If you live in New York City, you might be dreaming of spending the summer, or at least a portion of it, in the Hamptons. The Hamptons offers an escape from the hot misery of the city in the summer.
There are ocean breezes, beautiful scenery, and you can take a bike ride without worrying about being in an accident.
While it’s crowded in the summer, it’s certainly nothing like the city and you can enjoy nature and the outdoors, along with a potential celebrity sighting.
Even if you don’t live in the city, you might be thinking that you’d love to experience the Hamptons.
There’s just one issue—it’s expensive.
There’s a reason it draws in celebrities. The Hamptons is pricey and exclusive. For just a week in The Hamptons, you might expect to spend at least $1,200 a person. If you stay for a month as a couple, you’ll probably spend around $10,700.
There are things you can do to go there on a budget, however, including the following.
Choose the Right Place to Stay
There are a lot of different villages and towns in the Hamptons, and some are more affordable than others. If you want the Hamptons experience on a budget, consider Westhampton. Westhampton has more affordable accommodations, and you might also find more flexibility.
For example, you might not have to stay for a long time period to get a rental. You might be able to get a weekend rental, which can be hard to find in other parts of the Hamptons.
Share with Friends
If at all possible, one of the best ways to enjoy the Hamptons on a budget is to split things with friends.
That could mean a hotel room or a rental.
A $700 hotel room can pretty quickly become a $175 hotel room if you go with a group.
Sometimes, if you call the hotel and you’re traveling relatively soon, they might give you a discount to keep their rooms filled.
Sharing a house with people can be even better, because you’ll have more space and you can also save money in other ways, like cooking at home or barbecuing.
Find Low-Key Eateries
Not every restaurant in the Hamptons is going to be super expensive.
There are a lot of places where you can find reasonably priced food, but you might want to skip having a lot of wine because alcohol can substantially raise your tab.
The Hamptons is known for having some good delis, pizza restaurants, and bagel shops that won’t break the bank too.
Another fun option is to go to the Westhampton Farmers Market Farmstand on Montauk Highway. You can find baked items, cheese, jam and produce so that you can make a lunch or dinner for yourself.
If you do go out for meals, share an entrée with someone your with, or get a couple of appetizers and split those. This can help keep your bill down a bit.
Enjoy Nature
A lot of people don’t realize it, but some of the best things to do in the Hamptons revolve around the beautiful scenery. For example, you can head to the beach for a bonfire or just to enjoy the sunset.
You can ride bikes, learn to surf, or just walk around. One of the best ways to see the different communities that make up The Hamptons is by bike, in fact, and as was mentioned, it’s a lot more peaceful to bike there than in the city.
If you are going to the beach, parking can be expensive, but there are often free spots available if you take the time to map them out.
If you’re in Montauk, visit Kirk Park Beach, which does have free parking, and explore the Montauk lighthouse.
If you visit the Parrish Art Museum, it’s free on Wednesdays, and Montauk has a free summer concert series on Monday nights.
Go On Weekdays If You Can
If you only get a few days to go to The Hamptons and you can make it work, you’ll save money just by going on the weekdays versus the weekends. Most people head out on the weekends, which is why you’ll pay a premium for pretty much everything, and especially your lodging.
Finally, one of the best things you can do in the Hamptons is find a spot to people watch. Maybe that’s on the beach or at a café with sidewalk seating. You can sit back and relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the Hamptons, which is what it’s known for.