NEWARK, N.J. — Anyone looking to take a vacation should avoid Islamabad, Pakistan.
Makes sense. But, steer clear of Newark, N.J.?
Yes, according to the publishers of Condé Nast Traveler. The magazine named the city the unfriendliest city in the world, edging out Islamabad, which ranked second on the list.
“Newark is best known for being the site of an airport near New York, and for many of our readers, that’s the only reason to stop there,” the magazine noted. That’s not a sentiment more Newarkers seem to share.
Also making the list are Oakland, Calif. (No. 3); Luanda, Angola (No. 4); and Kuwait City, Kuwait (No.5) round out the top five list of unfriendliest worldwide. But, Newark officials aren’t buying into their dubious honor.
“These survey participants have clearly never left the airport,” The Star-Ledger quoted James Allen, a spokesman for Mayor Cory Booker, as saying. “We forgive them — and encourage them to visit soon.”
In addition, a group of Newarkers have banded together on a new Tumblr feed. City residents are invited to send in photos of themselves holding a sign proclaiming their (and the city’s) friendliness.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Charleston, S.C., was named the friendliest in the United States, while Florianopolis, Brazil, was named the friendliest in the world. The southern port city was followed by Galena, Ill. (No. 2); Savannah, Ga. (No. 3); Asheville, N.C. (No. 4); and Austin, Texas (No. 5).
