Summer vacation: New York City and The Hamptons

A

Atavistic

Member
Local time
3:13 PM
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
19
My significant other and myself along with another couple are flying across the Atlantic Ocean this July for summer vacation. We're going to New York City for a week and then plan to drive to The Hamptons afterwards. Seeing as there appears to be many New Yorkers and others familiar with this part of the US on this board it seems wise to ask for some advice. All replies are greatly appreciated.

1) We plan on staying on Manhattan and I'm investigated the possibility of renting an apartment or something similar with a kitchen available for home cooking. Our budget is roughly $300 per night (2 bedrooms). Any suggestion or experiences with rental companies or other ways of aquiring this? Do not hesitate if you have advice on finding similar accomodation or beach houses in the Hamptons! :)
2) Are there rental companies that have vintage style cars available? All the major ones that show up on google seem to offer the usual lowdown of Hondas, Chrystlers and whatnot. Driving to the Hamptons in a classic American cabriolet in the summer breeze would be something very special.
3) I've been to NYC before but never the Hamptons. Any advice on sights and places to visit/stay?
4) Where do you get your 120/135 films processed and printed in these areas?

If this is to travel specific and not photography related enough, please accept my apology and I will remove the thread.
 
Last edited:
Man, Manhattan is the one place on earth I'd be OK without a kitchen for the rest of my life. Chaep street and ethnic food if you want to save money, plus tons of nice places with some of the best food you've ever eaten of all kinds. And you want to cook? If you can't afford it, I understand, but if you can, eat out every single meal!

Renting classic cars? No idea. But I can tell you be prepared to sit in hours of traffic driving out to the Hamptons. And not just city traffic, once you get way out east, the roads clog up thanks to everyone heading the same place on a one lane road.

I've used Neptune in Garden City and Hi Tech in Plainview (both midway between the city and eastern long island) but now do mail order.
 
Don't bother with the kitchen! There are lots of cheap (but good) diners for breakfast and lunch and great (but expensive) restaurants with your choice of cuisine for dinner. Traffic to the Hamptons is terrible on Friday evening and during the return on Sunday afternoon/evening, so travel another time to avoid the worst of the mess.
 
Ata,

No reason to drive in Manhattan, actually I'd avoid it. Cabs, subways, walking is much easier. You might check renting a car out in the Hamptons. Driving out is ok but lots more fun once you get there, tons of things to do. LIRR is a MUCH better way to get there.

Not sure if any of the colleges in NYC rent out their rooms but I'd call around and see. One of the universities in Washington DC does and rates are reasonable. I'm not sure where to point you. Perhaps Craigs list or check with universities for a sublet for the summer. That's a great way to find low cost housing.

Not sure where to point you for processing.

B2
 
Craigslist for rentals. We've had good success putting relatives up by renting through Craigslist. $300/night for two rooms isn't so easy in Manhattan but a lot of people do go away during the summer and rent their places out. You might also try looking in Brooklyn or Queens if you have trouble finding things in Manhattan.

For summer rentals in the Hamptons I would start looking now. Personally I would recommend heading all the way out to Montauk. There's a wonderful place out there called the Panoramic View with nice rooms with kitchens. Much more low-key than the Hamptons and very beautiful. Personally I avoid the Hamptons like the plague during the high summer season.

Don't know about cars but I second the idea of taking the LIRR and not driving. Even standard rental cars are about twice the price if you are renting in Manhattan. If you are going to drive, do yourself a favor and leave mid-day, mid week. Traffic is bad particularity on Fridays heading out there.

I like L and I labs for processing my color stuff (I do the black and white myself):
L&I Photo and Digital
1W 22nd St. New York, NY10010

If I were you, I would plan on spending some time during the week in the Hamptons and then staying in Manhattan on the weekend. You will end up missing the crowds in both places and often during the summer you feel like you have the city to yourself on the weekend. You can actually get in to great restaurants and go to museums without crowds. It's somewhat surreal.

There are loads of free concerts and events during the summer. Google Central Park Summerstage, Celebrate Brooklyn (free music in Prospect Park), and all the free outdoor movies. The New York Philharmonic plays once or twice on the Great Lawn in Central Park and it's great to go with a blanked and some wine and hang out under the stars.
 
