Nov 21, 2008
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Nov 21, 2008 |
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Where to stay in Montauk, from cottages to motels
Special to Newsday Put Long Island in your rear-view mirror and escape to...Montauk. Sure, its' still Long Island, but this fishing village on the South Fork is worlds away form the hustle and bustle just to the west. Say "Montauk" and most people first think of emerald green golf courses, dazzling white beaches and fishing excursions from Sound to sea. But there are plenty of other activities: camping, hiking, horseback riding, tennis and, of course, a visit to the historic Montauk Lighthouse. Many Long Islanders "do" Montauk in a day, but to experience the character of the place, it's worth an extended visit. Only then can you begin to understand "The End." Making sense of hotel and motel rates in a place as buzzworthy and as seasonal as Montauk is a lot like trying to figure out your monthly cell-phone bill. There are lots of variables. Room prices vary according to the season, and the differences can be significant. Then there are weekday rates and weekend rates as well as required minimum-night stays around holidays and summer weekends. Rates can even vary from the norm in a given week due to supply and demand. For those reasons, rather than list rates, we have placed the inns, motels and hotels in relative price categories: expensive, $$$; moderate, $$; and inexpensive, $. Some of the following accommodations already are fully booked for all summer weekends, but rooms are available at nearly all of them during mid-week and after mid-August. PANORAMIC VIEW, 272 Old Montauk Hwy.; 631-668-3000, panoramicview.com This gem boasts spectacular views and a private beach on the Atlantic. Lushly landscaped grounds around the motel and cottages beckon guests outdoors. Rooms are tastefully appointed in a country-cottage decor. The sounds of saws and hammers can be heard in the distance, as the motel is slowly converted into condominiums. But 44 rooms are still available for overnight guests, who also get a 10 percent discount at Gurney's Inn next door. $$ GURNEY'S INN, 290 Old Montauk Hwy.; 631-668-2345, gurneys-inn.com Practically synonymous with Montauk, Gurney's is the internationally known spa and resort right on the Atlantic. You could spend a week here and never leave the grounds - all the while sampling the fine food, fitness activities and spa amenities. (And, of course, the pristine beach.) Modern, tasteful rooms in an unpretentious setting make for a soothing stay. Ocean-view and oceanfront suites as well as other accommodations are available. $$$ HITHER HOUSE COTTAGES, 10 Lincoln Rd.; 631-668-2714, hitherhouse.com This collection of cottages is nestled in a residential area just a short walk to the Atlantic. The grounds have the feel of an artists' colony, with red-sided cottages and stained-glass windows. No restaurant on premises, but many are nearby. Rooms and cottages available. $ SUNRISE GUEST HOUSE, 681 Old Montauk Hwy.; 631- 668-7286, sunrisebnb.com This cozy, charming bed and breakfast has all the amenities of home. There are hardwood floors and antique furnishings throughout, with a dazzling beach just across the street. The friendly innkeeper makes you feel like a local. No smoking, no pets and no children younger than 12. One room and three two-room suites available. Continental breakfast included. $ HARTMAN'S BRINEY BREEZES MOTEL, Old Montauk Highway; 631-668-2290, brineybreezes.com This motel boasts an ocean view from every room; pristine beaches are just across the street. All the rooms have been renovated in the past two years, making this a modern and relaxing seaside retreat. All rooms have kitchens. Or, you can cook outside on the kettle grills near the pool. Available accommodations: studio apartments, two-room suites and deluxe two-room suite with two full baths. $$ SANDS MOTEL, South Emery Street; 631-668-5100, montauksands.com This place offers clean rooms, friendly staff and a place to shampoo the salt out of your hair before going to bed. There's also a small cottage, with two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bath. The decor is dated and the furnishings are worn, but the beach is just across the street. There isn't a restaurant, but the Oyster Pond Restaurant and Bar is a stone's throw away. Rooms and efficiency apartments available. $ BORN FREE MOTEL, 115 S. Emerson Ave.; 631-668-2896, bornfreemotel.com People come here for the easy beach access and affordable rooms. Located near downtown Montauk, the motel is close to shops and restaurants. Good for vacationers on a budget who need a bed with clean sheets after a long day at the beach or on the water. $ ROYAL ATLANTIC MOTEL, South Edgemere Street; 631-668-5103, royalatlantic.com This motel has 140 rooms, 12 town houses and one private home, so there are accommodations to suit any budget. Located near downtown Montauk, it's close to restaurants, clubs, shops and souvenirs. The John Papas Café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Two heated pools and a game room help keep kids occupied. The rooms are a little dated, but the town