Where are the Hamptons? Out on the end of Long Island? There are more people that have not been to "The Hamptons" than have!..

Everyone has heard of the very popular east end of Long Island's favorite summer retreat, but not everyone has or even wants to visit.

Why should everyone go to The Hamptons? Well... people pick different parts of the Hamptons to visit for different reasons. The reccomendations of 1866Vacancy travel blog, is to go to the right places in the Hampton's to suit your own style.

East Hampton - If you like wearing sun glasses all the time, driving status cars, and rubbing elbows with someone who can possibly read your script... you might try and succeed at annoying someone in East Hampton. Quite honestly these people likely just want to be on vacation in peace. Don't let the pictures in Dan's Papers fool you.... when you see everyone flashing large smiles and attending various charitible events, looking exeptionally good in their photos. East Hampton Hotel deals are harder to find in season, it's best to call ahead.

Sag Harbor north west of the south part of the Hamptons, is great for a nice day strolling shops, checking out art galleries, or dining with friends.. Not much of an action location, it is a beautiful town with lovely yachts in the harbor to look at .. or climb aboard (better be the owner or have permission). It is a hop skip and a jump from Shelter Island, then onto the North Fork where one can wine taste all day and settle into a quaint North Fork bed and breakfast.

Montauk Point, Always Wanted To Go There?.... Ok.. Time To Go.

If you like piling up the station wagon and packing a P & B lunch with maw and the kids, you might want to go to visit Montauk Point, take some pictures, stay in reasonable priced motel, and play some putt putt golf. Also visit Johns drive in for homemade ice cream, and do not worry there are public bathrooms right in town.

If you want to go fishing without a large or any boat for that matter, and actually catch large fish at dawn with the surfcasters.. then well Montauk may be for you.

If you want to Hike as far as your legs can carry you to Montauk Point, from the Montauk village.. well... it is a long hike... with many beautiful beaches to the south of the main / somewhat travelled road.

Montauk is also a cool town for having some drinks by Gosmans up north or Shagwong right in the village. You can also find a bunch of great hotel/motel/resorts right on the ocean.. in warm weather if that is what you want! You can have a five dollar draft beer in town, or $1 beer up by the docks. You have to drive around this place and forage if you want to have some fun. Don't be such a tourist!

Multifaceted Montauk, also has one of the best surfing hotels "East Deck" for the guaranteed or your money back waves. Ok.. no guarantees.. but this long hotel with cool hotdog and wraps truck is a favorite for real surfers. Past the village furthest east, and not quite as far as Montauk Point, this place catches the best of the currents coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. Don't take up these rooms if you are not a surfer as this is their only really great spot to call their own.

Looking to book a place to stay in Montauk? Try the Hamptons Hotel Directory for Montauk Motels Hotels & B and B's.

Learn more about Montauks fun landscape with a cute printable map at eMontauk.com

Amagansett, Less busy..

If you like quiet places, organic vegetable stands, a beach house to write your book, and have more to spend, perhaps renting a beach house in Amagansett is for you.... and your $40,000 for perhaps four or five weeks. Hmm.

Between Amagansett and Montauk is a quiet strip of road that has a few hotels that typically have rooms when others are sold out in the villages. A poplular Resort along this strip is Gurneys. Take a touristy drive over to Gurney's restaurant, for oceanfront dining and a big Sunday Brunch buffet. Always a reliable and quality choice for the changing tides out here.

Southampton

Nice town, big village to walk and shop. Many beaches and hotels to stay. Plenty of Southampton Restaurants. Go in damp weather to the seafarers choice of a nice respite from a month of fishing at Shippys Pumpernickel, and try some nice roast duck or other traditional American Fare. Southampton has a little bit of everything. All around a pleasant experience.


Hampton Bays - Water water everywhere!

