コレクティブ ガバナーズ アイランド(Collective Governors Island)

My friend and I had a fun stay at Collective on Governors Island but it definitely fell way short of our expectations of luxurious "glamping" experience, especially for the high price we paid ($572 for one night). A summary: - We stayed in a Summit waterfront tent, which was really comfortable and spacious and has a bathroom. The bed was comfortable and the tent was nicely appointed. However, right outside our tent were huge puddles and piles of mud (this was before it rained). We noticed that other areas of the retreat were in similar shape. While of course the retreat cannot control the weather, it can invest in a proper drainage system and landscaping/paving that would prevent this from being so disgusting. It was awful to have this right outside our tent. - In terms of landscaping, we were shocked to see many, many huge areas with overgrown grass and weeds. The landscape really needs to be tended to in a much better way. - The views are absolutely incredible. This is by far the best part of the experience of being there. You can see the Statue of Liberty, lower Manhattan, and Jersey City - all very clearly. (However views from our tent were interrupted a bit by the very tall weeds - would have been much more appealing if the area were cleared/mowed!) - Some of the staff members were very friendly and service-oriented; others were not. We were told they had a 24-hour phone line and we called the line repeatedly when we had a question (and even texted) and no one answered (calls went to voicemail). Messages went unreturned. This was very frustrating. - We got to the retreat around 1:30 PM and were told our room was ready and we could check in for $50 extra. That is absolutely absurd. I have traveled to many places around the world and all hotels allow check-in as soon as a room is ready. This is supposed to be a "luxury" retreat and we were flabbergasted when we were told we couldn't go to our room at that time when it was ready. As an aside, the retreat was basically empty (only a handful of the tents were occupied). - The tent contained a cooler and we were told we could use it - but there was no ice in it. The coffee creamers left out on the counter were spoiled (milk products require refrigeration). So perhaps the cooler should be stocked with ice and some milk/cream for coffee before people check in. - The restaurant was nice and the staff was very friendly. The appetizers were nicely sized but the main course was silly. I got lambchops and there was only one piece of meat - was a bit shocking to see that. The bar was not well-stocked and ran out of prosecco after my friend's second glass. The wine was good though and they had good happy hour pricing though. - The lawn and deck desperately need umbrellas! There is absolutely no shade anywhere on the property except for when you're in the tent or in the dining room. We really wanted to sit outside and enjoy the view but it was so hot and sunny that it was uncomfort

AS we arrived on the island after a 10 min ferry ride I was not that impressed. Dilapidated buildings, lots of construction and the roads needed to be fixed.. First impression not great, Once we arrived at the retreat I noticed metal fence that surrounded the area. Was a turn off. There was a baseball field too close, near public visitors walking, but on the other hand it was very romantic, amazing sunset, dinner was excellent and having our own bathroom was worth the extra money. We rented a bike, which was al ot of fun. Make sure you ride on every road as there are little gems you don't want to miss. Hammock row, tons of food areas, forts, flowers and more. Grab a message at the local Spa, enjoy a drink at Gitano's a hip, DJ vibe, but eat dinner at the resort - Will not disappoint. The staff needs help as they do not meet our expectations after paying $1000 + a night all in. There is a lot of helicopters and boats, but the fan in your room fades it all out. Lower your expectation and you will be pleasantly surprised. just a bit pricey.

Incredible hospitality and delicious food. But best of all was the view - I still can’t get over the stunning skyline of NYC right from my accommodation. I felt like I was in a dream - secluded and remote, yet also right in NYC. This place is an unexpected gem and not to be missed!!!!

I had never been to Governors Island before coming to Collective, and it was such a cool way to experience the island. The view of the skyline/city from the island is captivating. You feel connected to New York, but with a unique peace. The accommodation was beautiful, with a porch area perfect for enjoying the evening. Dinner was delicious, and the staff were friendly and attentive. I recommend ending the night with a cocktail and a s’more at the fire pit if you can.

I'm really disappointed with this place. On Oct 25th I booked 2 rooms to spend a night at Collective Governors Island. to celebrate a friend of mine birthday. We have planed this in advance, mainly because we are traveling from Brasil. Today I got a call from the company CANCELING our stay. They gave a silly excuse and said they couldn't do anything else. My question is: where are we going to sleep now? How can they work with high end and exclusive public if they do not care about their clients? IS BEEING SORRY enough for distorting a trip plan in advance??? And worst: Im trying to get in touch with them, and I'm still waiting for a CALL BACK. Hope they call me back and make a better decision. Hope they will care about their commitment and clients. So if you plan to visit one of their properties make sure you have another hotel booked as well or you might end up with no PLACE TO STAY,

Had a fabulous and relaxing time celebrating my birthday. We will definitely be returning. Hope to take advantage of more activities and would rent one with a bathroom. Really impressed.

Lovely stay at the Collective. Welcomed at the ferry and drove round to the retreat. We were checked in, driven to our tent, showed around & within 20 minutes, we were settled in. The tent was gorgeous & the place felt very safe. We didn’t eat dinner but the views were incredible. Air traffic was loud but it’s NYC, nothing unexpected. Breakfast food was delicious. Would definitely stay again & will recommend to friends.

We didn't have a great experience. We were expecting a fancy place (the price is for a fancy hotel, and the photos made us think it was like that) and it was not. First: the noise is bizarre, all day long, all night long, due to tons of helicopters and flights all the time. It's impossible to relax and rest. Collective Retreat Governors Island is not ready for kids - we just found some old and broken toys. The restaurant menu is absolutely overpriced and the portions are super small. Our glasses were dirty, the waitress said I'm sorry many times because she was embarassed about that. The gnocchi I ordered made me laugh: it was clearly overcooked, old and the portion would serve for a small kid. No higienic paper in the toilet room by night (our room didnt have a bathroom). You can imagine the situation. We saw some staff arriving for work smoking ****; we are not americans but we felt disappointed about this behaviour, you don't expect to see an hotel employee working high due to ****. Under our bed there was so much dirt accumulated that it made us think that the place had never been cleaned before. We gave up using the locker in the room because it was locked and we asked for help many times but nobody helped us. It was NOT a great experience, we were super excited, we saved money to have this experience with our family and we came back home regreftul for spending so much money this way. The good surprise of our stay was a guy from CR staff named Justin who saw our disappointment and kindly offered us a tour around the island by night in the golf car. The view is great if the weather is great, otherwise, you'll see clouds and hear helicopters while the cheapest item for a breakfast cost 18 dollars. Disgusting. Paula Pfeifer Moreira, from Rio de Janeiro.

As noted by other reviewers, the location and views are fantastic. The concept, too, is great—this place has a huge amount of potential. All the more reason it was so disappointing. It’s true, we were there at the end of the season, but for the rate they charge, the lack of care for our comfort was surprising. Not so say there wasn’t heat in our tent (there was): the tent was very comfortable (if loud—we needed the earplugs they provided). However, underlying the details of what missed the mark (other dissatisfied reviewers mention just about all the things we experienced) is the absence of basic management. We were on-site for less than 24 hours, and at no time did I feel the sense that anyone on staff was particularly concerned about our experience or our well-being. There was no obvious manager, concierge, or anyone running the place. This would have less been surprising at a motel or similar basic accommodation, but when one is paying the rates they charge and is led to believe this is a luxury experience, it’s not OK. I wish I could recommend it, but our experience combined with other unhappy reviews says ours was not an isolated bad night. It could be so easily fixed: hire a seasoned, dedicated manager to train staff, make themselves known to guests, and oversee the details that need attention to make this the place it could be.