I stayed in a $1,000 tiny house in a city and in a $100 tiny house in the suburbs, but I preferred the cheaper option — here's why

The community, which is located in a small neighborhood in Orlando known as College Park, has 34 tiny homes. Most of the homes are for full-time residents, but 10 of the park's tiny houses are available to rent on Airbnb.

The well-manicured entryway foreshadowed the luxury inside the home.

The main living area had a full-size couch, a fireplace, and a bookshelf. Additionally, there were two huge windows that looked out onto the lake and made the home feel bigger.

The kitchen had a stove, an oven, a microwave, a sink, and plenty of counter space. There was even a dishwasher, an added amenity I really didn't expect.

The bathroom had a large shower, a sink, a flushable toilet, and even a washer/dryer. The bathroom was bigger than the one I have in my New York City apartment.

Although it was too small to stand up in, the loft had three windows, easing my claustrophobia.

Since the tiny house was located far enough from the road and directly on the water, the deck was largely private, except for the other tiny house owners nearby.

While the tiny house community is located in the Florida suburb of College Park, I never felt trapped or without something to do. There were restaurants located just outside the tiny house, and the park itself offered a few activities.

In fact, when staying at Orlando Lakefronts, you are able to take out a kayak or paddleboard free of charge. However, you will be sharing these with the full-time residents of the park.

Residents who live in Orlando Lakefront full time have built a community garden and fire pit, which are accessible to Airbnb guests.

This garden and the other amenities left me feeling relaxed and calm, which is all I want from a short getaway.

Governors Island is sandwiched between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. On the island, a resort called Collective Retreats offers four tiny houses and 32 luxury tents to rent for short stays.

I stayed in the 300-square-foot tiny house on the water.

There was a deck on the side of the house and one attached to the back, which had perfect views of the water and skyline.

Right next to the king-size bed, there was a seating area and a closet for storage.

Since there was no kitchen in this tiny house, there was a small bar at the start of this hallway, which had a mini-fridge, coffee, cups, and mugs.

Back in the hallway, I found a separate room for the toilet and sink.

Although the tiny house is located in the middle of New York City, it's on Governors Island, which closes between 6 and 7 pm every day. After that time, you are stuck in the resort, with no access to outside food, drinks, or activities, which might not be a problem for people who simply want to enjoy the location and views.

There is a bar and restaurant located within the resort's walls, but it's expensive. For example, I purchased a margarita for $25. The only thing that was included in the $1,000 price was a complimentary breakfast that was delivered to my back deck in the morning.

Governors Island is a popular destination in New York City, so there was a constant flow of people passing the tiny house during the day. Oftentimes, they stopped to look into the tiny house and even took pictures of it. Unfortunately, the public can look right into the bathroom and can even see you showering if the curtains aren't closed at all times.

This lack of privacy meant the vacation felt less like a relaxing getaway.

However, Vanessa Vitale, senior vice president of hospitality at Collective Retreats, told me the price reflects the retreat which "bridges the gap between a 5-star luxury experience and an outdoor adventure."

Once again, the ground meant I did not feel as relaxed as I did at the tiny house in Florida.

From my tiny house, I could see the lower Manhattan skyline on my right and the Statue of Liberty on my left. The sunset from the back door was also breathtaking.

For $100 in Florida, I got a luxury tiny house, complimentary water activities, and access to a community garden. However, I was sharing the space with people who lived in the community full-time, making the stay feel less of a vacation and more of an intrusion on an established community. I did, however, leave feeling relaxed thanks to the relative privacy, amenities, and surrounding nature.

For $1,000, I got a luxury tiny house in the middle of New York City with a complimentary breakfast and unbeatable views. However, the dinner and drinks were expensive, the grounds were not well-kept in my opinion, and ultimately, it was less of a relaxing vacation than my experience in Florida.

Of course, I understand that a tiny house in New York City is going to come with a higher price tag than one in the suburbs of Orlando — you're paying for the proximity to the city and the incredible views. But the amenities and what's offered, as well as my overall experience, still couldn't justify the cost for me.

With that said, there are many more options across the country, including expensive ones that could be more worth the money and cheaper ones that might not be as good as my experience in Florida.

For just $100, I was able to get everything I wanted from the Orlando Lakefront tiny house in the suburbs of Florida. While the tiny house in New York City had magnificent views, it could not beat the value of the cheaper tiny house in Florida.

• Read more:
• 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
• I spent 3 days living in a 350-square-foot house in a community of tiny homes — see what it was like
• A single mom, 2 kids, and 2 dogs all live inside a 270-square-foot tiny house. Here's how they make it work.
• 20 photos that show the ingenious ways tiny house owners store their belongings