A 200-year-old lighthouse serves as a beacon for the Long Island town of Montauk, where fishing, beachcombing, kayaking and surfing vie for your attention. Pack a camera and binoculars for seal watching walks in Montauk Point State Park during the winter. Second House, a 1700s cottage built for East Hampton shepherds, adds to the local history. Summer season brings live music to the town's pubs and cafes. Hither Hills State Park provides access to ocean swimming, a 40-acre freshwater pond and camp sites.
Things to do in Montauk
4 based on 895 reviews
Situated on Montauk's most pristine stretch of oceanfront real estate, Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa is a Hampton's icon and the only four-season resort in Montauk. Providing guests with direct access to a 2,000 ft. private sand beach, Gurney's features 146 rooms, suites and beachfront cottages, each with dramatic ocean views. With five unique dining and cocktail venues, guests can enjoy a wide range of dining options, from elegant seasonal cuisine to casual fare to grab-and-go cafe favorites. All of Gurney's venues feature spectacular ocean views, none more so than The Beach Club, which provides the only on-beach dining experience in the Hamptons. No trip to Gurney's is complete without visiting The Seawater Spa, featuring Roman baths, Finnish rock saunas, a fitness center, and our world-famous indoor/outdoor sand-filtered, ocean-fed, heated seawater pool. The Seawater Spa is the only authentic Thalasso Center in the continental United States and offers customized thalasso therapies, harnessing the healing and restorative properties of the sea. The spa also offers a wide range of innovative spa services including uniquely tailored massages, facials and body treatments.
It's hard for me to know where to start...or to even justify sharing this when I factor in how wonderful the weather was and how much fun my wife and I had in so much of our Montalk weekend. But there were so many perplexing issues with our stay at Gurney's...not quite upsetting, more head-scratching...but certainly beneath the expectations of a $1200 per night resort. I also factor in covid (i understand there was an outbreak in the resort the week before our arrival) and what was clearly a weekend OVERRUN with more than 1 demanding wedding...so all said, I do understand - however, I can't let it pass without comment. First off, the good! Room 402 was amazing. The view, the layout, nespresso machine...exactly what we had hoped for. Was it $2600 worth of amazing? No, but still my compliments to the designers for creating a lovely space. Now onto the truly odd among the weekend's activities. THE SPA My wife and I booked this for our 25th anniversary exactly a year ago. At the last minute, we noticed that tiny print on the home page stated "SPA UNDER RENOVATION". Now, this is Gurney's...the Spa is epic even in the old days and frankly, not to be missed. We asked for a credit (not a refund) and prepared to wait the 6 months to try again. After a year of cancelations, re-booking, emails, countless calls awaiting the spa renovation, and even a rude manager who said we needed to "USE OR LOSE" our credit, we finally got "THE CALL" that the spa was opening and ready to book sessions. Of course, we were also told that during our newly chosen weekend, ALL SESSIONS WERE BOOKED defeated purpose or what? A facial? not my thing. 3 days and 2 nights...massages were booked solid. Not terribly surprising given the hundreds of people attending the 19 weddings and a funeral underway - or the incomprehensible 10-6pm operating time. Really? OK, we were upset but i know how this works. People book...then cancel when the time approaches. The waitlist would be fine in the alternative. Also, we would be happy to enjoy the other spa services so while upsetting not a deal killer. Until we took a swim and were told that the only way to get into the thermal rooms is "with a 90-minute spa service package"...umm, we can't get a spa package they're all booked. Again, facials aren't my thing...and God help the kind associate who felt so bad that she promised to check the waitlist for me. After multiple calls and requests to the spa manager, (who's never even sent an apology for all this, FYI) I was told that my name hadn't even been added...so it's not really surprising that no call ever came with an available massage slot for us. So after all that... we were "allowed" to swim in your new pool. That was the extent of this full-year odyssey. 