Heading to the Hamptons (or other northeastern beach towns) from NYC this summer? From mobile party to unwind time, baller to budget, here’s four ways to get there.
Destinations: The Hamptons, Fire Island (seaplane), Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut, and new service to Nantucket, Cape Cod, and Martha’s Vineyard.
Transit Time: 30 minutes to an hour for Hamptons destinations.
Amenities: Pre-boarding cocktails at the sleek Blade lounges with free Wi-Fi; newspapers, snacks, and sippy cups of rosé on the flight. Raining? A chauffeured Mercedes-Benz awaits.
Price: from $575.
Views: The sweeping Manhattan skyline, majestic Long Island bays, and cars stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Long Island Expressway.
Co-Passengers: Model types and finance guys Instagraming rap-video selfies (#blessed), celebrities, Blade babes (the nickname for the comely flight attendants).
Destinations: The Hamptons, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Atlantic City.
Transit Time: 35 minutes to East Hampton.
Amenities: A fleet of new ultra-luxe Bell 407GX helis with triple-sized windows and Bose sound systems; BYOC (bring your own champagne) policy.
Price: From $525.
Views: The same horizon-stretching vistas as Blade.
Co-Passengers: CEOs, techies, and groups of summering couples.
Destinations: Westhampton, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Amagansett, Montauk.
Transit Time: 2 to 3 hours, depending on the stop (book the express Cannonball train that runs on Friday and Sunday to cut down travel time).
Amenities: BYOB (grab your brown-bagged inebriant of choice at the Penn Station kiosks), power outlets that sometimes work, a seat if you score one before they fill up.
Price: Around $30 one-way, depending on the stop and peak times, or buy a ticket onboard for an extra $5.
Views: Hordes of people frantically rushing to grab seats, graffitied Queens walls, small Long Island hamlets, the cute stranger sitting next to you.
Co-Passengers: Tallboy quaffing Frat bros in tank tops, manicured girls clutching bottles of rosé, that questionable ex you dated a few summers ago.
Destinations: Westhampton, Quogue, Southampton, Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Wainscott, Watermill, Napeague, Amangansett, Montauk.
Transit Time: 2 to 4.5 hours, depending on the stop and traffic, which is especially grisly on Friday.
Amenities: A guaranteed seat, free-but-spotty Wi-Fi, working power outlets, bottled water, snacks, and—the best part—peace and quiet (cellphone conversations are discouraged).
Price: $28 prepaid, $30 onboard.
Views: Endless traffic on the entry road Route 27, bikers and joggers passing you by, quaint East End towns.
Co-Passengers: Preppy couples sharing sandwiches, families with small children, retirees who own second homes, people reading Kindles and the Wall Street Journal.
