New York City’s most affordable hotel options, a bunch of vans listed on Airbnb, have been shut down
A set of vans listed as cheap Airbnb accomodations have been impounded by the city
Aux Features Airbnb
In response to a lack of housing regulations that steadily raise rent and hotel prices across New York City, enterprising businesspeople decided to #innovate new accommodations for travelers by listing parked vans on Airbnb that went, in one case, for as low as $97 a night. Now, despite the wisdom of this plan, the city has impounded these vehicles and dashed the dreams of budget-minded tourists worldwide.
New York Magazine reports that the most famous of these vans, a red Ford Econoline, had advertised itself for two years now as offering travelers an opportunity to “experience the #VanLife in NYC” through a luxurious suite most recently parked in the East Village, with a view of scenic Bubbles N Go laundromat.
YouTuber Uptin Saiidi filmed a tour of this vantel a few weeks ago, establishing that “the average hotel price for one night in New York City is over $400" before spending a night in the more affordable option. He seems pretty open-minded about the premise, but does mention that it smells pretty bad and it’s annoying to have to venture to a list of bars and restaurants in order to use the bathroom. “It was a very cozy experience,” he says after waking up, comparing it to camping.
The New York Magazine article explains that city authorities have let these mobile Airbnbs exist for a long time despite it being “illegal to park a converted van on New York City streets for longer than 24 hours.” Instead of hauling any of them away, they’ve just accumulated tickets.
Something changed recently, though, and the grandiosely named “Operation Room Service” has now resulted in seven van hotels being impounded. Apparently, every one of the ad-hoc Airbnbs “had New Jersey plates, three of which belonged to other vehicles, while a fourth’s tags expired 21 years ago.”
Nobody knows yet who owns the vans, which leaves us to speculate that this entire thing was a user research program conducted by an experimental wing of the Hilton Hotel company.
[via Boing Boing]
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25 Comments
The key here is to never go to New York City
get the rope
Get A rope. What, are you some kind of New York City cowboy to only have one rope?
Border patrol agent.
i just keep the one hanging by neck rope.
It’s crazy that they’re still asking $97+ per night without any kind of actual #vanlife amenities. You can get a private room at a number of hostels at for just a few dollars more (La Sienna: $99; Jazz on the Park: $112; Incentra:$104) and have a normal size bed, actual bathroom access, and no risk of being towed mid-stay.
NYC is fantastic to visit.
Eh, not going to fault others for going or even living there, but my one reason to go was demolished in 2010.I’d still love to go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, though, if that counts.
In response to a lack of housing regulations that steadily raise rent and hotel prices across New York City Pretty sure NYC has plenty of housing regulations that steadily raise rent and hotel prices.
every one of the ad-hoc Airbnbs “had New Jersey plates, three of which
belonged to other vehicles, while a fourth’s tags expired 21 years ago.”They don’t even need any special law to impound them if the plates are wrong.And switching plates on a vehicle sounds criminal.
Absolutely is.
Last time I was in NY, I was amazed by the number of carcasses left in the streets, and abandoned in Manhattan
How were they allowed to operate for so long? I parked my windowless grey van at the park by the elementary school and advertised “Free Puppy Playtime and Candy Tasting”, and got shut down in 3 hours.
And-and maybe, just maybe, the owner will drive away with you, kill you, and flee to the Florida swamp!
I’m wary about renting a normal Airbnb. This? You’d have to be certifiably crazy.
Yeah even in the best of circumstances I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving any of my possessions in the van while I went out.
I’ve had good experiences with Airbnb; but I leave it to the missus to pick them.
> In response to a lack of housing regulations that steadily raise rent and hotel prices across New York CityLack? NYC has the strictest rent control laws in North America!It’s not a *lack* of regulation that’s the issue
People spend $97 to sleep in a van?
Yeah. I’d think you could sleep in the subway a lot cheaper.
The trick to going to New York is to not stay in the touristy sections. I used to go there a couple times a year for work and stay in the Financial District. Sure you have to catch the subway for decent food or things to do but it’s not that far and my hotel rooms were usually around $150 a night and they weren’t in shithole hotels either.
Cheap is one thing. Relying on a bar’s bathroom for your “stay” is not worth it. I’d rather have a private bathroom and no bed.
I was in NYC 2 weeks ago. For ~$140 per night, I had a studio suite blocks from Times Square with a kitchenette, free breakfast daily, oh and a bathroom too. Who the hell would pay $100 to sleep in a van on the street?
New York is really the place for you; To go to New York, you’re going to the middle of the world.