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

These days, the ferry's capacity has been cut so that people can socially distance. Along the 10 minute trek across the river, I wore my mask and kept my distance from others. 

Governors Island is located just 800 yards away from Manhattan. Most people make the trek to the island to rent surrey bikes for the day, to try the local food trucks, or to lounge in Hammock Grove. 

If I had taken the appropriate way and had not missed all the signs, it would have been a 10-minute walk from the ferry dock to Collective Retreats.

When the island is closed at night, the restaurant and bar are exclusive for resort guests. 

In all, Collective Retreats has four tiny houses and 32 tents for luxury camping. 

On the outside, the house has a '70s, retro vibe.

The decks were the perfect spot to read a book and watch the ferries pass. 

The tiny house is 300-square feet, and the light wood that covers the walls and ceiling makes the space feel larger. The windows also help the house feel more open, eliminating any claustrophobia. 

The bed was comfortable, and later that night, there was a complimentary turn down service. 

To the side of the couch, there is a small closet, which is the home's only storage space. 

Although the tiny house had no kitchen, there is a small bar area at the entrance to the hallway. The bar comes stocked with glasses, mugs, coffee, and a mini-fridge. 

There is a small room for a toilet and on the outside of that is the sink. 

Bathtubs aren't all that common in tiny houses, but it's not unheard of. 

I could see lower Manhattan perfectly, and at night, the city's dazzling lights make the skyline look even better. 

Being a native New Yorker, I've seen a lot of sunsets in the city. But the sunset I saw from my tiny house now tops all the rest. 

Strangely, the shower faces the water, which is where everyone who visits the island during the day goes for a stroll. Since the retreat is so interesting to look at, people peer inside the houses, directly into the bathroom. Some even stop to take pictures.

Although the island closed at 7 pm to the public, I was not able to shower until nighttime. Even with curtains, I didn't feel comfortable showering with hundreds of people passing my window and trying to peek inside.

While I completely understand why they can't have guests roaming the island at night, it did feel a bit limiting to what I could do once the sun set. Sure, there was the restaurant and bar, which had live music, but I could not go past the gates. 

Collective Retreats' website says the resort does offer movie screenings some nights, but I did not experience that. 

While the tents and tiny houses are beautiful, the landscaping needs a lot of work. Some areas are completely overgrown while others are dried and patchy. Walking past, it almost seems like the resort is abandoned, overtaken by nature.

Since Collective Retreats advertises this as a luxury stay and charges as such, the grounds of the resort itself should reflect that. 

The delicious breakfast was delivered in a basket straight to my back porch, but that was the only complimentary service. The dinner at the bar was expensive, and so were the drinks. I ended up dropping $25 on one margarita. At $1,000 per night, I expected to catch a break somewhere. 

But, 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."

She also said, "At each of our retreats, we embrace the natural landscape surrounding our retreat through our unique design while also providing guests with top-of-line, in-room amenities and service. At our flagship retreat, Collective Governors Island, we are lucky to be one of the only hotels in NYC to provide New Yorkers with a remote, truly outdoor experience while still maintaining the heart and soul of the city."

I enjoyed my stay at the Collective Retreats, but I was expecting a bit more for the price paid. Since the space is small, it's difficult to split the $1,000 cost with a few friends like you normally would for a larger hotel or Airbnb. 

While the views were fantastic, I could get the same exact view from the Staten Island ferry for free. Additionally, there are other, much cheaper tiny houses to rent for a night all over the US.

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