7 things that will annoy you in New York

I’ve been running this travel blog since 1999 and I’m a huge New York fan, but I’ll admit there are a few things about the city that can be pretty annoying. Here are my seven biggest New York pet peeves:

1/ Air conditioning turned way too cold

You’ll notice right away in New York: Americans love air conditioning. The problem is they like it really cold because it cuts down the humidity. So while it’s sweltering outside in summer, you’ll find arctic temperatures inside restaurants, shops, museums and observatories like the One World Observatory.
The same goes for the subway. The platforms aren’t air-conditioned, so you’ll sweat while waiting for your train. But once you’re inside the car, the AC is so strong you’ll be shivering. Tip: always keep a sweater handy. I’ve seen on the New York forum plenty of visitors who caught a cold or sore throat during their trip to New York.

2/ Garbage smells on the streets

If you suddenly catch a bad smell while walking through New York’s streets, you’re probably passing a trash bin. I’m not sure how the garbage collection system works here, but in certain parts of the city at certain times, you’ll want to walk faster. Especially since bags are sometimes just piled on the sidewalk. The Big Apple doesn’t always smell like roses.

3/ Taxes never included in the price

After countless trips to the United States, I still can’t get used to the practice of displaying prices before tax, whether in shops or restaurants. What’s the point when you have to pay the tax anyway? The problem is it makes purchases more expensive without you really noticing it.
In restaurants, the fact that the tip isn’t included complicates the final bill and forces you to do math. Here’s a tip to make life easier: look at the tax amount shown on the bill and multiply it by two to get the minimum tip you should leave. For more details, check out this page about tipping in New York.

4/ Public restrooms with huge gaps

Whether at the airport, in museums or in public places, you’ll notice that the doors on American public restrooms never fit properly, leaving visible gaps that make Europeans used to fully closed doors pretty uncomfortable.
To make cleaning easier, American public restroom doors are also cut very short, leaving your legs clearly visible from outside. I won’t even mention the one where the tile was so shiny you could practically wave to your neighbors. And don’t get me started on those amazing American toilets that swirl for long seconds before finally attempting to flush everything away. American restrooms are quite the experience!

5/ Drinks filled with ice

When you order a drink at a restaurant, bar or café, make sure to specify whether you want ice or not. By default, American practice is to fill the glass halfway with ice and then add the drink. Result: you barely have anything to drink and you’re paying for ice. To get a drink without ice, simply say “no ice please”. And if the server brings you a glass full of ice anyway, refuse it and ask again for “no ice”!

6/ XXL portions in restaurants

Unlike European restaurants where portions are sometimes too small, American restaurants give you your money’s worth. And sometimes it’s way too much! This is especially true in delis, where portions of smoked meat or dessert are XXL size.
Rather than waste food, don’t hesitate to order one dish for two people, and then order dessert separately if you want. Another option: ask for a “take away box” to take your leftovers with you.

7/ New York subway hassles

The New York subway is obviously very convenient for getting around and exploring the city. But it’s far from perfect. Beyond the air conditioning issue mentioned above, you’ll often have to deal with service changes and station closures for maintenance. This usually happens on weekends with sudden, confusing line changes. Maintenance needs to happen, but it’s never convenient.
In the subway, you’ll also get to enjoy long plastic benches with no clearly defined seats. You might end up sitting on your neighbor’s lap during rush hour. Not to mention those who fall asleep on you.

What annoyed you about New York? Feel free to leave a comment below, on the New York forum or on the site’s Facebook page.