Aqualina Inn Montauk

Aqualina Inn Montauk sits in a two-story L-shaped building with cream-colored siding, which partially encloses a sea-stone pebble courtyard set with wood picnic tables and navy umbrellas. The seasonal property lacks the frills and extra features of a standard mid-range hotel -- it doesn’t even have its own reception area. For that, guests go to the sister property next door, The Ocean Resort Inn, a budget-friendly area staple that makes use of Aqualina’s outdoor pool. Online, it’s hard to tell the two apart. The properties share features, beachy decor, and managers, but Aqualina was totally revamped in late 2015. While Aqualina’s rooms are slightly smaller than those at Ocean Resort, they’re also more stylish and modern. Both properties cater to the same clientele: beach-going guests looking for affordable, practical, and conveniently located lodging. Rooms are designed for couples, and the hotel is ostensibly adults-only, though according to its website, children can sometimes be accommodated.

Aqualina is exceptionally well located in a busy area of Montauk, surrounded by other hotels, beach houses, and vacation homes. The inn is just a two-minute walk from the beach and a four-minute walk from the heart of downtown Montauk, home to restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars. There’s free parking onsite for guests, but for those who’d rather not brave Long Island traffic, the Hampton Jitney stops nearby (a three-minute walk) and the Montauk LIRR stop is about a five-minute taxi ride. East Hampton Airport is a 30-minute drive. The drive from Manhattan is about three hours in light traffic.

While generally smaller than accommodations at The Ocean Resort Inn, rooms at the Aqualina Inn are chicer and fresher thanks to their total rehab in 2015. Pastel blue walls, fresh white bed linens, and striped accent pillows set a beachy tone that’s perfectly accented with wood floors, rustic wood furnishings, and framed beach photos set over the beds. Bathrooms are simple but fresh and modern with blue and white tiling, including striped tiling and faux stone floors in some of the walk-in showers. In most rooms, showers are narrow and bathrooms are on the small side, but upgraded Whirlpool rooms have big whirlpool tubs with rainfall showers and shower wands.

Rooms are outfitted with AC units, flat-screen TVs with Netflix, free Wi-Fi, microwaves, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and free individual toiletries. Housekeeping comes daily. “Courtyard” rooms are on the ground floor, with doors that open onto the front courtyard, while second-story rooms feature small balconies with sitting areas.

The inn has few typical hotel common spaces -- there’s no gym, restaurant, breakfast area, or lobby (guests check-in next door) -- but it makes use of its location with outdoor spaces. A main draw is the outdoor pool, a simple but pleasant area added when the hotel was built in 2015; it's shared with the sister property next door. A big hedge and wood fences keep neighbors at bay, and the area beyond the pool deck is surrounded by grass. Comfy lounge chairs with bolster pillows provide seating in the shade or sun. A central courtyard features picnic tables with umbrellas, plus two BBQ grills for guest use and an ice machine. An outdoor shower makes cleaning off after the beach or pool easy. Guests can borrow beach supplies for free -- there’s a well stocked supply of loaner beach chairs, umbrellas, plus bins with sports equipment like volleyballs and paddles. Hotel bikes are also free to borrow, and Wi-Fi is free, too. Note the front desk is open during limited hours.