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 never get that either. Films are stories. Fairytales. Not real. If you go anywhere do your own research. Make sure you go and see what suits you in full knowledge of what it’s really like.

My parents felt like this - but they are country folk who hate all cities. Surprised you live on edge of London. I love NY I think its more "fun" than London - but perhaps partly because I've only been there on holidays. But it is a bit city with something for everyone so why not just do whatever you normally do at home / in London that you enjoy? i.e. don't feel you need to do specific tourist checklist.

I love almost all cities I’ve been to — Paris, San Fran, Rome, Florence, Madrid, London etc — so it’s not because I’m a country bumpkin that I don’t like NY. It’s just, to me, got a hard and cold atmosphere and it’s nothing like I expected. I have never seen that level of homelessness and people with severe mental illnesses who should be receiving medical help in any other city, either. The lack of a real security net for the vulnerable is really stark in NY. And I also found most of the sights underwhelming.

@BurbageBrook
You chose the wrong sights then. We have always found NY has something to offer. I cannot see why the Chrysler building would be underwhelming? Or walking back to Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge? Or seeing the art in MoMa or the American art section of the Met? Or walking the High Line? There is the iconic trip to the Statue of Liberty and fantastic walks around SoHo with cafes on every corner. Why would you think any of them was underwhelming?

As for Battery Park, that isn't much more than any town's local recreation ground.

Maybe you had your back to the great views?

@ChampagneLassie why would you fly across the world to do the same things you enjoy doing at home?

@MuddySnowflake

Ok, the Nescafé Gold comment from the OP makes me think she must be trolling us.

OP: when you go on holiday, it is your responsibility to make the most of it, plan and research interesting things to do.

This reminds me of a wise saying my mum often says: ‘when you travel, you take yourself with you’.

If you’re a boring grump at home and you’re not interested in very much, I’m afraid New York won’t be your cup of Nescafé Gold.

(This hits hard because I would LOVE to be in NYC right now and it makes me sad that someone is there not appreciating it!)

I do sincerely hope your trip improves though. Do follow some of the many helpful suggestions given by other posters.

“when you travel, you take yourself with you”

...this is amazing, thank you for sharing, it puts into words exactly how I feel about certain negative nancies I’ve had to travel with in the past.

I adore NYC too, and cannot fathom someone not enjoying it!

@AllThePogs I mean, I go to the supermarket at home but I LOVE going to the supermarket on holiday. A foreign supermarket is like catnip to me. I always come back loaded down with interesting foody stuff.

I think @ChampagneLassie is trying to say don't try and be someone you're not? So if you normally love hiking, then why not hike on holiday (or walk the perimeter of Manhattan, or the marathon route, or whatever) as opposed to making yourself walk around museums you'd never go to at home because you don't like museums.

What I love on holiday is seeing something amazing or different.

@allfurcoatnoknickers

But surely if several of the world’s iconic museums are in NY you might just find something interesting in one of them? I always recommend the Tenement Museum for example. You can dip into the big name museums to check out what interests you. If people don’t really like what NY has to offer, why go? It’s not difficult to research highlights and see what you think is of interest to you.

I’ve not been to Battery Park. I preferred walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. I’ve enjoyed lots of hidden gems but you have to do your research. I’m left wondering what city the OP would like?

One activity that I think is really fun is the stage door tour at Radio City Music Hall.

www.rockettes.com/christmas/experiences/tour/

You get to see the costume rooms, all of the lighting and mechanicals, etc. You even get to chat with a Rockette.

Loved New York when I was there. I must confess we did a huge amount of planning before we went and researched areas to stay and eat and I do think this made our holiday very sucessful.

We did spend a good bit on food but that was at high end places we wanted to try but also found excellent low cost restaurants nearby and it would have been very easy to eat quite cheaply. You just need to avoid places aimed at tourists or around Time Square in my experience.

The only place we came across beggars was on Broadway and near Time Square and they did not approach us. We noticed they tended to target the people who either were wearing clothing with New York written on it or holding maps etc. We found that by walking confidently we were left alone.

I honestly can every local we met were lovely and could not be more kind. To be honest I was quite surprised at how kind they were to tourists. Small things like when we walked into Grand Central a businessman warned us that someone had spilt coffee and the floor was slippy to people coming in the door. A couple in another restaurant advised us to split a starter and not to order sides in another restaurant as the portion sizes were huge but the staff had to make you think they would be small.

Admittedly, this was pre covid but I would return to New York in a heartbeat.

I agree 100%. I went in April, October and April again with work

It is dirty. It is noisy. It smells. It all looks the same.

Walked over Brooklyn Bridge- it was windy and dirty.

Highline- what the ACTUAL fuck is it with that? It's just a very narrow park.

Central Park. Why bother when we have beautiful parks in London?

Shops. Nothing as beautiful as Harrods.

It was all just so horribly urban. I come from Gorton in Manchester and it reminded me of that.

Good things- The Tenement Museum, Arturio's pizza, Magnolia bakery, Washington Square area was OK.

London is just a million times better.

@TizerorFizz I live here (NYC) and I love museums! I go to museums wherever I can. I've been to the Tenement museum many times.

My point was sort of a reverse because I hate hiking and even if I was near a famous hiking trail wouldn't want to go hiking because I hate it IYSWIM. Being on holiday wouldn't suddenly make me be in to hiking.