There is Hampton bus that takes you from NYC to Hampton directly. You can google them up. Lots of people take the bus instead of driving themselves. Very convenient.
 
fbf said:
There is Hampton bus that takes you from NYC to Hampton directly. You can google them up. Lots of people take the bus instead of driving themselves. Very convenient.
Click to expand...

Yes, came back to mention this, think they serve drinks, too. Hampton Jitney or something like that?
 
Brian Puccio said:
Yes, came back to mention this, think they serve drinks, too. Hampton Jitney or something like that?
Click to expand...

The Hampton Jitney is perfered by some of my friends who live in Madhattan that own summer homes in the Hamptons that don't want to drive or have someone already out in the Hamptons to pick them up. One of the Pick-up areas in Manhattan is 68th and Lex by the subway.

Fridays the LIE becomes a parking lot. The Wall Street crowd tends to start their weekends on Thursdays or earlier. If they drive out they leave after midnite where a convertable won't matter.

I use to bicycle a lot. If you are staying in South Hampton, possibly rent a bike at Rotations the bike shop in town. Early Saturdays and Sundays there are some great fun rides, where its mostly the Wall Street crowd. You'll meet some interesting people and get to really see the beauty of the Hamptons. Say hello to Rick, the owner of Rotations.

The Hampton Maid (also Southhampton) has this big breakfast that includes sausage, bacon, ham, fench toast, pancakes, eggs and regular toast. It comes served on a turkey platter. I once ate two "Hamptom Maids" in one sitting. (The waitress refused to pile the two on one platter and insisted on bringing them back-to-back.)

The light in the Hamptons is very pastel and very bright. I'd favor vintage glass if you have it.

I'd search the other Travel threads for places to eat out in Madhattan. It does not make sense to me to prepare food.

For a driving experiance, I'd go to the race driving school in Conn where you eventually get to road test a Dodge Viper on a race track, but this would be another vacation. Long Island is too congested to really enjoy a "Real Car" IMHO.

Cal
 
The main squeeze and I will be traveling also, as soon as it's dark and I can siphon some gas out of the neighbor's Ford. Perchance we could meet and share expenses? What w/ the bail bondsmen and attorney fees we're a little short of ready cash, but our credit is good at all the posh places. Abe's Liquors, Bubba's Bar and Used Car Lot, and Squirrel's Topless Donut Emporium(the fried donut holes and Tequila lattes are not to be missed!). I'll bring some 8 tracks of Jimmy Dean and a 6 pack. Sounds good? Great. I'll call you collect. Just need your phone number, and maybe your credit card numbers just in case :)
 
You'll need a car when you get in the hamptons, or keep your range small and bicycle. It's painful to keep a car in the city.

Hampton Jitney (comfortable bus) picks up along 3rd Ave and out along Sunrise/Montauk Highway outbound at each village. Railroad (LIRR) is a long ride, unless you catch the Thursday and Friday evening (only) 'cannonball'. (It used to have a booze car; it's less appealing now.)

July is a good call - best month of the year. A convertible of some sort would be a Very Good Thing. Some of the auto dealers rent cars for a month, if that is your term, at better rates.

The advice to spend weekdays in the hamptons and weekends in NYC is good, but... it depends on what you want to do. If you like quiet, that's a good plan. If you want to see the nightlife, you need to go with the crowds. Manhattan empties on the weekends and the Hamptons/Cape Cod/Vineyard/Nantucket fill up.

If you want the full time hamptons experience, stay in Southampton or Easthampton or thereabouts. Sag Harbor is a little different, a harbor town rather than beach; quaint and formerly writers/artists. The American Hotel is a good base for gastronomic operations, people watching and meeting friends.

If you want to see the American cottage (which is what the hamptons were, for awhile) try staying on Shelter Island (AKA unHampton). It positions you centrally between the Forks and is cut off by ferries (that close around midnight). Pleasantness and quiet are enforced by ordinance. Bring a couple good books, the large format, day-trip to roast on a south shore ocean beach, oogle and hack through the crowd and return to a quiet harbor view, July sunlight through the oaks, and a rum and tonic.

Don't miss a day or overnight on Block Island. Take the ferry from Montauk (feet and bikes only). This is very different and very nice. You might just want to take a cottage there... (Don't stay near Capt Nicks or the Kittens - sailors too loud, too late) Can be fairly inexpensive. Lots of weekending young couples and honeymooners close to town, older couples and families (monthly rentals) as you move out.

