Collective Governors Island - A New York City Retreat

We’ve had the pleasure of staying here twice, and each time has been an exceptional experience. We’re already looking forward to our next visit. During our stays, we dined at the on-site restaurant, where the food was nothing short of outstanding—delicious dishes prepared with great attention to detail. There was live music playing during dinner, which helped create a wonderful ambiance. The service throughout our stay was consistently excellent, with staff going out of their way to ensure we were comfortable and well cared for. Breakfast was brought directly to our tent at a time that suited us. In the evening, a S'mores station was set up, offering a great way to gather around the fire and enjoy a classic treat under the stars. The bathroom tents were equally impressive—spacious and impeccably clean. Transportation to and from the ferry was seamless, as the hotel provided a convenient cart service. We were promptly picked up upon arrival and dropped off at the ferry when it was time to leave, adding to the overall ease and enjoyment of our stay.

Had a great experience at collective retreats. The tents were very clean and luxurious. The staff were amazing. I missed dinner service by 20 minutes and the staff stayed a little late to make something to eat for me and my wife. I really appreciated that because it shows the guest first culture that they have at the property. The next morning my wife attended the complimentary yoga class and I had coffee on the beautiful deck looking at the Statue of Liberty and watching the Staten Island ferry go by. I even got to meet the GM Evan as he asked me how my stay was. I would recommend staying at this property, it was warm,welcoming and a relaxing place to enjoy with my wife.

I stayed here with my husband, two sons and some friends. We had a wonderful stay and the kids had the best time. During our stay there was a huge thunder storm while we just sat down for dinner. They stopped service until the storm had passed which was completely fine. Some of the other guests actually were dancing in the rain outside which everyone found hilarious. Once the storm was over staff were quick to offer all the kids yummy hot chocolate and whiskey spiked hot chocolate for the adults. |The dinner was delicious and the cocktails were very nice. After dinner the kids enjoyed s’mores and running around playing on the grass. The retreat had soccer balls, large jenga, corn hole and kites. |The views and sunset were absolutely stunning. |In the morning staff came with breakfast which was nice. It consisted of pastries, granola, yogurts and fresh fruit. There is also fresh coffee and water available in the communal area. |Overall our stay was fantastic and we definitely plan to return before the end of summer.

Glamping on Governors Island is a must ! A short ferry ride whisks you away to a peaceful retreat with spectacular views, nature, and plenty to explore. My sister and I had a spacious tent with twin beds, full shower, toilet, and sink. Late September visit so heat provided and also heated mattresses. Wonderful live music at dinner tent....delicious food while enjoying view of Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. In the morning enjoyed food basket delivery yogurt granola fruit hard boiled eggs and croissant along with coffee we brewed in the room . Amazing yoga class in morning in a tent still enjoying view and even seeing a hawk! Staff is very nice, friendly and accommodating. Golf cart shuttle to and from ferry and also to and from QC spa. Campfires and s'mores. Falling asleep to the night sounds of nature. 1 night stay this time and already thinking about a return!

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 uncomfortable without any shade. |- Overall, this place could be really fantastic if they invest in beautification efforts that will make it more of a relaxing retreat away from home!

I have stayed her twice now. Once when they first opened and now more recently. The resort did change slightly over the years and the ambiance is always fun. Governors Island is definitely a gem in NYC and being able to stay on the island in such a unique way is awesome. The tents are always clean and the mattress is super comfortable. The bathrooms are spacious and clean. The restaurant is a great place to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset. Where else can you enjoy a s'more in front of a fire pit and look at the NYC skyline? The staff is always courteous and we especially enjoyed Jessi's tour of the resort during our last stay. Morning yoga was also a nice touch to start our days. Always a nice staycation. We usually rent bikes on island and have a picnic somewhere on island or relax in hammock grove.

Overall a subpar experience |We booked the journey family tent, months before arriving we were assured there were working air conditioners in the tents so booking in August would not be a problem. ||The day we arrived it was 95 degrees - the large journey tent had an AC unit in it that was not properly setup so it was pushing hotter air into the tent and the small children’s tent only had a fan - so it was a sweat lodge at best and utterly unusable. ||We went to get my children and ice waters and had to ask multiple staff for help who responded that they were working another event and the bartender would be there soon - again, all we wanted was water. ||There was also a dead rat the size of my shih tzu in the middle of the walkway directly outside the dinner tent. ||There was no shade anywhere and again, it was 95 degrees - we almost left as quickly as we came. ||We went to take showers to cool down and the knobs on the showers would fall off making it impossible to change the water temp. ||At the smores camp fire rats were literally as bold as squirrels and i had to chase them away. I have lived in the city for 13 years and never seen anything like it. ||I have been in a safari tent in the literal African bush that was able to provide shade, working ACs and no rodents - its a shame that Collective Retreats claims to be luxury but clearly cannot deliver.

My third visit! The most fun getaway from the city. Love the views and the vibe. Food is delicious! This visit we had 12 woman from all over connected by our love of skiing in Montana. We went to the spa, had a great dinner (wonderful server) and enjoyed s'mores by the fire pit. Loved watching the activity on the water. Took a walk around the island the next day. Planning to go back in the fall (with my mother who put it on her Bucket List after seeing our photographs!).