I hate the trains in London but loved the subway in New York, it was so cheap at the time for a weeks pass, $30 I think about 6 years ago? Loved Central Park, especially the zoo, and how cheeky the squirrels were, found Times Square fascinating (who needs to go to H&M at 2am?!), made the most of a City Pass and loved every attraction except the Guggenheim (call me uncultured but it was crap!).

Grand Central station was beautiful, we enjoyed both Empire State building and Top of the Rock but did one by day and one at night to get the best overall view. Walked the Brooklyn bridge, visited South Street Sea Port and got tickets to a Broadway show there, and ate at great places like Ellen's Stardust diner, Katz's deli, and Carlos's bakery as well as grabbing the odd mammoth pizza slice!

Actually spent less than I thought I would, surprisingly! Shopped at Macys and Bloomingdales among other places but didn't go mad.

Ive only ever been to NY and San Francisco in America, and have to say it really saddens me to hear how badly both cities are struggling as I'd definitely have revisited both if I had the opportunity.

Thank you for these wonderful stories!! Wish I could send you all a bialy with a shmear!

@Movinghouseatlast

I agree 100%. I went in April, October and April again with work

It is dirty. It is noisy. It smells. It all looks the same.

Walked over Brooklyn Bridge- it was windy and dirty.

Highline- what the ACTUAL fuck is it with that? It's just a very narrow park.

Central Park. Why bother when we have beautiful parks in London?

Shops. Nothing as beautiful as Harrods.

It was all just so horribly urban. I come from Gorton in Manchester and it reminded me of that.

Good things- The Tenement Museum, Arturio's pizza, Magnolia bakery, Washington Square area was OK.

London is just a million times better.

Urban? It’s a city. That’s what urban means. If you wanted suburban or rural then don’t visit a city!

I honestly think some people are destined to be constantly disappointed if they complain that a major city like New York is ‘too urban.’ It would be like going to Rome and saying ‘it was just a bit Italian.’

I do love London, but if you go places with this ‘nothing as beautiful as Harrods’ and ‘nothing beats beautiful London’ nonsense then you won’t enjoy it. It isn’t London. It’s not going to be the same as London.

Well worth a visit I suppose. I haven't been for years and have only spent about 10 days there during 3 stop offs when in transit.
Dirty, violent, dangerous, vulgar and expensive. Prostitutes and drug sellers and beggars accosting me on the streets, some stroppy and unhelpful locals, it was quite an experience. Lots of locks on the hotel room doors. I have had people rattling the door at night trying to get in!
I was not travelling 4 or 5 stars, but had OK hotels and was not short of cash. It was the worst US city I have ever experienced, but I have always been glad I saw it.
I would never visit on holiday but I am sure if you were well funded it must have a good side to it. Not for the old or retired. I went in the summer and also the autumn. Winter must be terrible!!

Those who loved it seem to have had a fair bit of money to spend. Maybe you need to do that for it to be fun?

@AllThePogs

Really not in my experience. Obviously I wouldn’t recommend going if you’re absolutely broke without a penny to spend - in that case I’d say most holidays will be a bit miserable as everyone likes to treat themselves a bit on holiday!

But there are many things to do for free/at a reasonable budget. You just need to cut your cloth accordingly. We made pack ups for the kids on day trips to save money (and because my son has a very restrictive diet so it saved us schlepping from place to place trying to find something he will eat) and some of the more lovely days we had were actually not expensive at all.

Of course it depends on your expectations as well. If you want to buy souvenirs and complain that they cost $10 well I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t think that’s extortionate for a souvenir and if it is you could easily just take a photo!

It’s all about what you make of it in my opinion. Look up reasonable eateries, check prices beforehand rather than complain afterwards, use chain places, make pack ups. Many ways to enjoy yourself without tons of money!

Shops. Nothing as beautiful as Harrods.

Not only not as beatiful as Harrods, but Macy's was a profound disappointment. I was expecting Selfridges or John Lewis at the very least. It felt more like Debenhams.

Regarding those 'rude, ignorant' locals, we have a saying in the US:

“If you run into an asshole in the morning, you ran into an asshole. If you run into assholes all day, you're the asshole.”

(As said by Raylan Givens in Justified)

It's 28 yrs since I went but I absolutely loved it. I used 'Brits Guide to NY' which suggested walking itineraries. Katz Deli, tenement museum, library, Grand Central Station and an evening in Grenwich village where we had a meal at a cosy little restaurant followed by a jazz show were highlights which I won't forget.

I visited New York nearly 20 years ago so I appreciate it's a very different era to now. However, I think with New York and other major cities, one of the reasons I love them is because of the cultural and historical elements. Yes Central Park isn't going to magically put on a tree show for you but it's a park which has featured in so many iconic films and TV shows, is referenced so much, has cultural points of interest within it and is the site of John Lennon's murder.

Equally, the statue of liberty might not be as big as it looks in your mind but it's The Statue of Liberty. Not a copy but the statue of liberty, that's significant to the history of New York and the US and again featured in so many iconic cultural moments.

So whether it's not as pretty as you thought it might be, there's no denying the significance of the areas/street signs/buildings. If that's not what interests you then maybe that's what's missing?

@me109f
How ageist of you! We are well into our 60s. We really have no issues with NY but we work out what we want to see and avoid some areas.

As for urban areas being dirty as described by @Movinghouseatlast: what a strange post. I strongly suggest avoiding Delhi and quite a few other Asian cities. If you don’t value other experiences in cities I suggest you don’t go. As for the Harrods comparison!? Have you ever been in an upmarket store in NY? Most Londoners now avoid Harrods so I’m assuming you have only visited as a tourist!