How to Find Hotels In Long Island, New York

A Long Island vacation may be a day trip to one of the state's most popular beaches or a summer-long excursion to the posh shores of the Hamptons. With more than 30 different wineries, plenty of celebrity sightings, mind-blowing scenery, the most expensive homes in the country and family-friendly beaches, Long Island is the perfect vacation destination for people of all ages.

Things You'll Need

• Guidebooks
• Computer with Internet access

Instructions

Plan Your Vacation

1. Select accommodations among the North Shore, North Fork and South Fork regions of Long Island.

2. Arrive by car, ferry, the Long Island Rail Road or if you're one of the very rich who vacation here, by helicopter!

3. Visit the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium to pet sharks and see some wonders of the deep.

4. Visit Long Island's North Shore villages. King's Point and Sands Point were the inspiration for West Egg and East Egg in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

5. Stop by Hewlett Bay Park, and check out the stately homes in the richest place in New York State.

6. Drop by Amityville in Suffolk County if you dare. Amityville was the setting for the book The Amityville Horror and the inspiration for the beach village in the movie Jaws.

7. Shop at the Americana Mall, also called the Miracle Mile, on Northern Boulevard in Manhasset--but be prepared for exorbitant prices here where some of the richest people in the world pick up a few things.

How to Book Accommodations in Long Island, New York

1. To book accommodations, contact Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Check availability for Long Island area campgrounds, including popular campsites likes Hither Hills State Park in Montauk, Eastern Long Island Kampgrounds in Greenport and Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton.

3. Compare rates and amenities for affordable beach adjacent motels in Southampton, Montauk and Riverhead.

4. Check out rates for luxury and resort accommodations in Montauk and the Hamptons, including five-star accommodations, oceanfront spas and boutique hotels.

5. Explore your options in beachfront cottages and vacation rentals. Keep in mind weekly rates depend on location, size and time of the year, with some cabins going for as much as $7,000 per week during the peak season.

6. Explore your options in Long Island bed and breakfast inns, including romantic accommodations in the North Fork, historic homes in Southampton and restored farmhouses in Jamesport.

Tips & Warnings

• The best time to visit Long Island wineries is during the harvest in September and October.

• Check out the summer concert series at Jones Beach.

• History buffs may enjoy the 19th-century Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

• Parking is extremely expensive and sparse at South Shore beaches like Cooper's Beach, Main Beach and Old Town Beach.