How to get to the Hamptons for a day ?
 

Going to NY in May would like to go to the Hamptons for a day trip,
have looked it up on line but all day trips seem to go on a Tuesday only, we will not be there on Tuesday, any suggestions on how to get there ? thank you.

It's relatively easy to get TO the Hamptons (the Jitney noted above, the LIRR railroad or a rental car).

BUT, once there public transit is extremely limited - so if you don't rent a car you will find it difficult and time-consuming to get around and see/do anything - esp since before Memorial day is off season.

If you can define what you want to see/do (wineries, Montauk lighthouse, whale watching, explore some of the towns, see a couple of the small museums, check out the little you can of the enormous mansions of the uber wealthy and famous, walk on the beach????) people can provide more useful info. And do realize this is the north atlantic so water will be very cold then.

And when the water is cold and a warm front comes through one of these barrier islands in May or June, the result is fog -- romantic if it isn't your destination wedding!

I would recommend renting a car. You might look into ZipCar.

Weather could range from glorious to dismal, so if possible, wait until the last minute to make plans.

If you want to visit wineries (most are on the North Fork) check opening hours in March.

Never, mind, I see that your trip will be in May, which makes all the difference. (Not MARCH, as I read originally!)

Wineries will be open and you have a good change of excellent weather, although it will not be warm enough to swim in the bay, or the ocean. (I don't swim in the sea until August but many do well before that month)

You don't want to do a tour. Get out there on your own by train or jitney (bus). You can hire a guide who will meet you or just explore on your own.

The Hamptons are a string of towns that are several miles away from each other.

Once you get to one of them, it will be very difficult to get to the others without a car, unless you plan to take a taxi from one to the other.

Thank you for all the information, I called jitney bus Co. not interested in wineries. which area would be the nicest to visit, we would like nice shops, cafes, and a walk around. South, East or Stag harbour ?

It's Sag Harbor.

Southampton is the most upscale - with branches of world famous designer stores.

East Hampton is a little more artsy crafty.

However, both are small towns surrounded by residential areas - and not near the beaches. So the time you might want to spend in each town is limited.

Sag Harbor - like Southampton, is an old whaling town and has a whaling museum. I would definitely get info on cabs in case you want to get from one town to another. And be sure you have reservations on the Jitney - which often sells out.

Montauk is lovely right at the tip.

Don't quite agree with nytraveler. East Hampton is not very artsy apart from having art galleries, which all the villages have.. It's now full of name brand stores like Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, Coach...it's the prettiest village though with a pond and the resident swans. Sag Harbor is right on the water (bay) and has a lot of character. I would try to visit both. There is no train in Sag Harbor and there are fewer direct buses to Sag Harbor. Look at going to East Hampton and maybe taking a cab to Sag Harbor later in the day. See if you can return from Sag Harbor.

Thank you, that is perfect for us.:)

Do rent a car, probably out on the island, which will be cheaper. But I would strongly recommend NOT going on a weekend, which will offer both traffic and parking problems.

FYI: I'm not sure why people recommend Zipcar for casual renters. It's a subscription service that requires set up. It's not something you can just "do" on a whim. You can probably find an Enterprise or Hertz location near an LIRR station out on the island, which should be fine (near Islip airport would be a possibility ... it's a bit more than halfway out to the Hamptons). But reserve a car in advance. You can always rent in Manhattan, but our rates are so high that it's usually cheaper to take the train somewhere else.

If you rent a car at a train station make sure it has frequent service. Outside of rush hours many stations have only 1 train per hour.

What goes in in the Hamps in May? Not much, I would think.

It's true it is not high season and many places don;t open all week until Memorial Day. But there is still plenty to see and do for a couple of days - once you decide on your interests.