51 Best Hotels in Long Island, New York

This historic home in the heart of Southampton Village fulfils many a wish list, with its central location and quintessential colonial style, from the wide clapboards outside to the wood beams and four-poster beds within. The name dates it as accurately as possible, and it sits on an earlier cellar dating to 1648. Antiques, Asian rugs, and rich fabrics abound, and public areas include an informal card room, a more formal dining room, and an even more formal parlor. Some rooms are elegantly rustic; others are simply elegant, and all are true to the age and style of the house. Children under 12 are welcome in the cottages, which also feature kitchens. Breakfast, afternoon tea, and unlimited soft drinks and beach parking passes in season are included.

There's an intimate feel to this gracious 18th-century inn, where rooms are furnished with an eclectic collection of early-American and English antiques, and little extras like gourmet snacks add a welcoming touch. Each room is equipped with a flat-screen TV, top quality bed linens and duvet, and Internet access, and some have fireplaces and private entrances. Outside, guests can relax in the flower-bordered patio and yard. Dinner is available at the highly-regarded restaurant, which consistently earns rave reviews for its innovative and fresh approach.

Be prepared to be spoiled silly at this gorgeous bed-and-breakfast owned by Christopher Allen, who worked as a butler before opening this with his wife Kimberly. Rooms are decorated to represent the estates the owner worked in. Home-cooked hot breakfast includes a frittata with vegetables from the garden and Kim's delicious banana-stuffed French toast.

Off the beaten path and a world away from the Hamptons "scene," this down-to-earth yet nicely appointed motel on a pretty waterfront spot in Hampton Bays is popular with families and couples. Rooms have wooden floors and a contemportary homey feel; all include microwaves, small refrigerators, and coffee makers, and some have kitchenettes. There's an outdoor pool and barbecue area, and boat slips are available. Several restaurants, a popular weekend nightclub, and a beach are within walking distance, and water-sports rentals are right next door. Cottages accommodating four guests are fully updated with full kitchens, flat-screen TVs, and all the comforts of home. If you're missing anything, the friendly staff will help you find what you need.

The style is a bit dated at this Montauk beach hotel, but it's clean, the staff is friendly, and it's just a walk—although a steep one—away from the oceanfront. With apartment-style efficiencies, the resort is a good choice for families and groups looking for a convenient, no-frills beach vacation.

Minutes from the Long Island Sound, world-class golf courses, vineyards, and restaurants, this reasonably-priced North Fork inn features a main house and a few nearby properties including family-friendly efficiencies. A lovely Victorian house has three simple but nicely-appointed suites and four efficiencies, further efficiencies out back have fully-stocked kitchenettes, there's a cottage with two bedrooms, and an apartment that sleeps five and has a porch overlooking the neighboring lavender farm. They all share the outdoor pool and picnic area, making it a popular choice for families.

This beachy little hotel, steps away from the bars, restaurants, and shops of Ocean Beach and a four-minute walk from the ocean, offers basic, clean rooms in the heart of this popular and touristy Fire Island community. Here you won't find too many frills, but it will give you just what you need for a summer vacation, right down to the complimentary beach chairs and towels. Breakfast is served on a lovely garden-like sundeck. Catering to a grown-up crowd, the minimum age to stay here is 25.

There's an upscale yet homey country feel to this stately 1795 clapboard inn within walking distance of the village center, and it's operated by the same family that owns the Loaves & Fishes food shop in Sagaponack. Beautiful antique dressers and mirrors decorate the rooms, and many of them have four-poster beds. An expansion project will provide greater capacity, in the same cozy style, for 2015. The sumptuous English breakfast, served in the dining room or on the veranda, is one of the biggest treats here.

A hip and sophisticated take on a classic Greek Revival inn, this town-center lodging has been in operation since the 1870s, but its current owners, a Swedish hospitality group, have endowed it with cool Scandinavian flair. Each of its spacious and luxurious rooms and cottages is uniquely designed and inspired by artists, designers, writers, and scientists, ranging from modern edge to cozy traditional. Rooms in the three cottages can be rented singly or combined to accommodate larger groups, making it a family-friendly option. In the restaurant the chef prepares sumptuous daily specials using fresh local seafood and produce as well as Swedish imports like Västerbotten cheese. The garden hosts live music, cocktails, an Ping-Pong on weekends. A continental Scandinavian breakfast is included in high season and on weekends in the off-season.

