The Ocean Resort Inn

The Ocean Resort Inn isn't a romantic spot for a honeymoon or a solitary seaside cottage for reflection. Instead, the pale yellow, L-shaped building encourages community. The lobby, with a shabby-chic reception desk and light wood floors, has some brochures and a mini-fridge with free soda and water upon check-in. The rooms, on two floors with a shared porch, face a courtyard with pastel umbrellas and redwood picnic tables. The beach is across the street and can be seen from the hotel, but the view is limited, not panoramic. There are plastic loungers around the courtyard, a porch swing and Adirondack chairs, and a hammock. Guests share a Weber grill that's great for summer barbecues. They also have the use of the pool at the inn next door, owned by The Ocean Resort Inn. There's a small bathroom off the lobby where early arriving guests can change into bathing suits and go for a swim before check in. The Ocean Resort Inn is an affordable, practical lodging for those who want to swim and surf at the nearby beach or walk into town for some fresh fish and a beer.  

The Ocean Resort Inn is in Montauk, a town where local fisherman rub shoulders with summer resident Ralph Lauren, among other luminaries of design, Hollywood, and Wall Street. The beach is just a few minutes' walk from the property, and there's no need to bring a car to carry beach gear since the inn provides little wagons. Downtown Montauk is only about five minutes' walk away, and offers many restaurants, ice cream spots, clothing stores, coffee shops, and bars. One of the more boisterous bars, Sloppy Tuna's, is a four-minute walk, and Surf Lodge, a rowdy bar with an A-list clientele, is a three-minute drive (or 20-minute walk -- parking is tight). For rainy day cultural outings, the Parrish Art Museum is a 40-minute drive; East Hampton Village, with its stately homes and luxury shopping is 25 minutes by car; Ditch Plains, the best-known Montauk beach for the surfing crowd, is a five-minute drive. Note that public transportation is spotty in the Hamptons. As for getting here, trains are infrequent but a good alternative to battling traffic on the Long Island Expressway, and the Long Island Rail Road's Montauk station is only a five-minute drive from the inn. To take the Hampton Jitney from New York City, which takes about three hours in light traffic, travelers can walk four minutes to the Montauk Police Station; the bus stop is in front of it. The East Hampton Airport is around a half-hour drive. 

Rooms at The Ocean Resort Inn are geared toward summer. The walls, furnishings, and bed linens are quilted and white, and together with the turquoise carpet and relative spaciousness, the overall look is crisp and ocean-appropriate. Large picture windows are covered in white sheers and framed with gold curtains, while beds are flanked by small white tables topped with turquoise ginger-jar lamps. Framed prints of local Montauk scenes are on the walls, and there are small, light wood tables and chairs that give a spot to sip coffee. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, small microwaves, tea/coffee facilities, ice buckets, and ironing facilities. The bathrooms are crisp, too, with white walls and fixtures, modern sinks with dark-wood vanities, and practical toiletries, including toothpaste. The showers have curtains and are half-tiled in turquoise. Deluxe Studios and Suites have jetted tubs in the bathrooms. Although simple, rooms offer some nice bonuses: They're very clean, according to guests, and the sound of the sea is audible when windows are left open. However, there's no room service. 

There's a stand of bicycles to borrow at The Ocean Resort Inn, as well as a bin with loaner beach chairs, umbrellas, and a boogie board or two. And there's a group of wagons for carting items to the beach. Beach towels, in blue and white stripes, are in the rooms. There's a pool with lounge chairs at the hotel next door. At the inn itself, there's a courtyard with umbrellas, picnic tables, plastic loungers, and a Weber grill for guest barbecues. The porch, with its plastic, stackable chairs and Adirondack chairs, encourages conversation between guests. There's also a hammock for napping. Parking and Wi-Fi are free. The hotel lacks a restaurant (or any breakfast service), bar, or gym, but there are six tennis courts, a pool and kiddy pool, and a golf course at Montauk Downs State Park, about 10 minutes' drive away; permits are required.