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Coming to the end of a stay at the IC Barclay New York. The lobby restaurant beef burger (my version of the Big Mac index) is now $40 before tax and service.
Further afield, a pre-packaged turkey sandwich at a Rockefeller Center food store was $21, again before tax.
And a single Haagen Dazs ‘Magnum’ on a stick ranges from $6-7.
In Waldorf Astoria news, there’s rather a lot of construction still taking place, with pavements still closed outside it. However, a uniformed door man was in situ yesterday, at a door stranded beyond the construction zone. There is safer pedestrian accesss to the sales office for the residences. It feels like if a June opening for paid guests happens, it will be whilst construction is still progressing.
It’s just getting worse and worse there. Prices are astronomical. Are locals on mega salaries to afford this? London is very expensive but F&B can be found for way less.
Surely with some put off by Trump and others by the mental New York pricing (with 20% on top minimum for tips etc) demand for travel there will nosedive? Even flying for vastly reduced rates doesn’t make it appealing for leisure.
Yes, the USA is getting ridiculously expensive. My 24 day SE Asia trip cost less than half my 30 day Hawaii and Canada trip. Similar mix of Avios and hotel points booking. These were both pre Trump.
Are locals on mega salaries to afford this?
Yup! Salaries in the US have exploded in a way not seen basically anywhere else. Inequality has also risen massively, as the ones at the bottom are still being paid as badly as they were in the past…
Sat in a lovely little cafe in Citta Alta Bergamo, bloke behind me seems to have forgotten that phones have microphones and earpieces. My hearing aids are amplifying the female voice coming from his phone to the point of discomfort. My wife told me to turn them down, I put my British reservedness on hold and told him to turn it down. He wasn’t impressed and I don’t care.
Yes, the USA is getting ridiculously expensive. My 24 day SE Asia trip cost less than half my 30 day Hawaii and Canada trip. Similar mix of Avios and hotel points booking. These were both pre Trump.
Yes, it’s ludicrous. I don’t understand why quite so many people are still rushing to the US when it’s so horrendously expensive and such terrible value vs so many other parts of the world. One also generally stays in more comfort, doesn’t get stung for ‘extras’, receives better service/attitude and eats so much better in those other places! Avoidance of the tipping nightmare is a minor extra.
@JDB I have a few places to scratch off the bucket list in the US but won’t be rushing to do so. Currently falling in love with Europe again, next big trips are Aus/Singapore/Bali, Sri Lanka again and then hopefully South America.
next big trips are Aus/Singapore/Bali, Sri Lanka again and then hopefully South America.
When are you off to Bali? I’m going this summer.
Thanks @gordon and @Strickers Maple parking offering park and ride for half the price – I think I’ll go with that
@Aston100 November.
@jumpersforgoalposts Brill. BLC discount if relevant, T C B if not.Yes, it’s ludicrous. I don’t understand why quite so many people are still rushing to the US when it’s so horrendously expensive and such terrible value vs so many other parts of the world. One also generally stays in more comfort, doesn’t get stung for ‘extras’, receives better service/attitude and eats so much better in those other places! Avoidance of the tipping nightmare is a minor extra.
You’re like a stuck record on the subject. Other people have completely different priorities to you.
There are plenty of things to see and do in the US that you simply can’t anywhere else. I have a limited time left on the planet and I’m really glad I can afford the little extra it costs to go there.
When ICs and Mariotts in BA are charging 500 USD a night for a basic room and the Argentinian national park service is charging 30 USD per day to visit a hiking trail, the US looks really cheap for what I want to see and do
When ICs and Mariotts in BA are charging 500 USD a night for a basic room and the Argentinian national park service is charging 30 USD per day to visit a hiking trail, the US looks really cheap for what I want to see and do
@JDB would never stay in an IC or Marriott!Are locals on mega salaries to afford this?
Yup! Salaries in the US have exploded in a way not seen basically anywhere else. Inequality has also risen massively, as the ones at the bottom are still being paid as badly as they were in the past…
There are regular screenshots on Twitter of job ads in the US. If I recall, a car wash was looking for a manager, salary was $100K. San Francisco BART cop (so British Transport Police), $150K.
@davefl, certainly there’s still value to be had outside of expensive cities. We’re quite happy to stay somewhere like Homewood/Staybridge Suites and prepare simple meals with local ingredients on a longer trip (and not have to dress for dinner). Life’s certainly too short to be pressured into going somewhere or not by what other people think!