1 swim in the pool. When we tried to sit outside on the deck, we were made to feel uncomfortable because wedding pictures were being taken...not wanting to photobomb- we just left. Onto ... THE RESTAURANT On Saturday- we awoke early to crashing waves and a foggy but improving day. Much better than the next morning when a dog ( I assume she didn't pay $1200) from the next unit made the 5th of her trips thru our open door right onto our bed. Nice touch! But I digress. BREAKFAST... When we arrived the weather was brightening; passing the outside deck, we saw multiple open tables and decided to have a lite meal overlooking the ocean. We immediately noticed a sullen host who made just enough eye contact to tell us there were no available tables on the deck...that we'd need to eat inside or wait 25 minutes. Clearly, we were not happy with this choice because again, we saw so many open tables. Just didn't make sense - but we agreed and took our place alongside the 12 groomsmen inside awaiting their meal. No one took our order for about 20 minutes...made worse by the staff's failure to actually look at the people they serve. A very nice server came over and said "don't tell me...you haven't ordered yet?" Clearly, she knew what we were in for. We ordered 2 coffees- Avocado toast and a yogurt parfait. 15 minutes later, I asked to have the coffee brought over and when the server brought it, 10 minutes later, forgot to include milk or cream. She dropped the cups and walked away. I waited for the server to make eye contact to ask...but no such luck. I commandeered another server who while looking stressed, promised to help. He forgot. So I walked up, gave a quick EXCUSE ME and 10 minutes later we got our milk...some 35-40 minutes after sitting down. When it appeared none of the 12 groomsmen would be getting their food any time soon... and other people were complaining of the same we decided 50 minutes was enough to wait for a cup of black coffee...I left a $5 bill for the server and informed the host that we could no longer wait and cancel our meal. She nodded with some amount of recognition...but at no time offered to help us and certainly couldn't care less. Oh, and please note that the host continued to seat people on the outside deck during the entirety of our wait. It was a nice touch that she passed our table each time. Oh and guess what- we were billed $46 for the meal and an additional $100 for an ATM withdrawal from "GURNEY'S" that we never made. So, let's break that down hourly. Let's say you invest 44 hours for a weekend stay at FABULOUS GURNEY'S - Arrive at 3, Friday- check out at 11 on Sunday. So it's $2600 for the 44 hours...I factor that thee roughly 1 hour to sit and wait for food cost me about $105. Thanks, Gurney's for the time I'll never get back! At least the chairs were soft. Finally...fast forward to Sunday around 8am when we woke to more crashing waves a beautiful sun rise ... and a wet dog from the neighbor's room. Another nice touch...I thought to call and follow up on my initial request for a late checkout - only to receive the words we'd grown accustomed to all weekend..."SORRY, SIR, BUT NO". We decided NOT to attempt the restaurant and another $100 fleecing for toast and yogurt...NOT to attempt the get a spa treatment that we wouldn't get...and decided to just check out. Thank goodness for LOBSTER ROLL on the way out of dodge...making the 6-hour traffic-filled ride home all but bearable. Again, thanks to the local bakeries and restaurants for actually serving us food during our stay in Montauk. Folks...this may seem easy for me- it isn't! Like everyone here...I NEVER GIVE BAD REVIEWS. But this one stands out because of the incredible effort to make it happen. The fact that this entire process was so poorly handled for over a year is impossible to question. The fact that no effort was made to compensate us in the least. A bottle of wine, a comped drink, a place on the waiting list- a pass to the thermal spa or even an option to pay for one...anything to make us feel our wait was worthwhile. But nothing was offered...sadly emblematic of a "resort" whose best days are in a long-forgotten past. The MOST troubling part for me, however...was the staff's comfort with the answer NO...I was charged over $2600 for a room and 3 nespresso pods. That's it! Should anyone pay that much for a 25th anniversary, wait for a year...and get so little? My guess is... NO. If anything comes of this useless effort to explain myself...I hope that it helps to spark a culture of YES, once again at Gurney's! Maybe then my wife and I will come back to experience it.
