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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:
blisstwins · 10/01/2022 08:06

Tell me what you are interested in and I will help you. I am a native NEW YORKER. There are many problem with the city, but it is mostly lovely snd I am sorry you are having a negative exoerience

BurbageBrook · 10/01/2022 08:07

I didn’t like NY either OP and I like most cities. Found it to feel far more unsafe than anywhere I’ve been, including far more deprived countries. Homeless people everywhere, aggressive people, a cold atmosphere. Beautiful in Brooklyn and the Village but apart from that didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I expected.

PurpleFlower1983 · 10/01/2022 08:08

@Thisbastardcomputer

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.

Sadly you and your mum have gone at two bad bookends of time, it was a proper hell hole in the late 80s, early 90s.
OverByYer · 10/01/2022 08:09

I once had 24 hrs there in August due to missing my connecting flight.
I didn’t like it either. Dirty and loud.
Times Square, Empire State and Bloomingdales all underwhelming. Didn’t make me want to return.

PurpleFlower1983 · 10/01/2022 08:09

@thebastardcomputer

I meant your friend not your mum! Sorry!

babouchette · 10/01/2022 08:10

London is also expensive with a high number of homeless people, though.

New York is definitely better in the spring and summer, and then you're not so reliant on expensive indoor attractions/venues.

There are plenty of fun and cool places that aren't too pricey if you venture away from the likes of Times Square. Have you been down to Brooklyn? My favourite place to visit is Chelsea Market. The Tenement Museum is also amazing and would give you some of the social history of the place.

vivainsomnia · 10/01/2022 08:11

My experience was exactly the opposite. Had no interest in going, don't like big cities, crowds, busyness, went because my kids begged me and to my surprised I loved it.

It didn't seem overpacted like I feared despite being before Xmas. People were lovely and helpful. Love the buildings, central park and the atmosphere. Would love to go back and spend more time to explore more.

gobbledygoook · 10/01/2022 08:11

I went three weeks ago and loved it!! The whole city felt alive. Incredible architecture.

We only saw a few homeless the entire week, one of whom was the self appointed door man of a 7/11, we gave a dollar as thanks on our way out!

With regards to expense - did you not do your research? It's well known how crazily expensive it is, unfortunately for a touristy / popular major city it's how things are.

Central Park was amazing when we went, frosty and cold. Grabbed a hot chocolate and exploded, the boat house food was lovely too.

It just sounds like NY wasn't for you!

alienalan · 10/01/2022 08:11

I found it very spread out and difficult to know where to go. Bit like London when i first went there

Was hard to know where to go at night

rifling · 10/01/2022 08:12

Having grown up watching Cagney and Lacey I have always thought NY looks grim! Reading this thread, I think it was probably grim in the eighties, got a bit better and is heading for grimness again.

Pikaso · 10/01/2022 08:13

I felt safer in New York than I did in Los Angeles. Hollywood was frightening and Venice beach at night was terrifying.

I don’t mind New York but it’s not my favourite place. There is so much more to America than the big touristy cities. Arizona, Nevada and the less travelled parts of California are beautiful.

C8H10N4O2 · 10/01/2022 08:14

the way Hollywood has portrayed New York is all smoke and mirrors

I've got bad news for you. Sussex isn't particularly like Midsomer Murders either.

Its a major city in a country without a social safety net coming out of a pandemic in January. You will find bad and good areas even in European cities where there generally is a social safety net.

Spring, early Fall or the run up to Christmas are good visiting times to NY, depending on the purpose of your visit. As with any other large city you also need to do your homework before you go for the good/bad areas.

I'm a Londoner and all my life I've heard people describe London as overpriced, rude, dirty with people on the streets by some visitors whilst others rave about it.

MsBananas · 10/01/2022 08:14

I’ve been to NYC many times. One of my favourite cities in the world.

I’ve only been once in deep winter, though, and found it gruelling in the cold.

To be honest, once I’d done the touristy stuff, I wasn’t that into Times Square and all the touristy stuff. I loved exploring Manhattan on foot and discovering different areas. Branched further out to Brooklyn and the other boroughs in later trips. It’s such an interesting place. I would have lived there in a heartbeat in my younger days.

