to be clear i don’t think they’re in the wrong, but even in manhattan $500-600 gets you a 4-5 star unless you’re booking last minute.
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I've only been to NYC once & it was decades ago. Young & stupid, I took my chances. Simply asked the skycap for rec. ha. Some quick tourist sight-seeing & shopping was my agenda - safe & low cost as possible. The hotel was ok, near Times Sq which I didn't realize what rep it was at the time.
aug 24, 2025, 5:26 pm • 1 0 • view
But, ignorance was mostly bliss. I had a great time & walked to I think an Arby's (?). Started chatting w/a VP from a big tech firm - guy from Vietnam who got here with nothing & managed to get a PhD. My aspiration was to finish college & he inspired me 'If I could do it, you can.' Great experience
aug 24, 2025, 5:29 pm • 0 0 • view
I'd been living in Germany for 4 yrs before that, was jet-lagged & hungry at 10pm. :) Anyway... also a sax busker on the sidewalk, busy busy - I found it energizing! Always wanted to go back, but never made it.
aug 24, 2025, 5:42 pm • 0 0 • view
I choose to believe that this means the busker was from Saxony. Nobody wows the tourists like a Leipziger.
aug 24, 2025, 5:44 pm • 0 0 • view
lol It didn't take much to impress me. I'd had oompa in Germany and impromptu jazz groups in Paris, but no solo sax players.
aug 24, 2025, 5:47 pm • 1 0 • view
As a New York native, I grew up walking past buskers and not even noticing, but I did toss a couple bucks to the guy who improvised a little freestyle rap about my outfit one time in the 1 train platform.
aug 24, 2025, 6:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Could be seasonal also? February rates are probably different than August rates.
aug 24, 2025, 5:22 pm • 0 0 • view