4.5 based on 154 reviews
Welcome to Hero Beach Club Set across from a pristine and wild, moon-shaped beach, the Hero Beach Club sits surrounded on all sides by nature. This 30-room retreat features original 1950's architecture, elevated with modern design and amenities. Whether lounging in the garden, sunbathing on Umbrella Beach or hiking through the nearby pathways, Montauk's preserved beauty provides an unparalleled oasis and home for this boutique resort. Perfect for those eager to explore the sport and activities that Montauk has to offer, HBC provides both unique access to adventure and a respite for those seeking rest and relaxation.
We decided to get married at Hero Beach Club after spending many weekends at this incredible Hotel. Owned and operated by some of the most genuine people we have ever met, the team at Hero Beach helped us pull off our dream wedding. Due to COVID, there were a lot of logistics to consider as we both have very big families. We were nervous about how to pull off a large wedding while ensuring the safety of our guests. Hero Beach was the most amazing venue. The property allowed us to put up a stunning Sperry tent that accommodated 160+ guests. We rented the whole hotel for our guests. The rooms were beautifully appointed; our guests were so blown away. Alex the general manager looked after us and made sure we always had what we needed. The hotel's amenities from the beach set up to the pool area, and reception with morning coffee and snacks were all so thoughtfully presented. We spent an incredible weekend celebrating with family and friends. Everyone at Heo Beach went out of their way to make our wedding weekend so special. Even months later I am still sad it is over. I would highly recommend staying here and if you are considering it as a venue for an event- you can't go wrong.
4.5 based on 531 reviews
Ocean Surf Resort is the ultimate relaxation destination for family and beach goers who are looking for peace and tranquility in Montauk. We are a beach front property located right on the sun swept sands and are conveniently situated near all of Montauk's premier restaurants and boutiques. We offer many wonderful amenities including an outdoor heated pool, barbecue grills, complimentary Wi-Fi, sun bathing, efficiency rooms as well as many other fun activities for all our guests.
Let me get the good out there 1st: Staff was superb, from check in to housekeeping. Rooms teeny, tiny, old, outdated. From what I paid, I expected, 4 - 5 Star luxury quality, not 2- 3 star highway exit motel, in every respect but location. There was also the issue with "beach access" that was not accessible, closed off due to erosion. I get there may be some emergent situation that arises to change things, but this seems like it has been and will continue to be a longer term condition - guests should be advised and the room pricing adjusted accordingly. AC very noisy, shower pressure low.
4 based on 279 reviews
Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travelers visiting Montauk, Surf Club Resort is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its family-friendly environment and proximity to great restaurants and attractions, Surf Club Resort makes it easy to enjoy the best of Montauk. Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a kitchenette, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the resort. Surf Club Montauk features a 24 hour front desk, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts a pool. If you are driving to Surf Club Hotel, free parking is available. While staying at Surf Club Resort, visitors can check out St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church (0.2 mi) and Gosman's Dock (1.7 mi), some of Montauk's top attractions. Travelers looking to enjoy some dumplings can head to Surfside Inn, Inlet Seafood Restaurant, or East By Northeast. Otherwise, you may want to check out a cafe such as Naturally Good Foods and Cafe, Joni's, or Left Hand Coffee. Should time allow, Montauk Point State Park, Deep Hollow Ranch, and Shadmoor State Park are some popular attractions that are within walking distance. Surf Club Resort is sure to make your visit to Montauk one worth remembering.
We went out midweek for a two night stay, and it appeared that we may have been the only guests. The unit we were assigned - “lucky?” 13 - was at the far west end of the complex bordering a beach access road and overlooking an outdoor storage area. This area, viewable out of our side window, contained an assortment of items, including wood scraps, lounge chairs, tables, and a wheelbarrow full of water. Fortunately, the view of the ocean out the back was much nicer! The inside, while clean, was desperately in need of updating and maintenance. For example, the carpeting alongside the bed was ripped, the paint on the bathroom vanity was chipped, the bathroom window screen was full of dead bugs, the vertical blinds (some of which were different sizes and turned the wrong way) should have been left back in the 1970’s, and the bathroom heater was covered with rust. While we were there we noticed that several units near ours appeared to be under renovation and were disappointed that for the price we paid (just over $500 a night in the off season) they couldn’t put us in a unit that already been updated. We have stayed here in the past for both the location close to town and the view. Unfortunately, this experience - especially considering the price - was a huge disappointment and on our next visit, it’s safe to say we’ll be trying someplace new.