houses are relatively new, with marble foyers, whirlpool tubs and modern kitchens. $ STONE LION INN, 51 Edgemere St.; 631-668-7050, harvest2000.com/sli This 11-room motel sits apart from the hubbub of downtown and Atlantic beaches. Rooms face Fort Pond, with views of spectacular sunsets, regardless of season. It's also home to East by Northeast, which serves fresh Montauk seafood, along with steaks and local produce. $ CROW'S NEST INN AND RESTAURANT, 4 Old West Lake Dr., at Route 27E; 631- 668-3700, crowsnestrest.com This is the closest motel to the Montauk Lighthouse and the nearby state parks. The 14 rooms are comfortable, with brass beds and Jacuzzis in each. The full-service restaurant serves hearty American cuisine, steaks and seafood. Special packages include golf, fishing or horseback riding. $ GOSMAN'S CULLODEN HOUSE, 540 West Lake Dr.; 631-668-9293, gosmanscullodenhouse.com No Internet access. No phones. "Total freedom and peace," says the desk clerk. These are clean, comfortable accommodations but nothing fancy, and just a short walk from Block Island Sound. Would be great lodging for a fishing trip. Available: large rooms with two doubles or a king; studios with kitchenettes, a large efficiency apartment and a two-bedroom apartment. $ SUN 'N SOUND WATERFRONT RESORT, 22 Soundview Dr.; 631-668-2212, duneresorts.com/sns The biggest draw here are the stunning views of Block Island Sound. Nothing fancy in the rooms, not even a phone. But all have kitchens, and barbecue grills are available on a deck that overlooks the water. Rooms and suites available. $ THE MONTAUK SOUNDVIEW, 6 Soundview Dr.; 631-668-5500, montauksoundview.com The rooms are nice enough here, but splurge on a simple cottage with a spectacular view of Block Island Sound. The grounds are so intimate that the other guests feel like family. The playground and pool make the Soundview kid- friendly, and shops and restaurants are plentiful in nearby Montauk Harbor. Available: standard rooms, efficiency apartments, two-room suites, a four-room cottage and a four-room apartment. $ BLUE HAVEN MOTEL, 533 West Lake Dr., 631-668- 5943, bluehavenmotel.com This quiet motel has 29 units, which include standard rooms with double beds, rooms with kitchenettes and an apartment that sleeps four. There's a pool, but the best water view is just steps away at Block Island Sound. $ MONTAUK YACHT CLUB RESORT & MARINA, 32 Star Island Rd.; 631-668-3100, montaukyachtclub.com Situated on 29 acres of prime waterfront real estate, Montauk Yacht Club is a diamond in the rough. The rooms and villas date back to the 1920s and are due for a makeover, and maritime real estate developer Andrew Farkas is promising just that. Renovations are expected to continue through winter, and the club is scheduled to reopen in 2008 with refurbished rooms. Uniquely located on Star Island and surrounded by Lake Montauk, the resort has some rooms this summer and fall for guests who want full-service lodging with a restaurant and spa. $$ SNUG HARBOR MARINA & MOTEL, 3 Star Island Rd.; 631-668-2860, montauksnugharbor.com Wedged between Block Island Sound and Lake Montauk, the motel is perfect for families who love to fish. Dockage is available for those who b.y.o.b. (bring your own boat). Waterskiing, fishing trips and beach excursions also are available. The friendly staff is knowledgeable of local geography and amenities. Standard rooms, some with kitchenettes, and apartments. $ EAST DECK MOTEL FAMILY RESORT, 40 Deforest Road, 631-668-2334, eastdeckmotel.com Away from the crowds downtown is a motel in Ditch Plains that's clean, affordable - and offers guests a relaxing outdoor yoga session every morning, weather permitting. The rooms are a little dated, but that's part of the charm that keeps families coming back year after year. Before heading to the beach, grab a snack at the Ditch Witch trailer in the parking lot. Then enjoy the waves - or watch the kitesurfers who love this part of Montauk. The East Deck season lasts from mid-May to mid-October. $ WAVECREST OCEANFRONT RESORT, 170 Old Montauk Hwy., 631-668-2141, wavecrestonocean.com Bring groceries, your suit and some sunscreen and never leave this sandy retreat that offers spectacular views atop the dunes. Umbrellas and beach chairs are provided for guests who enjoy a 375-foot stretch of private beach. On rainy days, try the indoor, heated swimming pool. Rooms have kitchenettes, and barbeque grills are available outside as well. Season runs from the end of April to mid-November. $ THE DREAM INN BED & BREAKFAST, 45 Gilbert Road, 631-668-4906, thedreaminn.com This bed and breakfast offers all the amenities of home - because it is a home. Two spacious rooms with private baths are available to guests, who share a living room, dining area and small kitchen in a tastefully appointed home built in 2005. The guest area leads to a heated in-ground pool, with plenty of lounge chairs for a lazy day. The B&B is open year round, but call in advance for availability and minimum-stay requirements. Guests must be 21 or older to stay here, and no pets are allowed. $$ OCEAN SURF RESORT, 84 S. Emerson Ave., 631-668-3332, oceansurfresort.com Sure, there's a newly built