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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To absolutely HATE New York

993 replies

GreetingsFromVenus · 10/01/2022 01:01

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?

OP posts:
SeeMyLanyardAndWeepBitch · 10/01/2022 07:35

@TheGoldenWolfFleece

I haven't been to New York as i suspect i would hate it as i find London to be exactly as you describe, dirty, overpriced, don't feel safe on the tube, there's always the feeling something could kick off. There's a huge homelessness and crime problem. I bloody hate London.
I'm the same whenever I visit London now. I l worked in central London for years and lived in zone 2 in my twenties when it was much safer than it is now, although not perfect then either. But I think when you are young you just accept that gritty element as part of city life.

As someone now in my 50s I loathe it. And it's definitely got much worse. The last couple of times I've been in central London for dinner, shopping, the theatre, meeting people for drinks or whatever - anything that involves being on the street or public transport at night especially, I have found myself in a constant state of anxious hyper-vigilance. So many people being loud, drunk and aggressive or just looking like they are up to no good. So many homeless, beggars, drunks and druggies everywhere.

I fancied going to Westfield Stratford City to do some shopping as I'd never been. Someone told me it's full of gangs hanging around with a general air of menace, loads of crime, shop lifting, bag snatching etc. Put me right off. Not my idea of a fun day out.

I do still love London but I am much more on my guard and very picky about what I will do and where I will go.

newyear1 · 10/01/2022 07:36

@Cameleongirl

My friend and her daughter (17) saw “Aladdin The Musical” a couple of weeks ago and it was amazing apparently. That might cheer you up.🤣
I've seen Aladdin in NY and it was great. I saw it again in London and the same actor was playing the genie. There was a lot of rustling and eating in the NY one though, perhaps theatre etiquette is a little more relaxed.

I also love NY and have been five or so times. For me, it's the energy and the skyline. We have tended to walk around as I agree that the subway isn't as nice as the tube.

Oneforthemoneytwo · 10/01/2022 07:38

I love New York. Get yourself down to the village and have a stroll The tenement museum is amazing. Wander round the meat packing district or SoHo . I quite like it round Gramercy and Chelsea too. The high line followed my brunch at the restaurant at the end ij the meat packing is good. Take the boat over to Dumbo in Brooklyn. Such a great city so long as you get away from the area around Times Square which is Leicester Square on crack

Thisbastardcomputer · 10/01/2022 07:38

I agree, I went in 1988 and hated it, I agree with everything you say, coupled with lots of IRA supporters and my mother speaking in the loudest poshest English accent you've ever heard, them looking daggers at us.

A friend went just before Christmas and said there was a huge rat problem.

Meadowbreeze · 10/01/2022 07:41

I last went in Oct 2019 and DD was 11 at the time. I'd been before for a couple of days in the summer and it was ok but I was quite shocked at the poverty, amount of homelessness and general social problems.
DD was actually quite scared of the subway and she isn't a snow flake. We live in a pretty rough part of London and we were both a bit scared. Stayed in Brooklyn and had fun shots at night. I wouldn't go back personally, although we did find the natural history museum amazing and much better than the London one.
Boston is much much nicer. It was actually what I had imagined NYC was going to be like.

LakieLady · 10/01/2022 07:41

I went twice in the early 80s and, apart from the museums and galleries, I really didn't like it. Noisy, dirty, crowded, expensive and full of rude people.

The galleries are amazing though. Even if you're not interested in art, the Guggenheim is worth seeing simply because it is such a fantastic building.

Having said that, I feel a bit the same about London, too. On the rare occasions I visit, I come back vowing never again.

risefromyourgrave · 10/01/2022 07:41

Get the tram over to Roosevelt Island, it’s a little oasis of calm.

Testingprof · 10/01/2022 07:46

@Ionlydomassiveones

It was better a decade ago.
I beg to differ. I was there 16 years ago and I didn’t like it either. Not necessarily for the reasons that OP mentions but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I wouldn’t go to NY to shop which is what the person taking me thought I’d want to do. I have done better shopping out in Miami.
unname · 10/01/2022 07:48

Where are you staying? I love NY but right now imagine it’s a completely different place. The news from there is enough to keep me away now.

Here’s an East Village restaurant that’s inexpensive and part of the “real” NYC in my mind. Ukrainian food and always had a great vibe. It’s still open www.veselka.com

mewkins · 10/01/2022 07:50

I've been a few times, at various different times of year. Spring is definitely the best. The last time I was there was around 12 years ago and I also felt the rudeness and the constant hassle to buy knock off shite depressing. It is definitely much worse than London for that.

It is also a stark contrast to the rest of the US which feels much friendlier.

I would go back though as it's always an eye opener.

MarleneDietrichsSmile · 10/01/2022 07:51

So many people on here saying they love NY and OP is a moaning Minnie…. Then they say they last visited 10, 20 or even 30 years ago Grin

It’s like me saying Barcelona is great fun and friendly. Yes it was, when I was there in 1996, 1999 and 2005

Not been since. I believe it changed a lot. There is more crime and anti-tourist demonstrations Shock

Lots of places have become unbearable, almost killed by tourism, such as Rome, Venice, Amsterdam, Barcelona etc.

