Helpful Hints For The Hamptons Rush

We love the Hamptons, but we wish getting there was a bit easier. It’s always a migraine-inducing nightmare that takes what can feel like days, thanks to all the traffic you’ll need to contend with on the Long Island Expressway. We’ve found that, no matter what time of day we decide to depart for New York’s chic summertime playground for the rich and infamous, we always get trapped in bumper-to-bumper traffic snarls – even if we head out at 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning!
But, driving two-plus hours to the Hamptons isn’t your only transportation option. Here are a few suggestions from your old friends at JoonBug, for the next time you’re planning that long Hamptons haul – uhm, make that crawl.
While taking the train’s almost as odious as braving the LIE, taking the Long Island Rail Road’s still the cheapest and easiest mode of transport going. One-way fares to the Hamptons run $13 for off-peak and $19 for peak trains, and the travel time’s just under three hours – plenty of time to catch a wink or catch up on your reading. A word to the wise, though: there’s also a “Cannonball Express” train that departs from Penn Station at 3:58 p.m. on Fridays that’ll cut the trip to two hours. Visit the LIRR’s website for reservation information.
For most, the Hampton Jitney provides the best non-stop Hamptons travel from Manhattan. But again, traffic could have you sitting on one of the Jitney’s luxury coaches for more than three hours; round-trip fares run $47. And then there’s the Jitney’s “Ambassador Service,” which offers leather seats, legroom fit for a Sacramento King, and complimentary refreshments and snacks, all for a $60 round-trip fee. Hampton Luxury Liner, the Jitney’s one competitor, takes it one step further in the luxury department, with personal TVs that screen in-transit movies; $37 one-way peak and $24 one-way off-peak trips are available.
If you’ve got the right amount of zeros appearing on your monthly savings account statements, then you could always opt for air travel. New York-based Liberty Helicopters, who hip-hop mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs keep on 24-hour call to fly him out to the Hamptons, offers helicopter charters – with seating for six – to East Hampton Airport; reservations are required, and the trip takes around 45 minutes. While there are several other outfits that offer the same service (Helicopter Flight Services ), Liberty’s the one JoonBug prefers: you can bring booze onboard.
If you must drive, consider renting a car. Zipcar’s perhaps the easiest way to rent an auto, but you’ll need to register on the company’s website at least two weeks in advance of your trip. Sign up, and if everything checks out with the DMV, you’ll receive a Zipcard in the mail, which you can use to access a variety of cars scattered throughout Manhattan. The typical hourly rate’s $8.50.
If Zipcar’s methods are a little too advanced for you, Joonbug’s advice is to visit Action Car Rental, which has some of the lowest fares imaginable, and several area locations.
Once you've got those rent-a-wheels, talk one of your friends into driving; this way, you’ll be able to rest up for the long weekend ahead. Offer to pick up the fuel expenses, and that friend might be willing to pick up the aggravation. Need directions? Mapquest's always done right by us.