One drive over Poquott bridge toward the ocean, and you will see sweeping vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. To the east some houses and a few places to have a bite, keep going and you'll end up back west a bit and in West Hampton Beach. If instead you drive to the left / east you will find two places to enjoy the beach, and three or four restaurants, a few gift shops sometimes closed.... and the best fishing boats in the Hamptons. These guys/gals (?) do real fishing apparently. I will never forget "Edna" that boat is out of there but so captivating to look at with it's huge hull and rusty pieces.. you realize what fishing is about with that boat.

The Hampton Bay area was once called "Good Ground". It withstood the hurricanes better, and has great fishing, and water access just about everywhere. The Ocean, the canals, the inlets, the bay. This place is really a win win. Not a fancy part of the Hamptons, but slowly and slightly dressing up a few restaurants..

The Hampton Bays was also the party town you heard about in the eighties. Not anymore. Many a cheap hotel crash pad appear to be out of business. There are police to pull over any young drinkers and make sure the streets are safe. Yet somehow the famous "Boardy Barn" survives. You can find ruckus at the Boardy Barn still. Think lots of beer, and a crowd singing Sweet Caroline the theme song for the eclectic mob to sing in unison. However be warned.. just east behind the hedges are the cops! They are waiting in the parking lot next door of the Wild By Nature market.. to make sure no one drives drunk. That is a good thing. IF you go looking for the parties you heard of of yesteryear.. you will be disappointed.. but if you are looking for a grown up version of the Hampton Bays.. you will find it now.

If you are a water sports kind of guy / gal and not into the above, there are some great places on the northern part of "The Bays". Hampton Bays has beaches which face either onto the Atlantic Ocean, and also the beautiful Peconic Bay. This is one Hampton town that has nice opportunities for water skiing, wind sufing and the like - Hampton Bays is a favorite for many, who like to really enjoy the peacefulness of not being on, but having the very best of nature all around. There are plenty of hotels and motels in Hampton Bays.

There are quite a few cool restaurants there now too. Toni's Asian Fusion is a popular place with their new Hibatchi grills. A serene choice is Inn Spot on The Bay. The proprietor makes a good martini, and can bring you homemade vanilla ice cream with vanilla beans from Madigascar.

West Hampton Beach - Where to Stay.. What to Do..

Closest to NYC by about an hour less in drive time from "East" Hampton or Montauk Point "The End" or "The Beginning" (this is an old debate). West Hampton Beach has a nice village for walking... cool and casual food places, coffee shops, etc... Nice beaches on the Atlantic, and many large houses along Dune Road to look at and wonder "Who owns these cool beach houses?". More importantly why are alot for sale? (hint: Wall Street economic turndown). Yes you can get a million dollars off these prime beach houses, easily now. Just come up with the other three million and you will be in... Do it!

Or if you are not yet a millionaire, that is ok too.. you may call early and get a room right on Seabreeze Avenue, at the Seabreeze motel for $120 midweek during the summer. Not too shabby!

When there... eat, swim, walk, drink, read poolside, take photos doing the afforementioned for your later years. If these are your later years.. do not waste time taking photos.. go have some fun kids!

This is a seasonal town, so call ahead, the quiet motel clerk answering the phone on the first ring in June is "sorry we are booked" in July.. Forage, Forage! Call until you find! West Hampton Beach Motels & Hotels.


To get a glimpse at the Hampton towns is the helpful Hamptons Hotel Directory. The cute map makes clear where you will be logistically for making the right choice for your plans. It will get you where you want to go...

If you do not have time to check your computer and pick from the directory while on the road, do not worry! Call the famous toll free travel phone number 1-866-Vacancy. They can offer you the nearest hotel in their system.

However, the Hamptons are a tough town to sign up to the travel network, and for that reason all are not included in the system. Try both 1866Vacancy and The Hamptons Hotel Directory to get a great place to stay while in the Hamptons! If you want to find real reviews try to looking at Hamptons Restaurant Reviews on Yelp the popular restaurant review site. This link will show you a few in East Hampton, NY.