PM me if you need additional advice.

-Charlie
 
I agree about the apartment. My daughter loves NYC and goes several times a year, and ALWAYS rents apartments. I don't know where you are, but I find wonderful accommodations at www.HomeExchange.com, and it costs me nothing except the $99 membership fee. I'm spending the month of October in France's Basque country AND a week in Paris this way. Hope this helps.
Vic
 
Driving a vintage car in Manhattan sounds like fun, but is probably a bad idea. Try, however, Cooper Classics. They're downtown. They sell vintage rides, some common, some exotic. They also rent them out for movie and photo shoots. I expect the prices will be steep, but if you want to drive something special, they might have it. Ask for Elloitt Cuker who owns the place. Google them for contact info. Have fun. Take lots of pix and post 'em here.
 
Lots of excellent advice here folks, thanks! I may have sounded a bit unclear, car rental is for the trip to the Hamptons not for Manhattan.

Since accomodation prices tend to get cheaper the longer you stay we plan on spending a full week in Manhatten before going to Hamptons Thursday to Monday. The LIRR along with a Hamptons Jitney sounds excellent, but think we prefer the option to take our time and stop wherever we want.

I'll do some more research based on your replies! :)
 
Check out the shows at The Boardy Barn. It is a great opportunity to hear live music in an intimate setting. Imagine hearing and seeing someone like James Taylor in a small setting in the Hamptons. Shows sell out fast.

Have fun.

Cal
 
Double Negative said:
Color film can be developed and printed darn near everywhere in 30-60 minutes. Slide and B&W film is another matter, and will take about a week to get back, depending.
Click to expand...

Duggal on W23rd between 5th and 6th will do slides/c-41 in about 4 hours so long as you do develop only with no prints, contact, etc. B&W takes a little longer, about 8 hours (again, development only).

I generally drop off all my film around 9AM and go back around 6PM. They've never disappointed me. It's definitely nice to have same day service.
 
I wouldn't bother with the Hamptons. Especially in the summer. Crowded, expensive, and does not draw the typical New Yorker. But, that might be your thing.....

Long Islanders are different kind of animal. I grew up there and hated it. I secretly wish that a a deep trench would be dug along the Queens-Nassau border, so deep that one can push Long Island out to sea....Others opinions may vary.
 
kbg32 said:
Long Islanders are different kind of animal. I grew up there and hated it. I secretly wish that a a deep trench would be dug along the Queens-Nassau border, so deep that one can push Long Island out to sea....Others opinions may vary.
Click to expand...

I escaped Lawn-guy-land also. It is a strange place. Possibly a bigger sense of entitlement than the Upper Eastside. A research study found that people from Long Island whine more than five times the national average. I have a theory of why there are more single females on Long Island than anywhere in the U.S.: guys move out, but women choose to remain close to their mothers.

The Hamptons are pretty, but many Wall Streeters sold their beach houses at the peak in the housing market and bought small farms upstate in Dutches and Putnam counties.

The congestion is as bad as Queens so you might as well live in NYC.

Cal
 
kbg32 said:
I wouldn't bother with the Hamptons. Especially in the summer. Crowded, expensive, and does not draw the typical New Yorker. But, that might be your thing.....

Long Islanders are different kind of animal. I grew up there and hated it. I secretly wish that a a deep trench would be dug along the Queens-Nassau border, so deep that one can push Long Island out to sea....Others opinions may vary.
Click to expand...

I agree, though not everyone is like that. There's a huge north-shore south-shore difference too, though it isn't so simply geographically split, at least for the central part of Long Island (Nassau and western Suffolk).
 
Brian Puccio said:
I agree, though not everyone is like that. There's a huge north-shore south-shore difference too, though it isn't so simply geographically split, at least for the central part of Long Island (Nassau and western Suffolk).
Click to expand...

I hear you and agree. As far as the north-shore and south-shore there is the local expression that adds added distinction, "I live south of Montauk Highway."

I still have friends there, but it is still very odd going back to visit.

Cal
 
I was very happy the day my family finally moved. I'd rather travel 3+ hours upstate to visit them, then ride the LIRR for 50 minutes. I grew up on the South Shore. South of Sunrise Highway, south of Merrick Road. I do have fond memories of Jones Beach which was only 15-20 minutes away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom