America's Rudest Cities in 2013

Many Americans say that travel is an important goal for them, but a city’s people can make or break a vacation if tourists are given a bad experience.

New York City, for instance, has tried to get its famously no-nonsense residents to be nicer to tourists. Perhaps it’s worked, or the city has too many other attractions and positives, because the Big Apple did not make this list. (Parisians have also been asked to be nicer to tourists, but this list is of American cities only.)

Condé Nast Traveler has asked its readers to dish on what cities are the rudest and why. Unfortunately, California is fairly well represented in the top 10, but none of its cities took the top spot.

10. Sacramento, California

Score: 43.1

Downtown. Photo by J. Smith.

The capital of California was called a “real disappointment,” according to Condé Nast Traveler. The city’s unemployment rate is a high 9.8%.

9. Anaheim, California

Score: 42.5

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland.

Anaheim is the home of Disneyland, which is the only reason to go to the city, according to Condé Nast readers. Ouch.

8. Wilmington, Delaware

Score: 38.6

Photo by Tim Kiser.

Wilmington is located on the Delaware River and readers said that people would be better visiting one of the state’s better known beach areas as Wilmington doesn’t have much charm.

7. Albany, New York

Score: 32.8

Downtown. Photo by Matt H. Wade.

Visiting the city in the winter probably isn’t the best idea, according to readers. But because of its location, Albany is likely more of a through-station for people going north to Canada or south to New York City.

6. Los Angeles, California

Score: 32.3

Yes, another city in the beautiful state of California made the list. The readers of Condé Nast Traveler didn’t hold back, claiming the City of Angels was “dirty and crowded.”

4. Atlantic City, New Jersey

Score: 31.1

Boardwalk outside of Caesars Palace.

Just the first of two New Jersey entries, visitors warn against straying from the boardwalk and the casinos. Not only is Atlantic City no Las Vegas, but the casinos are the only attraction for the city.

4. Detroit, Michigan

Score: 29.9

Detroit as seen from Ontario. Copyright Shawn Wilson.

Who could blame the citizens of Detroit for being unfriendly when their city has just gone bankrupt? Plus, it has one of the highest tax burdens in the country.

3. New Haven, Connecticut

Score: 29.6

Dwight Street Historical District. Photo by Sage Ross.

The city has some culture and it’s the home of Yale, but readers just didn’t care for the residents of New Haven, calling them “rude, unfriendly folk.”

2. Oakland, California

Score: 23.1

Copyright David Corby.

Don’t write Oakland off entirely: Condé Nast’s readers admitted there were charming areas of the city, but others were “so unsafe travelers wouldn’t dare stop.” The latter is unsurprising since FBI crime statistics put Oakland as one of America’s most dangerous cities.

1. Newark, New Jersey

Score: 13.4

Campus of Rutgers Newark. Photo by Arthur Paxton.

Newark is a good entry point for people going on to New York City as the airport is close by, but there aren’t many other reasons to stop in the city, according to readers. Although, the Portuguese food in the Ironbound District is supposed to be good.