swimming pool right out back, but just a few steps beyond is the Atlantic Ocean, perfect for sunbathers and surfers alike. All rooms have an efficiency kitchen, with refrigerator, microwave, hot plate, toaster and coffee maker. High-speed internet access is also available - if you can forget the beach at your back door. $ OCEANSIDE BEACH RESORT, 626 Montauk Hwy., 631-668-9825, montaukmotel.com There are rooms to suit almost any budget at the Oceanside Beach Resort. Families on a budget can reserve rooms that are clean but slightly worn -- and just a block from the beach. A swimming pool, horseshoe pits and barbecue grills add to the family friendly appeal. But there are two newly renovated "Jacuzzi suites" that aim to attract couples on a romantic getaway. The décor has an "Out of Africa" feel, with added amenities, such as stainless-steel bathroom fixtures and a flat-screen TV. Beyond kids and couples, pets are also welcome here. Open year-round. $ - $$$ DAUNT'S ALBATROSS MOTEL, 44 S. Elmwood Avenue, 631-668-2729 DAUNT'S ALBATROSS WEST, 20 S. Elmwood Ave., 631-668-2867, dauntsalbatross.com There are actually two Daunt's motels - east and west - located on Elmwood Avenue. Families come back year after year because the motels are conveniently located near the beach as well as Montauk's shops and restaurants. Efficiencies offer a kitchenette, and many guests bring a cooler stocked with hamburgers and hotdogs and cook out on the grills. The motel on the west closes for the winter, but the main motel is open year round. $ MONTAUK MANOR, 236 Edgemere St., 631-668-4400, montaukmanor.com The enormous tudor edifice that anchors the skyline is the Montauk Manor, the most stately resort at the end of the South Fork. Step in the lobby for a glimpse of a structure steeped in history. All of the rooms are privately owned condominiums that are available for short- and long-term rentals. Because of this, each unit has been uniquely decorated and appointed according to the owners' taste. We saw a spacious one-bedroom suite with a kitchenette, decorated in a breezy beach theme. Amenities include two pools, an exercise room, squash and tennis courts and a restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner daily. A full-service spa that offers massages, facials and other services is also located here. Open year round. $$ LAKESIDE INN, 183 Edgemere St., 631-668-3455, lakesidemtk.com The sparkling carpet of crushed clamshells in the drive hint of something special inside. Once used as low-income housing, The Lakeside has been renovated - and reinvented - into a sleek and serene getaway on the edge of Fort Pond Lake. Rooms are minimalist, but look for inspired touches -- like the teak-wood ceiling in the bathroom, the river-rock shower floor and even an iPod docking station. Kayaks are available to guests at no charge. The Lakeside Bar is located next door. Open year-round. $$ THE ATLANTIC TERRACE, 21 Surfside Place, 631-668-2050, atlanticterrace.com The managers here want you to think of The Atlantic Terrace as your personal beach house. Maybe that's why many of the guests reserve rooms one year after another. The rooms are clean if not a little bland. But who cares when the pool and beach are out the back door. The Surf's Up Café is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the peak season, and other restaurants and shops are nearby. Better yet, cook your catch on one of the outdoor barbecue grills. Motel is open from May until mid-October. $ THE OCEAN RESORT INN, 95 S. Emerson Ave., 631-668-2300, oceanresortinn.com Porch swings, picnic tables, potted flowers and bamboo wind chimes add a casual air to this motel that lies between the beach and downtown Montauk. Rooms are neat and sunny, and the friendly staff provides guests with complimentary beach towels, chairs and umbrellas. $ FAMILY GETAWAY Splurge: Hartman's Briney Breezes Motel The deluxe, two-room suite has two bathrooms and, like all the other rooms here, a kitchen. Or cook outdoors at grills near the pool. The suite is $395 a night on weekends through Sept. 2. Save: Royal Atlantic There's something for every family here - standard rooms, townhouses and an apartment. Plus two pools. Get an extra-large oceanview room for $250 a night through Labor Day. COZY RETREATS Splurge: Sunrise Bed & Breakfast There are only four accommodations in this bed and breakfast, and children younger than 12 can't stay here. A two-room suite is $275 a night on summer weekends. It comes with an ocean view and a fireplace. Rates drop Sept. 7. Save: Hither House Feel like you're at an artist's retreat while staying in one of the rooms or red cottages that dot the property. Until Sept. 9, it's $125 a weeknight for an efficiency room. E-mail us your suggestions on where to stay out east This list represents only a sampling of lodgings in Montauk. If you've got a favorite that you don't see here, please e-mail us your recommendation at travel@newsday.com. Or, if you're an innkeeper and want to be added to the list, on newsday .com, send us an e-mail. This list, and one of lodgings in the Hamptons will be updated regularly. - Kari Granville. kari.granville@newsday.com Copyright 2008 Newsday Inc. |