Stepping off the ferry at Ocean Beach, you practically fall into Clegg's Hotel, in the center of town and a five-minute walk from the beach, and this is authentic, no-frills Fire Island. Fashioned after a sailors' rooming house, it has the feel of a college residence, but details like a flower painted on each door—done 20 years ago by a now locally famous artist—give it a touch of charm. Rooms are basic and clean; studios have water or garden views and private bathrooms, and regular rooms face the garden and share four bathrooms. Owner Tyler Streck takes pride in his place, started by his grandfather Eugene "Gene" Clegg in 1946, and welcomes guests like family. He provides bikes, beach gear and board games and avoids having TVs or clocks in the rooms to encourage carefree bonding time.

This inn near a marina on the harbor has spacious rooms with antiques and views of Long Island Sound. The nautical-themed rooms are techie-friendly with iPod docking stations and flat-screen televisions. Guests can enjoy the sea breeze while multitasking or relaxing on the plush sofas. Some guest rooms have fireplaces and balconies.

With spectacular views of Dering Harbor, this family-friendly complex just steps from the dock is a perfect base for an active vacation—with many amenities, plus Shelter Island Yoga & Fitness right on-site. Kayaking is available, you can rent bikes, and an outdoor pool and tennis courts are on the premises. Or you can just relax on the peaceful, pleasant grounds and enjoy the water view. Accommodations include motel studios and one- and two-bedroom units; the two-bedroom waterfront suites have a fireplace and private deck.

The accomodations are not fancy and it's not cheap, but what you're getting is a location right on the beach in the Hamptons and a low-key atmosphere for a relaxed getaway "free of attitude and ego." Some rooms have ocean views, and some are adjoining, which are a great option for families and larger parties. Bicyles are complimentary, as are the weekend yoga classes and tennis courts. The on-site restaurant, Saltwater Grill, has live music on weekends. Memberships for the pool and facilities are available.

This is one of the few nice, co-ed places to stay in this ever-popular, gay-friendly, and notoriously fun Fire Island community, with apartments on or near the ocean and a common ocean deck providing direct beach access. In a quiet part of the community, it's just a short walk to town and the nightlife, and provides a quiet refuge from Cherry Grove's wild side. Each apartment has a simple, modern design and a kitchen or kitchenette.

This modern hotel on five landscaped acres is a pleasant 15-minute walk from the ocean or town and attracts young people, and its amenities for kids make it a good choice for families too. A large heated swimming pool, kiddie pool, barbecue area with outdoor seating, and children's play area create places for vacationers to relax between shopping and sightseeing.

On two acres in the Shinnecock Hills, 5 miles west of downtown Southampton, this unassuming motel offers efficiencies with full kitchens, contemporary furniture, and free Wi-Fi; a deluxe room can accommodate families. It also features a pool, tennis courts, basketball hoop, and barbecue area.

Outstanding service and stylish interiors are two high points at this luxury hotel, in operation since 1874. The complex has several buildings; the newest was completed in the 1980s. Charles Lindbergh, who slept here the night before his transatlantic flight, is one of the hotel's many illustrious guests. The Polo Restaurant, a popular special-occasion venue, serves refined American fare with contemporary touches.

Within walking distance of the beach and the village, this large Victorian house right off Main Street may not be luxurious, but it's a convenient option if you're traveling without a car. If you're looking for a clean place to rest your head after a day at the beach, this is a nice, affordable choice, and families will appreciate the babysitting and childcare services. Breakfast is served in a main dining area, and use of outdoor grills and the Ping-Pong table is encouraged. The hotel is affiliated with the Eastside Tennis Academy, and packages are available.

This two-story motel is steps from the dunes and the beach, just across the two-lane Old Montauk Highway. The bright, clean, one- and two-room suites have full kitchens and ocean views. You can walk the seaside path to town and restaurants or splash around in the heated pool.

