Van down by the river: Parked vehicles latest New York lodging choice for bold, cheap tourists

NEW YORK — There's no electricity, no running water, no bathroom.

But travelers to New York City bold enough to book a parked van for $22 a night through Airbnb do get a real bed and a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline from across the East River in Queens.

"If you want a New York adventure, this is it. Great location, great view," says Rapha Schaele, a 23-year-old student from Freiburg, Germany, who recently stayed in the van with two friends for four days.

While parked vehicles make up a tiny fraction of the thousands of Airbnb private accommodation listings in New York City — just three vans, a converted yellow taxi and two campers — they provide an option for adventurous, budget-minded visitors seeking a place to rest their heads for far less than the $200-and-up most hotels charge.

"The money is perfect," says Clemens Spath, 24, among the German trio who stayed in the 78-square-foot van down by the river. They did complain, however, that the battery-powered fan was not enough to cool them on a sweltering night and mosquitoes got in through an open window.

For now, all the New York City listings on Airbnb for parked vehicles come from one owner, Jonathan Powley, a 35-year-old standup comedian and former hotel concierge who has been renting his vehicles for six months and does his best to anticipate every question.

Is it legal? Police say that as long as it is legally parked, there's no problem sleeping in a vehicle on the street.

Is it safe? There have been no problems thus far with those staying in Powley's vehicles, all parked in Queens' Long Island City, a gentrifying neighborhood 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. He arranges with several neighborhood coffee shops for guests to get free snacks and use the restrooms. And he directs them to a nearby public pool to shower, a practice he encourages.

Powley goes the distance for special details: For one couple celebrating their 40th anniversary in one of his vans, he bought red rose petals to create a heart waiting for them on their bed.

Earlier this month, a couple who live in Brooklyn put down $39 for a night in Powley's minivan taxi, decorated with yellow-and-black bedding, yellow towels and fresh bananas. The Atlanta natives were moving into a sublet and just needed to crash somewhere for one night.

Their black Labrador was happy curling up on the floor while they soaked up the shimmering views of the United Nations and the Empire State Building.

"It's pretty much the best spot to have a tiny little staycation," says Tabitha Akins, a fashion stylist.

Such listings are catching on in other places. Along Portugal's Costa da Prata, a converted truck comes with a wood-burning stove and an outdoor picnic table for about $70 a night. In London, a VW van with two bedrooms and a kitchen — but no toilet — can be had for about $200.

While Powley hopes to eventually make some money on his steadily booked listings in New York, he's barely breaking even for now.

"I'm not doing it for the money. I love meeting travelers from all over the world," he says. "I had a Spanish painter who had stayed at a Times Square hotel, and he told me he liked my van better."