I paid $1,000 to sleep in a tiny house on a remote island in the middle of New York City — and it was not worth the price

Frank OlitoAug 13, 2020, 23:25 IST

The tiny house on Governors Island.Frank Olito/ Insider

I spent a night on Governors Island at Collective Retreats' tiny house in the middle of New York City.
For $1,000, I got a 300-square foot tiny house, magnificent views, and a complimentary breakfast.
However, there was little to no privacy and the retreats' grounds were unkempt.
With such a high price tag, I expected more from a luxury stay and left a bit disappointed.

Tiny houses are all over the US, but some may be surprised that you can also find some of them in the middle of New York City.

Collective Retreats is located on Governors Island — which is sandwiched between Manhattan and Brooklyn — and offers luxury tents and tiny houses to rent for short stays. Since I've stayed in a tiny house in the suburbs in the past, I wanted to see what it was like to stay in one in the middle of a city.

First, I was surprised to find how expensive a one-night stay would be. The price for a tiny house at Collective Retreats is $879 dollars per night, but after taxes, the price jumps to over $1,000.

Keep reading to see what the tiny house with magnificent views looks like inside and learn why I don't think the experience is worth the price.

To get to Governors Island, I had to take a 10-minute ferry from the tip of Manhattan.

The ferry to Governors Island. Frank Olito/ Insider

The tiny houses are located on the west side of Governor's Island, facing lower Manhattan and New Jersey.

Governors Island is in the middle. Google Maps

Once I arrived on the island, it took me a long time to find the entrance to Collective Retreats.

The entrance to Collective Retreats. Frank Olito/ Insider

The first thing I noticed was the expansive tent that sat toward the back of the resort, which houses the restaurant and the bar.

The restaurant and bar is located in the big tent. Frank Olito/ Insider

To the right, I found most of the tents and tiny houses that the resort offers.

A row of tiny houses and tents. Frank Olito/ Insider

The tiny house that I called home for the night sits right on the water's edge.

The exterior of the tiny house. Frank Olito/ Insider

Additionally, I was surprised to see the tiny house has two outdoor seating areas: one on the side and another on the back.

The two decks. Frank Olito/ Insider

When stepping inside, I was instantly comforted by how light and airy the space feels.

Inside the tiny house. Frank Olito/ Insider

But I was most surprised at how the king-sized bed fit into the tiny house.

The king-size bed. Frank Olito/ Insider

Next to the bed, there's a small sitting area, where I was able to stretch out and relax.

The sitting area. Frank Olito/ Insider

There's a long hallway that leads to the bathroom and back deck.

The hallway leads to the bathroom. Frank Olito/ Insider

The bathroom is separated into three parts.

Part of the bathroom. Frank Olito/ Insider

At the back of the house, I found the shower and bathtub.

The bathtub. Frank Olito/ Insider

The luxurious tiny house is perfectly paired with sweeping views of the New York skyline.

The Manhattan skyline. Frank Olito/ Insider

...and on my left, I could see the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty. Frank Olito/ Insider

Despite, the luxury of the tiny house and the magnificent views, there were some downsides to my stay — like the lack of privacy.

People passing right in front of the not-so-private bathroom. Frank Olito/ Insider

Also, when the island shut down, I was not able to leave the resort. We were all locked inside.

When the sun sets, you're locked inside the retreat grounds. Frank Olito/ Insider

The grounds of the resort also left a lot to be desired aesthetically.

The resort's grounds. Frank Olito/ Insider

The only complimentary service is breakfast, which was great, but I expected more with the price tag.

Breakfast on the back deck. Frank Olito/ Insider

While my stay on Governors Island was largely positive, I found that a simply good experience is not worth $1,000.

The tiny house. Frank Olito/ Insider

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