DH's old colleagues for dinner etc.

On our second trip we also bought our wedding bands from the iconic 5th Avenue's Tiffany & Co. It was such a lovely experience, the sales lady couldn't have been nicer and more patient. We were bedraggled from the January wind and snow so weren't looking particularly posh. The whole experience was so charming, it's a lovely memory now.

On another note, I'd love to go again this year and take our DC with us (11 and 14). I have a milestone birthday and we'd be going in October half term. Those in the know, would it be a good time to go? Would there be lots of Halloween stuff going on?

Whilst at uni 30 years ago, my then boyfriend did lots of travelling all over the US as most of his family live there. He did Camp America for a few summers to see different places and NY was top of his list. He arrived and managed to stay 2 nights. Said it was the most awful, dirty, aggressive, scary, smelly place he'd ever been. The day he was leaving (he'd cut his planned long weekend there short) he was mugged in plain view middle of the day with witnesses galore at the greyhound station/stop. And it wasn't a quick grab and run - there was a long struggle, he put up a good fight, everyone literally stood and watched.

To this day he says it was the biggest disappointment of visiting a place ever.

YABU - I hate cities but I absolutely loved NY.

@UglyModernWindows October is an amazing time to visit! I'm not sure when half term is? All of the proper Halloween stuff happens the week before the 31st, but there will be Halloween decorations etc. up before that in many places.

Honestly, Hallloween in NY is the best, you can go trick or treating in the shops and they give you loads of swag. DS got candy from a witch in DvF and the wine shop we're hanging out free glasses to the beleaguered parents . Very different to the UK as it's a proper cultural moment here.

@allfurcoatnoknickers October half term is the last week of October. We'd be flying back Oct 29th.

Sounds amazing, I'm defo loving the free wine concept . My DC love Halloween so they'd love all the buzz around it! Not to mention free candy!

@UglyModernWindows You'll probably miss the real trick or treating but there will be loads of Halloween themed stuff happening that week! Definitely Halloween decorations in the shops etc. Chelsea Market always does a great display and the Business Improvement Districts (ie Bryant Park and Meatpacking) always go all out.

It'll be chilly, but not uncomfortably cold. DS was running around with just his costume over his clothes and was fine. Autumn is, IMHO, the best time to visit. You'll have so much fun!

@allfurcoatnoknickers Thank you so much! We'll be perusing the hotel and flight offerings tonight !

As a family we've also been to Orlando, San Diego, Santa Monica and Las Vegas. Don't remember ever having anyone being rude. Indifferent maybe but not rude. So many been very friendly though. The retired navy personnel at USS Midway in San Diego were so so charming. We also had a very helpful check out assistant in one of the drugstores, insisting on flicking through the coupon leaflet trying to find out the best saving for us .

Parisians on the other hand... apart from some exceptions, they are scary! I reckon they just smelled my fear and couldn't help themselves .

NY has beautiful architecture. I agree with PPs that you need to visit in spring or summer for the experience to be more pleasurable.

A lot of places in the US appear to be massively overpriced ATM though (I assume it's worse in tourist locations), as in 6 USD for a latte at a market stall . I have no idea why.

Parisians on the other hand... apart from some exceptions, they are scary! I reckon they just smelled my fear and couldn't help themselves

That made me smile @UglyModernWindows I actually find the dripping condescension from Parisians as part of the charm of being there, particularly when speaking to them in badly constructed and accented French. They are simply unable to hide their disdain

LOL at all Americans being rude. In my vast experience they are some of the friendliest folk on the planet... Even New Yorkers!!

I went 2 years ago just before Xmas - but not before the rockerfeller lights switch on. It was Black Friday weekend.
I loved it and I was someone who had absolutely no interest in going. It was a surprise from hubby.
We did a food tour in the meat packing district, the rockerfeller, cycled Central Park, walked Times Square, walked the high line. We did a tour of the bridges cheap by getting the east river ferry from Wall Street right through. That was lovely and we just grabbed a few beers on the ferry and chilled. Saw liberty on the free Staten Island ferry.
We didn’t go on a shoe string but made our money last so we could enjoy beers . We didn’t really do any meals our, just because breakfast one day was crazy filling, and the day we did the food tour of Chelsea market we were equally stuffed. So just grabbed bar snacks.
Would go again absolutely

The vibe was great, yes some locals weren’t interested in us but others were lovely.
The architecture was lovely, a mix of old and modern buildings.
And I don’t know how to explain it but I just had a lovely feeling about the place

I live in NY in Brooklyn. I haven't lived here too long but I do think it feels more unsafe than when I lived in London. There does seem to be more people on drugs here and I have witnessed a few random attacks from clearly paranoid people on the subway to innocent bystanders. I used to get the tube/bus late at night in London regularly but here I would avoid it tbh.

I think you can find fantastic NY where people are pleased to see you and are helpful. Anyone working in a museum for example. We much prefer staying in SoHo. More laid back. More of a neighbourhood vibe.

Subway is horrible and old fashioned. Real time train info isn’t universal. Of course druggies are everywhere. Just like sleeping in doorways is common in London. Maybe they should all be rounded up like in a communist state? But it’s a fact you will see people you don’t like in cities.

Therefore: take cabs, be discerning and visit nicer places. Central Park is ok for a stroll but the Met Museum nearby is better! There are plenty of lovely buildings and experiences you can do which don’t involve talking to others much.

Food has never been cheap in NY. Taxes and tips add around 30%. So if you don’t do your homework, it’s a shock! However plenty of publications give great recommendations. Again, be discerning.

This is a long thread so haven't read everyone else's opinion. I've been three times, each time loved it a bit less. Completely over awed the first time, it gave me goose bumps because it was as if I'd already been there, portrayed of course in so many films it had a resonance. When I first walked out on the street it felt magical, like a forest of high rise buildings. My children were with us, they were quite young junior school age, now they are grown up I think that NY trip has always been etched in their memories, especially going up the Empire State and visiting the John Lennon memorial in Central Park. Back then I thought it was the most exciting place in the world I had ever visited. Last time we were there maybe 7 or 8 ago and it wasn't quite as I remembered it, I suppose nothing ever is. I didn't like Times Square hated the subway found parts of it over whelming, especially the heaving crowds and quite dirty, possibly my tolerance levels were different age does that, but parts of it no longer held the wow factor. My husband couldn't wait to get away from the place and swears he will never go back. I think in comparison to London, NY's parks are underwhelming, Central Park isn't a patch on many of the Royal Parks, I lived closed to Richmond and Bushy Parks for many years and they are both fantastic. As for Battery Park, that isn't much more than any town's local recreation ground.

I think for many years New York would have been considered amazing, America's place in the world being at the fore in so many respects, we naturally expect so much when we go there, but all sorts of places that wouldn't have even been considered cool places to visit, have eclipsed NY.

There are better places to go. Imho a lot of the USA is very overhyped. Why do we believe it really is like in the movies?