Traveller55

Will be staying in NYC for 2 weeks in August 2010. I would like to visit the Hamptons for 2 days and 1 night with 2 friends. What is the best way to get there and where should we stay. Like the idea of shops, food and water views.

Gwendolynn

Can't advise on hotels, etc. But transportation is via the Long Island RR out of Penn Station... or by a bus called the Hampton Jitney... reservations required. If you chose to rent a car the drive is at least two hours.

travelbuff

Ggogle hotels in The Hamptons, there are several towns that make up the area known as The Hamptons, and there are several hotels in the area. It will be a problem to find a reservation for only 1 night for the weekend, you should be able to do it during the week.

Transportation is on LIRR, which is the easiest way to get there, you may want to rent a car for your visit once you get there.

Hope this helps.

nytraveler

You may have trouble getting a hotel for 1 night - during the season a lot of places let rooms only by the week - or for several days. They definitely won't let you do one weekend night.As for water views - this is practically impossible - most of the waterfront is owned by the uber wealthy/filled with their mansions - or are town or state beaches.

You can get there by train or Jitney - but once there you are fairly helpless without a car. Most inns - there aren;t many hotels are in towns - a long distance from the beaches. there are condo colonies right on the beach in Amagansett but they are definitely only by the week. You might find a motel near Amagansett ofrMontauk that is across the highway from the beach - but you will need a car to get to restaurants or any other sights.

northie

I stayed in a motel/apartment complex in Montauk overlooking the beach for 2 nights mid week in the "season" -might be difficult this late but do try. Also had a car .

Aduchamp1

Dependng when you go the LIRR can be a zoo because of the limited number of trains. And the Hamptoms are a bit spread out.Westhamptom is about a 35-40 drive from say Sag Harbor.

mclaurie

The only way you might get just 1 night at a hotel in high season is to go during the week. There are few places right on the beach for a water view that are also walkable to town/village for shops and restaurants. In Sag Harbor Baron's Cove is a motel across from the bay so some rooms have a bit of a view and you're an easy walk into town. The beach right there is not a swimming beach though. http://www.baronscove.com/index.php The nearest train station to Sag Harbor is Bridgehampton. The Hamptonjitney.com has some buses that go to Sag Harbor.

Ocean Colony in Amagansett is another option. http://www.duneresorts.com/search-re...26+Tennis+Club

Southampton and East Hampton are the main villages in terms of shops (there are shops in all the villages though) but to my knowledge have no accomodation right on the water. If you want to give up the water view, post back with an idea of your budget.

Traveller55

Thanks for all your help. Is it worth a day trip by car. If not would $200 for 1 night get us a room for 3 during the week. Could give up the water view

mclaurie

No one can say whether something is worth it to you. Depends on what you want to see/do. The Jitney is pricey at ~$53/person roundtrip so depending on how comfortable you are driving, renting a car might be a better option and give you more flexibility. If you want to go to a beach, it also gives you the ability to do that and get around to the villages. You should be able to find a room for 3 during the week for ~ $200/night. http://www.wainscottinn.com/rates.html has some rooms that would sleep 3 for around that price.

If you just want to walk around one village and would rather not drive, you can definitely take the train or Jitney and spend a day. I think East Hampton is probably the most "Hampton-esque" town with shops, retaurants, pretty pond. Sag Harbor is the only town on the water (bay) and has a charm of it's own, but it's relatively smaller.

ellenem

With no traffic, the drive from Manhattan to the Hamptons would be a minimum of 2 hours. However, depending on where in Manhattan you begin your drive, you could waste 30-60 minutes just trying to get out of Manhattan.

Weekend traffic to the Hamptons on Friday afternoonss and back to Manhattan on Sunday evenings is nightmarish.

K_brklyn

Parking is also an issue in the Hamptons, need a permit, but you can pay $20 during the week to park at the beach. The long term parking in East Hampton for nonresidents is 1.5 miles away from the beach, other parking areas have either a 1 hour or 2 hour limit. A day trip might be worth it, you can have lunch, drive around the towns and check out one of the vineyards.

mclaurie

Parking is not so much of an issue except at the beach. The only place you pay for parking is at those beaches that allow you to do so. Parking in the villages is free although generally limited to 2 hrs. in a spot til 7 pm. The train is cheaper than the Jitney bus there aren't many trains. http://www.mta.info/lirr/html/ttn/lirrtt.htm

nytraveler

For 3 people I would think a car cheaper than the Jitney (for which you must have advance reservations since it typically sells out) and more convenient that the train (there are very few).

I think $200 is difficult but possible for something basic for a midweek night - many of the inns are distinctly upscale and obviously more than that.