Taxi becomes cheap lodging option for NYC visitors

(14 Aug 2015) LEAD-IN:
There's no electricity, no running water and no bathroom.
But New York City visitors bold enough to book a parked van for $22 USD a night through Airbnb do get a real bed and an impressive view of Manhattan's skyline.

STORY-LINE:
Parked vehicles make up just a tiny fraction of the thousands of Airbnb private accommodation listings in New York City.
There are just three vans, a converted yellow taxi and two campers.
But these alternative accommodations do provide an option for adventurous, budget-minded visitors seeking a place to rest their heads for less than the $200 USD-and-up most hotels charge.
For now, all the New York City listings on Airbnb for parked vehicles come from one owner, Jonathan Powley, a 35-year-old stand-up comedian and former hotel concierge.
He's been renting his vehicles for six months now and does his best to anticipate every question.
"It's somebody different every night, a lot of people come from Europe and Asia and I love meeting people," he says.
"I have people from Finland right now, tonight a couple is coming from Denmark. And I just try to make the experience special for them.
"My background is in hospitality management and I've worked as a concierge, believe it or not, at both the Trump Hotel, Trump International Hotel and Tower and the Ritz Carlton, so I try to give that five-star service, but at a more unique experience I should say."
But is it legal? Police say that as long as it's legally parked, there's no problem sleeping in a vehicle on the street.
Powley also claims it's safe. He says so far there's been no problems for those staying in his vehicles.
They're all parked in Queens' Long Island City, a gentrifying neighbourhood of former industrial warehouses and new condo towers.
Every day, Powley cleans his four-wheeled hotel rooms, changes the sheets and puts out flowers for new guests.
"I've got two campers, I've got a 1979 Dodge Midas and I've got a 1989 - which is my favourite camper - Chevy Sprinter Mallard," he says.
"And then I've got three vans, they're conversion vans and I've got this beautiful taxi, the pride and joy. Which has been the most popular actually, as far as people asking about it. It's a 2002 Honda Odyssey and it's beautiful, the light even works. The sleeping meter's off though, don't worry.
"The reviews are like 4.5 to 5 stars. It's really funny, I really get excited about the reviews, because I'll spend a week with someone on-and-off meeting them and then later they'll right a review about how everything was and I always try to make sure that I get good reviews. But I do it more because I want to make sure they have a great experience."
Powley arranges with several neighbourhood coffee shops for guests to get free snacks and use their restrooms.
He also directs them to a nearby public pool to shower, a practice he encourages.
"I try to work everything out for them so it's as easy as possible and they can find a bathroom or they can find a great cafe to eat or find Wi-Fi," he says.
"It's just a lot of little, letting them know where everything. It's pretty easy, they've got the ferry right here that takes you right to Manhattan or down to South Street Seaport. The 7 train, you're only two stops, three stops from Times Square, two stops from Bryant Park, one stop to Grand Central station. It's a great, great neighbourhood. I lived here for five years, I love it. I'm probably biased, a little."
Today's guests at the taxi hotel are Tabitha and Mike Akins.
"So, it's pretty much the best spot to have a tiny little staycation."
Such listings are catching on in other places too.


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