But horses for courses. I hated Barcelona, and that’s a city people rave about.

ImInStealthMode · 10/01/2022 08:14

I love NY and have been 3 times, in November, December and May.

Obviously May was the most pleasant in that we didn't have to be wrapped up like Inuits every-time we went outside.

Highlights;

  • Cycle tour through Central Park stopping at points of interest
  • Food walking tour of China Town and Little Italy
  • Top of the Rock
  • a Knicks game at MSG
  • The Rockettes at Radio City
  • The Highline
  • A Sunday morning strolling through Greenwich Village
  • Pizza & a Karaoke Bar in Brooklyn
  • The Natural History Museum
  • Lunch at the Central Park Boathouse
  • Guided tour of Grand Central Station

I swore I wouldn't go to America while Trump was at the helm, so now planning to return for a few days maybe 2023 as DP has never been.

IWishIWasABaller · 10/01/2022 08:15

Op there is an Irish girl currently living in New York and she has opened my eyes to how great it can be ,she has loads of info on her Instagram on great places to visit that aren't mainstream tourist spots . Her name is livelavishlyblog , I never had an interest in visiting New York but I would now definitely consider it after following her a while and seeing her stories.

Phos · 10/01/2022 08:16

With you. It’s awful. Just another overcrowded polluted tourist trap.

RedHot22 · 10/01/2022 08:16

Pre-covid I traveled to the US a lot.
I love New York but have been many, many times so know what I’m doing, where I’m going, where to stay and where to eat etc. I’m usually alone.

My heart belongs in Boston though.
I feel like I’m home in Boston

CornedBeef451 · 10/01/2022 08:17

We went one February pre Covid and loved it!

I imagine post Covid there will be a lot more homeless people and other issues everywhere but particularly in the US.

We did only use the subway once and it was pretty horrible though so we just walked everywhere. Manhattan isn't that big really.

Sorry you're having a shit time though.

ImInStealthMode · 10/01/2022 08:19

Ps.. have also been to Florida and aside from the theme parks we were there for I found it a bit boring & soulless like one big tourist conveyor belt, plus parts of Orlando are certainly no cleaner nor safer than NYC.

RedHot22 · 10/01/2022 08:19

I walk everywhere!

narkyspirit · 10/01/2022 08:23

I went to NY one year at easter. its not much different to any other big city really, yes the homeless are a problem but if your near Times Square you will see a lot more of them as easy pickings. I had a car for one day with a driver not cheap but made viewing the sights much easier. I visited the ground zero site for about 1 hour the driver agreed a meet point and drove round the block until I appeared jumped in and off we went. Great place overall but I wouldn't go back, only because I don't like to visit places twice, if current partner expressed a interest I would go but only for a long weekend

2022HowDoYouDo · 10/01/2022 08:28

NY has really gone downhill. We went 20 years ago and it was nothing like you describe. Went again about 4 years ago and it was clear that rot was setting in.

suckingonchillidogs · 10/01/2022 08:29

I've been twice and absolutely loved it (although this was pre-Covid too). One of the few places that didn't disappoint and was exactly as I'd imagined - the steam coming up from the subway, pretzel venders, smell of hot donuts, big, brash and busy, I'd go again in a shot. Do a hop on/hop off bus tour, you learn loads (mainly not to stand up on the top deck or you'll get smacked in the head by low hanging traffic lights!). Also agree the Tenement Museum is great.

LaChanticleer · 10/01/2022 08:30

YABU. You’re clearly staying and eating in the wrong bits of the city. Get out of Times Square - it’s the pits. Go to the Met on a Friday night - free and one of the best art galleries in the world. Ditto New zyork Publuc Library - amazing and free.

ThanksItHasPockets · 10/01/2022 08:30

@MarleneDietrichsSmile

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)

Precisely. Lots of people telling OP that she’s been a moaning little provincial based on their week in the city in June 2015. The city has had a terrible time in the pandemic. It is more accurate to compare with those who knew the city in the 90s before Giuliani’s aggressive clean-up. Homelessness is currently at a level not previously seen since the Great Depression.

Depending on how much longer your trip is OP I agree with those who have suggested you cut your losses and explore elsewhere. Go to Boston or travel upstate.