3.5 based on 76 reviews
Situated on scenic Lake Montauk, Gurney's Star Island Resort & Marina is The Hamptons’ premier hotel destination for summer getaways, seasonal boaters, and private events. Gurney's Star Island guests receive complimentary shuttle service to Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, including direct access to a 2,000-foot private sand beach. Enjoy our 107 luxury waterfront hotel rooms, suites, or villas; 15 acres of grounds with outdoor amenities, and an array of restaurants, bars and meeting rooms for personalized and intimate events centered around the water.
I visited for a company retreat and was extremely impressed. The location was beautiful. The conference rooms were perfect for our agenda offering opportunities for both inside and outside group sessions. The staff were quick to help. The rooms were nice and had large space for working or relaxing. Food provided was delicious, Our team stayed three nights and enjoyed the restaurant for dinner on the last night.
4 based on 167 reviews
Welcome to The Driftwood Resort, where family-friendly accommodations, supreme amenities and exceptional service come together to create a first-class experience. A beachfront resort just minutes from the famous Montauk Point Lighthouse and steps from the Atlantic Ocean, our resort on the pristine Amagansett Napeague strip sits on picturesque grounds, offers panoramic ocean vistas and is conveniently located.
My husband and I attended a wedding in Montauk and were fortunate enough to stay at Driftwood on the Ocean for several days. It was truly a wonderful experience. The room was absolutely beautiful with a lovely view of the ocean. Every room had a kitchenette that included a cooktop and a refrigerator. Even though it was October, the room had a little private "mini beach" in the back. There were lounge chairs and a private grill. The room was spotless. The housekeeper, Sandra and the rest of the housekeeping staff did a wonderful job every day. They were always available to guarantee your comfort. The gentleman who did the maintenance, Santiago came right away when I called for something so simple - how to turn on a light! He was so nice and told us if we ever needed him not to hesitate to call. I originally made my reservation through Jay. He patiently answered all of my questions about Driftwood. The second time I called to add more days, Sophie took my reservation. What a delight she was. She was able to update my reservation and address all of my concerns. I made sure I thanked her when I got there. She made sure my stay was a pleasant one and it certainly was! I highly recommend this resort. It is a wonderful place to visit no matter what time of year. We look forward to returning.
4.5 based on 222 reviews
The Beach Plum Resort, Montauk's boutique family oriented beachside hotel, is situated steps from town, beaches, peace and solitude. Ocean view rooms, efficiency kitchens, and access to the most beautiful stretch of beach in Montauk is waiting...
Stayed in Unit 18 mid-week in off-season. On Montauk Hwy across the street from beach. 10-minute walk to grocery store and 15 minute walk into downtown. Clean, perfectly nice place with great view of ocean, cushioned chaise lounges on balcony. Nice quiet yard with trees, lawn, picnic tables and grills behind the building if you want a break from the ocean. Clean, large pool open 9am-6pm. Unfortunately, pool is between the parking lot and the street, but it was lovely otherwise, with chairs and 4 large umbrellas. Really liked the outdoor changing room and shower. Very nice for getting the salt and sand off before heading back to the room. What could have made this place better: Thicker walls. It's very easy to hear through them. Firmer bed. It was way too soft. Very little support. Beach chairs, even if they were just available for rent would have made this a super-duper car-free vacation! Decent cookware. Pots were all nonstick with the coating severely scratched up, which is terrible for your health. Thankfully there was a skillet in decent shape that we used. No salt/pepper or coffee was provided. That would have been a nice touch.
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