Pros

  • Historic family-friendly resort on Lake Montauk
  • Rooms have air-conditioning, coffee/tea facilities, and balconies or terraces
  • Two lovely outdoor pools and one indoor pool
  • A nice variety of restaurants and bars on-site
  • An on-site spa, fitness center, and saunas
  • Four outdoor tennis courts, bocce ball, and volleyball
  • Free shuttles to Montauk Harbor, downtown, and beaches
  • Free use of beach cruiser bikes, paddleboards, and kayaks
  • Nightly bonfires with s'mores during the warmer months
  • Playground and Kids' Surf Academy for young guests
  • Private or group surf lessons available
  • Charter boat trips leave from marina
  • Free parking and free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • High prices during the summer season
  • The outdoor pool and beach areas can get crowded with kids
  • The location is not walking distance to the ocean or town
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Bottom Line

Overlooking Lake Montauk, this family-friendly resort is a classic summer getaway with views of the attached marina, bobbing with boats, and a white lighthouse. Its 107 rooms, suites, and villas are nicely decorated in nautical style, and equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen LED TVs, and mini-fridges. Though the location is not directly on the ocean, Montauk Yacht Club's great food and drink options, many free on-site activities (pools, tennis, volleyball, kayaking), and free shuttle service to town and the beaches make it a draw for an amenities-filled Hamptons getaway. Beach-or-bust travelers could consider Surf Club Resort, which has a stunning beachfront location, but no on-site dining.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina

Scene

A family-friendly resort with a variety of activities and restaurants

The historic Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina evokes another time. Originally built in 1928 by entrepreneur Carl Fisher (the man credited with turning Miami from a sleepy backwater town to a thriving resort metropolis), the resort quickly became the local go-to vacation destination for the wealthy (original members of the club include J.P. Morgan, Vincent Astor, and Harold S. Vanderbilt). Charles Lindbergh is said to have often flown his seaplane into the harbor to dock at the club's marina. And according to local legend, the Island Club (which was located next door to the original resort and would eventually become part of the resort as it stands today) was the most popular speakeasy and gambling casino around town during Prohibition. To avoid trouble, the club posted watchmen at the stone stanchions at the end of the island's causeway -- when the police stopped by, the guards would radio the club for management to hide the liquor and gambling equipment.

Today, the resort maintains some of that storied appeal (the towering white lighthouse is what beaconed guests to the resort from its inception). Yet there are plenty of modernized amenities to keep today's guest happy -- though the two outdoor pools and small private beach are popular with kids, so if you’re looking for some celebrity-style peace and quiet, head to the ocean. Despite updates and upgrades, one original trait has remained consistent through the years: The resort, as a whole, attracts a wealthy set, and guests shouldn't be surprised to see the occasional celebrity roaming its grounds.

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Location

Minutes from Montauk Harbor, the resort faces a marina, and is a short drive from the ocean and downtown

At the easternmost tip of Long Island, the Montauk Yacht Club’s lakeside location is kitty corner from Montauk Harbor -- an area with restaurants, shops, and plenty of harborside sightseeing. In addition to downtown Montauk (a nine-minute drive from the hotel), there are many nearby towns to explore, and, of course, miles of sandy beaches to enjoy. The drive to East Hampton takes about 25 minutes, and driving to Sag Harbor and Southampton takes about 40 and 55 minutes, respectively.

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Features

Pools, tennis courts, and bonfires make this a fun summer resort

Montauk Yacht Club Resort isn't right on the Atlantic, but it offers many on-site amenities to redress the non-oceanfront location. There are two outdoor heated pools, both surrounded by brick patios and overlooking the marina. A small sandy beach with loungers and umbrellas (free; cabanas also available for a fee) overlooks the lake, but both it and the outdoor pools can feel crowded with kids. The oval-shaped indoor pool, also heated, provides a nice alternative; it's set in a skylit space with vintage pinstripe wooden surfboards hanging on the white wood walls. 

