People are paying up to $700 a night to go 'glamping' in luxury tents with 1,500-thread count linens on an island in New York Harbor

Katie Warren

Sep 6, 2018, 22:08 IST

People are paying up to $700 a night to go 'glamping' in luxury tents with 1,500-thread count linens on an island in New York Harbor

Courtesy of Collective Retreats

Glamping came to Governors Island in July 2018.

For between $150 and $700 a night, you can go "glamping" - or luxury camping - on an island in New York Harbor.
Guests sleep in Scandinavian-inspired tents with king-sized beds and 1,500-thread count sheets, en-suite bathrooms, electricity, Wi-Fi, and a French Press coffee bar.
They can enjoy a multi-course fine dining experience and BBQ picnics.
The camp has a picturesque view of the New York City skyline.

You might have heard of luxury camping, or "glamping," in places such as Montana and Alaska - and now, it has come to New York City.

Just moments from the hustle and bustle of the city lies a luxury retreat where the canvas tents house king-sized beds with 1,500-thread count sheets, rain-style showers, and French Press coffee stations, and guests can connect to Wi-Fi and enjoy a multi-course fine dining experience.

Collective Retreats, which also has locations in Montana, Texas, Colorado, and the Hudson Valley in New York, opened its location on Governors Island - an eight-minute ferry ride from lower Manhattan - in July 2018.

It closes for the year on October 31, when the island closes to the public. You can still make reservations, but spots are filling up quickly, especially on weekends, a representative for Collective Retreats told Business Insider.

Here's a look at the luxury camping experience just moments from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The retreat is on Governors Island, a 172-acre island in New York Harbor that once housed a US Army post.

The island is an eight-minute ferry ride from lower Manhattan.

Governors Island is a car-free island that closes to visitors in the evening.

The campground offers picturesque views of the Manhattan skyline.

Looking in the other direction, guests can get a clear view of the Statue of Liberty.

Guests choose from two types of Scandinavian-inspired canvas tents: Journey Tents or Summit Tents.

In the Journey Tent, guests have the choice of a queen bed or two single beds, which come with 1,000-thread count linens and down comforters.

The shared bathrooms for Journey Tent guests are a short walk from the tents. They have hot running water and full-flush toilets and come with plush Turkish towels and environmentally-friendly spa bath products.

The tents have electricity and outlets where guests can plug in their electronic devices to charge.

Coffee, tea, cocoa, and a hot water kettle are provided in the room.

Guests can relax in a shared outdoor space with lounge chairs and games.

The Journey Tents, described as 'a spirited communal setting,' start at $150 a night.

The Summit Tent is the more upscale version of the Journey Tent.

Guests sleep on 1,500-thread count sheets with a down comforter and a designer-curated blanket.

Each Summit Tent has a private, en-suite bathroom with a rain-style shower and Turkish robes 'for optimal lounging.'

Guests staying in Summit Tents also get a complimentary daily breakfast and a campfire s'mores kit.

Guests can drink their morning coffee on their private deck.

At Collective Retreats, no two luxury tents are exactly the same. The company's interior designer scours antique stores and local markets to find unique furniture and décor.

Staying in the a Summit Tent will cost you about $700.

Breakfast at the nearby Three Peaks Lodge is included for Summit Tent guests. For those staying in the Journey Tents, it's $19.

For dinner, guests can enjoy a multi-course meal at the Three Peaks Lodge or at outdoor tables overlooking the harbor for $120.

If guests prefer a more informal option, they can get a 'BBQ-in-a-box' for between $28 and $32, which includes table settings, drinks, all ingredients, and help with cleanup and grilling.

Beer, wine, and hard cider are available to purchase in the Three Peaks Lodge.

Guests can also order from a takeaway menu of sandwiches, salads, and snacks.

The camp has plenty of open space where kids can run around or adults can relax in the grass.

You can even play Jenga while watching the sun set.

If guests want to venture out of the camp, they can head over to Island Oyster for cocktails, lobster rolls, fish tacos, and of course, oysters.

Other activities on the island include renting bicycles, playing mini golf, checking out art installations, relaxing on a hammock, and catching an outdoor movie.

Once Governors Island closes—at 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 p.m. Fridays, and 11 p.m. Saturdays, guests must stay on the 6-acre campground.

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