I fully believe OP that her experience was awful. The pandemic has really affected NY. I personally would not go any time soon

It is funny though that OP is told off so much (by people who were there many years ago Grin)

Horriblewoman · 10/01/2022 07:51

I've been to new york a few times, most recently in November, and don't recognise your experience apart from it does seem to have got more expensive.

Where are you staying? What areas are you spending time in?

We walked pretty much everywhere, including from Brooklyn to Manhatten, and took the subway a couple of times, but the subway has never compared to the tube - it's always felt a bit underinvested in.

Meadowbreeze · 10/01/2022 07:51

Just to add, if you can get yourself a bit out of NYC, they have absolutely incredible nature. We went up to Warwick and surrounding areas and I was shocked at how beautiful it was. The lakes, trees, hills. It was a world away from NYC.

Westfacing · 10/01/2022 07:52

He then shouted “No tippers coming through!” when she walked out.

This made me laugh Grin

It should be remembered that in the US tips are expected, and are shared with backroom staff, so it's not just the waiter who would be affected.

YourenutsmiLord · 10/01/2022 07:53

You sound like a Florida person, OP, not a NY person. Florida doesn't have much appeal to me apart from the flora and fauna.

The US has amazing fauna - don't know much about the flora, though the desert areas are fascinating. But fauna - elephant seals you can almost touch, pelicans, we counted 30 species of birds from our room window in Florida - black bears in the north, moose (s), and no one talks about it.

mowly77 · 10/01/2022 07:53

YABVVU in my opinion but obviously you’re entitled to your own opinion! Have lives in NY and love it and miss it. All the tourist sights you mention are a load of shit, yes. January is the worst month to visit. Apart from February. Go somewhere off the beaten track. Grand Central Station has a touristy but lovely oyster and seafood bar. And a cocktail bar upstairs. Go to Queens. Amazing Korean spas. The Bronx for Italian food.

PS Florida sucks

SeeMyLanyardAndWeepBitch · 10/01/2022 07:58

It’s like me saying Barcelona is great fun and friendly. Yes it was, when I was there in 1996, 1999 and 2005

Not been since. I believe it changed a lot. There is more crime and anti-tourist demonstrations

Funnily enough i didn't particularly rate Barcelona either. Been twice, too many gangs of aggressive beggars and pickpockets harshing my mellow. Don't need that sort of hassle. Although increasingly, London suffers from that too now.

malificent7 · 10/01/2022 07:59

Sounds very like my recent visit to Stokes Croft in Bristol...however I enjoyed the gritty city vibes so would prob like NYC!

whiteroseredrose · 10/01/2022 08:00

I think its all about the planning and research.

We went to NY as a family in 2014 and loved it. I'd spent ages finding things to do for DC and for us. One highlight was a TV and Film Sights Coach Tour - they had TVs on board to remind you before you got off and saw for yourself. We loved Central Park (summer though) and ate at the Stardust Diner afterwards.

We all want to go back as there was so much still to see - including the Tenement Museum, Brooklyn and a Harlem Gospel Choir.

DH went with his mum a few years previously and wasn't impressed - but they just walked around expecting it to come to them.

AuntieMarys · 10/01/2022 08:02

I love NYC....last went 2 years ago and been about a dozen times. Yes it's expensive...but I lived in London for 30 years so knew that. Every time we go, we explore a new area and avoid the touristy bits. Times Square is dreadful! Love Greenwich Village and Brooklyn, and the public library.
I love planning our itinerary each trip and finding unusual/ quirky things to do.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 10/01/2022 08:02

I loved nyc and felt fairly safe - we were with our 9 yo and 5 yo dtds. I loved it to visit but Chicago was my favourite. I could see myself living there, which is strange as it’s supposed to be a dangerous city. I hate Paris though.

kookievee · 10/01/2022 08:03

I've been a few times.

I'm vegan so always followed veggie guides to find good places to eat for me and found some great places and reasonably priced as they were away from the rip-off areas.

I'd not have visited in January though. If you want the cold December is way better as so pretty!

Tal45 · 10/01/2022 08:03

@purplepaintedpineapple

I agree - did 5 days there as part of an east coast tour - Washington is much nicer. So much to do there and all the museums and the zoo are free.
I find cities in the US generally depressing, the gulf between rich and poor was shocking even years ago. I found Washington worse than NY though, there was a guy begging even INSIDE maccy D's. I offered to get him some food and he said he didn't want food as he had no teeth. I declined to give him money for drugs.
kookievee · 10/01/2022 08:03

I've been a few times.

I'm vegan so always followed veggie guides to find good places to eat for me and found some great places and reasonably priced as they were away from the rip-off areas.

I'd not have visited in January though. If you want the cold December is way better as so pretty!

drpet49 · 10/01/2022 08:06

I visited 10 years ago and it was overrated back then.