Just mulling over loading up some USD onto Revolut for future US/Caribbean usage with the current favourable exchange rate …
San Francisco BART cop (so British Transport Police), $150K.
A BART cop asked me “sir where did you learn to speak English like that?”. When I replied “England” he thought I was taking the piss and got pretty annoyed.
US cops aren’t the brightest.Where did he think you were from?!
@NorthernLass I’m hoping the next IHG buy points 100% promo arrives while the exchange rate is where it is.
Good evening from beachside IC Bali Sanur. The mad Easter crowds have gone (mainly back to Oz) and peace and tranquility prevails. Current temperature is 27c with a very gentle breeze. Food is lovely and inexpensive and the Balinese culture a world away from all that the orange one is creating westward of the UK.
I fully endorse the observations/comments of @strickers and @JDB. The world is much more than the USA!!
@strickers, 2nd that! Especially if they both coincide with the new card year for the avios Barclaycard. Every cloud and all that!
@NorthernLass US T C B worked well last time too. I’m one month into my BC year and am close to 50% of the way to the voucher already!
Good evening from beachside IC Bali Sanur. The mad Easter crowds have gone (mainly back to Oz) and peace and tranquility prevails. Current temperature is 27c with a very gentle breeze. Food is lovely and inexpensive and the Balinese culture a world away from all that the orange one is creating westward of the UK.
I fully endorse the observations/comments of @strickers and @JDB. The world is much more than the USA!!
We were at the IC Sanur for 2 days last week – we had been at the IC Jimbaran for the 5 days prior to our stay but they didn’t have a room for our last night so we moved. We have stayed at Sanur in other hotels namely the Bali Hyatt both pre and post its renovation as well as Griya Santrian a couple of times. We like it especially the boardwalk and the restaurants on the beach.
Although we got upgraded at the IC Sanur to a Spa Suite Ocean view on the 4th floor which was enormous – almost bigger than our flat we much preferred our smaller room at Jimbaran. They also have a lounge which we had access to with an annual lounge pass. The gardens there are beautiful.
Good evening from beachside IC Bali Sanur. The mad Easter crowds have gone (mainly back to Oz) and peace and tranquility prevails. Current temperature is 27c with a very gentle breeze. Food is lovely and inexpensive and the Balinese culture a world away from all that the orange one is creating westward of the UK.
I fully endorse the observations/comments of @strickers and @JDB. The world is much more than the USA!!
Could I ask if you’ve seen many kids/kids’ activities around? I was just looking at
the IC this morning, and the Hyatt Regency as well. We have a sociable 11-yr old, and it would just be 2-3 nights.
Last summer was the Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua: the Club part was great, as were the pools,
but had an awful sleep due to people sitting outside their rooms talking loudly
right through the night. And of course little around in ND, but that wasn’t such a biggie
for such a short time.Good evening from beachside IC Bali Sanur. The mad Easter crowds have gone (mainly back to Oz) and peace and tranquility prevails. Current temperature is 27c with a very gentle breeze. Food is lovely and inexpensive and the Balinese culture a world away from all that the orange one is creating westward of the UK.
I fully endorse the observations/comments of @strickers and @JDB. The world is much more than the USA!!
Could I ask if you’ve seen many kids/kids’ activities around? I was just looking at
the IC this morning, and the Hyatt Regency as well. We have a sociable 11-yr old, and it would just be 2-3 nights.
Last summer was the Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua: the Club part was great, as were the pools,
but had an awful sleep due to people sitting outside their rooms talking loudly
right through the night. And of course little around in ND, but that wasn’t such a biggie
for such a short time.
@QC – having just seen your simultaneous post, any child-related comments gratefully received! Jimbaran would also be an option.Just mulling over loading up some USD onto Revolut for future US/Caribbean usage with the current favourable exchange rate …
I would wait a bit if you can. I don’t see the dollar going anywhere but down for a while (this is my opinion, not a recommendation)
I fully endorse the observations/comments of @strickers and @JDB. The world is much more than the USA!!
I would never say otherwise having visited 5 continents and 68 countries so far.
@ToonFlyer, it doesn’t have to be one or the other, and nobody (adults, anyway) is taking sides!
@davefl, I may have to take your advice as my bank keeps rejecting Revolut. If the dollar can keep dropping into the summer when my avios Barclaycard resets, so much the better!
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