Weekday East End Long Island hotels on a discount
One of the beach front suites at the Aqua Beach Hotel in Aquebogue. Credit: Randee Daddona
If you're looking to book an East End getaway this fall, there's a simple way to save: stay during the week.
The summer crowds that pack the Hamptons and North Fork thin out after Labor Day and so do hotel rates. A review of nightly rates at four East End properties this fall found Sunday through Wednesday brought the lowest price tags, while Friday and Saturday were consistently the most expensive.
Choosing a weekday over a weekend can mean saving hundreds of dollars a night, with the biggest swings at higher-end properties, where a Saturday night can cost more than twice the rate of a Sunday stay. At one East Hampton hotel, the Saturday price reached $900, compared with as little as $250 on a Sunday or Monday.
Midweek travel comes with another advantage this time of year: many East End hotels drop their minimum-stay requirements heading into October and November, making it easy to book a single night instead of a full weekend.
For Long Islanders looking for a fall escape, that makes the early part of the week worth a closer look.
Aqua Beach Hotel
15 Bay Ave., Aquebogue; aquahotelbeachclub.com; 631-722-3212
Cheapest days to stay: Sunday through Thursday
The Aqua Beach Hotel in Aquebogue has a private Peconic Bay beach. Credit: Randee Daddona
The hotel offers a low-key bayside escape in Aquebogue, where the North Fork's vineyards, farm stands and beaches are close by and so are savings.
Rooms cost $229 a night Sunday through Thursday, compared with Friday and Saturday, when the rate nearly doubles to $449. For a two-night stay, choosing Sunday and Monday instead of Friday and Saturday could mean a difference of $440 before taxes and fees.
Silver Sands Motel
1400 Silvermere Rd., Greenport; silversandsmotel.com; 631-997-1957
Cheapest days to stay: Monday through Wednesday
Nestled along the North Fork shoreline of Greenport, travelers will find this charming waterfront motel. Credit: Silver Sands Motel
This waterfront motel sits on Greenport's North Fork shoreline, surrounded by vineyards, farm stands and the small-town bustle of the village.
Monday through Wednesday rates start at $325 a night, with prices beginning to climb Thursday, when they reach up to $400. Saturday rates surge as high as $600, meaning a midweek Greenport getaway can save up to $275 a night compared with the most expensive Saturday rate.
Sag Harbor Inn
45 West Water St., Sag Harbor; sagharborinn.com; 631-725-2949
Cheapest days to stay: Sunday and Monday
Experience the charm of Sag Harbor with a waterfront accommodation right in the heart of the village at The Sag Harbor Inn. Credit: Ian J. Stark
For a waterfront stay in the heart of Sag Harbor, with village shops, restaurants and the harbor just outside the door, booking Sunday through Thursday can save up to $130 a night.
The $325 weeknight rate is a 40% savings compared with Friday and Saturday, when the price climbs to $455. For a two-night stay, trading a Friday-Saturday booking for Sunday and Monday instead could mean a difference of $260 before taxes and fees.
LDV at The Maidstone
207 Main St., East Hampton; themaidstone.com; 631-324-5006
Cheapest days to stay: Sunday and Monday
LDV at The Maidstone is a historic 19-room boutique hotel and Italian coastal restaurant in East Hampton. Credit: LDV at The Maidstone
LDV at The Maidstone offers a stylish stay on East Hampton's Main Street, with boutiques, restaurants and the village's historic charm within easy reach. At this luxury hotel, the price swing is the widest of any property reviewed: a Saturday night can cost more than three times what a Sunday night does.
Sunday and Monday nights are the cheapest, with October and November rates ranging from $250 to $300. Prices rise Tuesday through Thursday, reaching $400 to $450, before climbing to as much as $900 on Friday and Saturday
Hotel rates for October and November reflect those available on the hotel's website and are subject to change based on availability, dates, room type and other factors. Rates do not include taxes or fees.
