emtravel

I am looking for a short getway to Long Island Hamptons. We live in CT and I thought it will be easy and inexpensive getaway - NOT! I read all message re: Hamptons posted here and based on recommendations, looked on web and called many properties.

I want to go end of August , 4 nights, but now I see that I might spend only few nights, looking at crazy prices.

We are two adults in later 40s, want to be on the water, oceanfront or walk to ocean the worst case. We like romantic properties, less kids, not much B&B's but upscale inns, European type. I saw most of the places in Hamptons are motel type which are on the sand! I looked at NRH resorts and these are motels and advertised as boutique motels??? This is oxymoron in my opinion.

Anyway, here are my finding. I did not book anything yet, since few hotels told me they have cancellation, so I might wait until last day maybe something better will open up. Worst case, I will stay at home. BTW we live in Westport, CT on the sound. You ask why go to LI? Just want to see what is this hype about Hamptons. Just kidding! Heard beaches are better than in CT.

Here is what i found and rates.

property website type town dates available rates per night room cat comments

Dune Resorts/Driftwood http://www.duneresorts.com/ motel? Montauk Aug $300
Dune Resorts/Ocean Beach http://www.duneresorts.com/ condo? Montauk $285 ocf studio Looks OK
Dune Resorts/Ocean colony http://www.duneresorts.com/ condo Montauk s/o
Dune Resorts/Sea Crest http://www.duneresorts.com/ condo Amangasett $395 wkday, $440 wkend
Dune Resorts/Surf Club http://www.duneresorts.com/ condo Montauk $335-360 expensive
Dune Resorts/Windward http://www.duneresorts.com/ condo Amangasett nice
The American Hotel http://www.theamericanhotel.com historic hotel Sag Harbor cont breakfast included
William Hand House http://www.handhouse.com B&B Amangasett all $250, $300 southern comfort, blue room Adults only, bkfst and afternoon refreshment included. Beach 10 min walk
Beachomber Resort http://www.beachcomber-montauk.com motel Montauk $285-$295, waterview studio low, upper across the street from the ocean

Southampton Inn http://www.southamptoninn.com/ inn Southhampton $309 5 min walk 1 mile walk to the beach. No Breakfast.
http://www.atlanticterrace.com motel Montauk $140 non oceanview, $240 oceanview bad reviews on Travel advisor. Ask for renovated room. On the beach, ov
Sun and sound http://www.sunnsound.com/ motel Montauk $190
A butlers Manor http:://abutlersmanor.com inn Southamptonm $250 breakfadt included
Chequit Inn http://shelterislandinns.com inn Shelter Island $175, then $250 wkend more 10 min walk to the beach, cont breakfast
Dering Harbor Inn http://www.deringharborinn.com motel Shelter Island $200
OceanVista Resorts http://www.oceanvistaresort.com motel Amangasett $195 down, $215 upstair, on Friday goes up $215/230

Appreciate your feedback. What is better location - Montauk/Amangasset or Shelter Island?


thanks
Sophia

bennnie

I'm no expert by any stretch of the imagination but I found the area of Amagansett more to my liking than Easthampton. My brother's house is in Easthampton but his boat is in Montauk. We drove through Amagansett. There was a farmer's market and art show going on. Easthampton is full of expensive stores. Amagansett seemed more laid back. Montauk is beautiful. The town is kind of honky tonk but in a kind of nice way. We also drove through Shelter Island and Sag Harbor and I thought both were very attractive. There was a big inn in Shelter Island with a huge porch overlooking the water. I could have sat there all day.

Not sure this is any help but at least your post will bump to the top and maybe get some better responses.

Ryan

No offense, but did you really expect the prices at the end of August to be reasonable? Especially this year when those who can, are planning on high-tailing out of town because of the convention.

In terms of the prices being crazy, it's the Hamptons. Price is secondary to being "in the Hamptons." If you think the hotels are expensive, then prepare for sticker shock when you get your dinner check. The Hamptons aren't intended to be a reasonably priced family destination. It's intended to be a resort area that appeals to people who can afford it.

If you're still intent on heading out that way, I might suggest you think about somewhere on the North Fork. There are some nice hotels in and around Greenport.

In terms of getting away for a few days, you'll likely find more reasonably priced areas on the Jersey Shore or parts of Rhode Island.

jasper

i am a long islander, and i agree with ryan. it is cleary their peak season, prices will be the highest they can be. also, it is likely places are already booked as it is just before labor day, people trying to escape ny for the convention, etc...and if you think the accommodations are expensive, wait to you see wine and dinner!

bugswife1

You picked the most expensive time to go. The end of August brings the Hamptons Classic International Horse Show. If you really want to go, you need to grab a reservation now, because it may not be there next week. I am paying $750 for 3 nights at the Dutch Motel in E. Hampton the weekend before Labor Day--but I was prepared for that. Not on the beach, but can use the beach pass from the hotel. We just like it because it is pet friendly, which saves us $100 boarding fees. Call them and ask for Ron. He may have some suggestions for you.

emtravel

Thank you for all your replies.
After doing all this research, I understand this is not worth it. We will pickup some time off-season to go. We actually leave across the sound in Westport, CT. My husband said that for this price we can sit on our beach across town . I just need to find out what all this hype about Hamptons, so we will go sometimes late fall or in spring. Or, we might to swing for a day. I completely forgot that beacuse of convention many people might flee NYC. Sophia

eastender

I'm not a big hamptons fan in the first place, but I can tell you in no uncertain terms that the Southampton Inn is the biggest most overpriced dump on long island. A stay there only differs from the Bates Motel in that the Bates is priced reasonably and is probably cleaner. The place is a world class dump that needs a match. However, it is marketed as upscale yet quaint. At $300+/night in the summer you should be able to walk on the carpet without shoes or not hear the guy in the room above you breathing not even snoring.

Scarlett

August is terribly expensive, we always stayed out in Montauk in July. But, if I had to choose between Montauk and Shelter Island, my choice would be Montauk. We have stayed off season at the Dunes/Surf Club. Not bad for a couple of nights.
I also love Sag Harbor..The American Hotel has a great restaurant, I don't know about the rooms. I think it might be noisy though..it is an old building with a popular restaurant downstairs.
I like a day walking around So Hampton, eat and wander into the shops, but I find it boring after a few hours.
Shelter Island is nice, but I would go for a day to hang out and stay closer to East Hampton. Much more to do. It is impossible to be bored there.
I wanted a house on Shelter Island, but the Yankee refused to rob a bank.

And YES, the beaches are better than Connecticut