New York, USA
Date: May 2026
Facts & Tips:
• Last visit: 17 years ago
• Getting around: Took the metro from JFK to Manhattan (45 minutes). The trains are still very old.
• Tipping culture: Expect to add 10–20% on almost everything.
• Vibe: Feels like a crazy house — massive overweight people, lots of homeless, and many weird characters on the streets.
I went to New York mainly because of the UFC fight in Newark and as a stop before heading to Jamaica. From there I ended up visiting all the Caribbean countries in just 2.5 weeks.
The city hasn’t changed much in 17 years. The infrastructure is still old and they modernize very slowly. What surprised me most was the heavy tipping culture and the general chaotic energy.
Highlights:
• Hotel: Kimpton Era in Midtown Manhattan – excellent, I can really recommend it.
• Food: Quality Meats steakhouse and the many great restaurants in Soho.
• Culture: MoMA (Museum of Modern Art).
Would I go back soon? Probably not. The USA in general feels mentally exhausting with so many crazy people around and not enough modern, pleasant restaurants and cafés compared to other countries.