Story Archive

Usually One must Go to a Bowling Alley to Meet Someone of Your Stature

The latest AirBnB offering in Salinas, Calif., is the “Gas station stayover.” That’s right, you can stay the night at a gasoline filling station and convenience store, and it’s just $50 to “fulfill any childhood dream of sleeping at a gas station,” owner Pete Shen says. While you can have “all you can drink” from the soda fountain and “coffee [and] some ice cream,” and, well, “some running water,” you have to “bring your own air mattress” since there are no beds. You’re not allowed to check in until closing time (10:00 p.m.) and you must check out by opening time (5:00 a.m.). “Rather than stay at a real nice comfy luxury place, this has a real nice experience,” Shen says. While the offering has had plenty of “views,” Shen says, no one has booked a night. (RC/KSBW Salinas) ...An air mattress? Well, it is an AirBnB property.