Near Gosman's Dock and Montauk Harbor, this boutique hotel brings a little bit of chic to Montauk without going over the top. Rooms are bright and airy, with comfortable beds, white bed linens, and splashes of color from Aztec-style rugs. You can lounge around the outdoor pool by day and cozy up to the firepit at night. Several apartment-style efficiencies with kitchenettes can accommodate the entire family. Custom Sole' cruiser bikes provide perfect transportation to nearby beaches.

This clapboard inn overlooking Town Pond surrounds you with comfort and charm, and guests here are treated like family. Less than ¼ mile from the beach, the inn is also within walking distance of shops, a movie theater, and restaurants. The complimentary breakfast includes items like waffles, frittata, eggs any style, smoked salmon, and homemade sausage. Guests can relax at the cozy on-site bar.

Close to major East End attractions and at the beginning of Long Island's wine country, this boutique hotel has plenty of amenities and activities right on-site. The casually elegant restaurant features local musicians, and there's a large outdoor pool area, fitness center, weekend yoga classes in-season, on-site spa, and a friendly staff eager to please. It nicely blends the sort of luxury amenities you'd expect of a large hotel chain, down to its Aveda bath products, with a decidedly local feel.

Old elms and maples surround this charming white clapboard inn, home of The Palm restaurant, in the center of town. Each room is individually furnished with reproductions of 18th-century antiques. The gardens are delightful. Ask about off-season special spa and dining packages.

Art deco–style motifs dominate the lobby and rooms of this four-story hotel, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group. The inn, opened in 1995, is in the center of Great Neck Plaza, surrounded by shops and restaurants. Rooms have large windows and desks, plush carpeting, and streamlined furnishings. Bathrooms have marble vanities; some have whirlpool tubs.

All rooms at this motel overlook Peconic Bay and its sandy beach, and its quiet spot right on the water allows endless opportunities for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding (fee), and fishing. The family-friendly apartments and suites, furnished in a contemporary style, are especially roomy, and some units have full kitchens. Its location makes it a great base for exploring the North Fork's wineries, farms, shopping, and dining. When booking this property, it's best to call, as prices drop when you book multiple nights.

A perfect base for exploring the North Fork's wine country, this boutique hotel occupies a grand 1863 Italianate building and provides luxurious accommodations, beautiful, peaceful surroundings, and impeccable service. Amid 22 acres of fragrant gardens and farmland, the former home of a local sea captain has been meticulously restored so that each guest room has a unique theme, and its dedication to honoring the local heritage earned it a New York State Historic Preservation Award. Without even leaving the building you can enjoy yoga classes, live music, formal farm-to-table dining, a casual "speakeasy," and countless opportunties for relaxation. For the ultimate splurge, go for the 800-square-foot Belvedere Suite, complete with cupola affording a 360-degree view of the property.

Hospitality is the hallmark of this charming shingle-covered colonial inn, where every bedroom has antique cast-iron beds and country pine furniture. Each shabby-chic room also seems to be filled with yard upon yard of fabric: generous floral table covers and drapes, white duvets, and quilted spreads. From here it's a 15-minute walk to Southampton and a mile to a public beach.

Built in the 1790s as a classic Cape Cod cottage, this place has been turned into anything but your typical B&B—rooms have each been luxuriously designed around a particular theme, with the utmost good taste and flair. Each room has a fireplace, and beds have feather mattresses and high-thread-count cotton sheets that would be hard to leave were it not for the savory smell of the professionally cooked brunch wafting up the stairs.

The sprawling, family-friendly "American castle" has views of the bay and myriad amenities and events. The Tudor-style Manor, built in 1927 as a luxury resort, is now a condominium, so each unit is decorated differently. Most units are bright and have contemporary furnishings; some have loft bedrooms with skylights, patios, or balconies. Jitneys take you to the beaches, and beach passes are available. Events such as a children's festival and murder-mystery weekend take place throughout the year. The restaurant, Tre Bella, offers traditional southern and northern Italian cuisine.

In business for eight decades, this resort on Star Island in Montauk Harbor, with a mini-replica of the Montauk Lighthouse, has a 232-slip marina, a private beach, various restaurants and lounges, and family activities. These include bonfires and movies on the lawn, fishing, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and surf camps and paddleboard lessons. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces, and nautical design. Not every room has an ocean view, so if this is important to you, make sure you verify this when booking.