The full-service Spa MYC offers massages, body treatments, facials, waxing, and nail work, as well as spa packages and the option of in-room service. A fitness center provides all the necessary equipment (free weights, ellipticals, treadmills, machinery), plus cedar saunas, and there are four outdoor tennis courts, with racquets and balls free to use. Paddleboards, cruiser bikes, and kayaks are all free to borrow, and there is a playground for kids. The resort grounds include areas for volleyball, bocce ball, and horseshoes, plus outdoor seating areas and fire pits (the resort holds bonfires with s’mores in the warmer months). Private, semi-private, or group surf lessons and paddleboard sessions or tours can be arranged, and a Kids' Surf Academy is held on the weekdays. Excursions are available from charter boats in the marina. The hotel offers free shuttle service to Montauk Harbor, downtown, and beaches. Parking and resort-wide Wi-Fi are both free.

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All-Inclusive / Food

A range of upscale cuisine, specialty cocktails, and casual bar bites make it easy to stay close

Montauk Yacht Club offers a good mix of dining options that appeal to both families and couples seeking romance. The upscale Coast Kitchen is a New American restaurant focusing on local ingredients (the menu features a daily fresh catch), while the casual The Alley & The Deck has a Florida feel and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. B-Bar is an indoor nautical-style lounge offering specialty cocktails and small bites, and the seasonal Sunset Pier allows for dockside eating, drinking, and watching the sunset.

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Things You Should Know About Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina

Also Known As

  • Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina

Address

32 Star Island Rd, Montauk, New York 11954-5271, United States

Phone

(631) 668-7715

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina

Scene

A family-friendly resort with a variety of activities and restaurants

The historic Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina evokes another time. Originally built in 1928 by entrepreneur Carl Fisher (the man credited with turning Miami from a sleepy backwater town to a thriving resort metropolis), the resort quickly became the local go-to vacation destination for the wealthy (original members of the club include J.P. Morgan, Vincent Astor, and Harold S. Vanderbilt). Charles Lindbergh is said to have often flown his seaplane into the harbor to dock at the club's marina. And according to local legend, the Island Club (which was located next door to the original resort and would eventually become part of the resort as it stands today) was the most popular speakeasy and gambling casino around town during Prohibition. To avoid trouble, the club posted watchmen at the stone stanchions at the end of the island's causeway -- when the police stopped by, the guards would radio the club for management to hide the liquor and gambling equipment.

Today, the resort maintains some of that storied appeal (the towering white lighthouse is what beaconed guests to the resort from its inception). Yet there are plenty of modernized amenities to keep today's guest happy -- though the two outdoor pools and small private beach are popular with kids, so if you’re looking for some celebrity-style peace and quiet, head to the ocean. Despite updates and upgrades, one original trait has remained consistent through the years: The resort, as a whole, attracts a wealthy set, and guests shouldn't be surprised to see the occasional celebrity roaming its grounds.

See More Scene

Location

Minutes from Montauk Harbor, the resort faces a marina, and is a short drive from the ocean and downtown

At the easternmost tip of Long Island, the Montauk Yacht Club’s lakeside location is kitty corner from Montauk Harbor -- an area with restaurants, shops, and plenty of harborside sightseeing. In addition to downtown Montauk (a nine-minute drive from the hotel), there are many nearby towns to explore, and, of course, miles of sandy beaches to enjoy. The drive to East Hampton takes about 25 minutes, and driving to Sag Harbor and Southampton takes about 40 and 55 minutes, respectively.

See More Location

Features

Pools, tennis courts, and bonfires make this a fun summer resort

Montauk Yacht Club Resort isn't right on the Atlantic, but it offers many on-site amenities to redress the non-oceanfront location. There are two outdoor heated pools, both surrounded by brick patios and overlooking the marina. A small sandy beach with loungers and umbrellas (free; cabanas also available for a fee) overlooks the lake, but both it and the outdoor pools can feel crowded with kids. The oval-shaped indoor pool, also heated, provides a nice alternative; it's set in a skylit space with vintage pinstripe wooden surfboards hanging on the white wood walls. 

The full-service Spa MYC offers massages, body treatments, facials, waxing, and nail work, as well as spa packages and the option of in-room service. A fitness center provides all the necessary equipment (free weights, ellipticals, treadmills, machinery), plus cedar saunas, and there are four outdoor tennis courts, with racquets and balls free to use. Paddleboards, cruiser bikes, and kayaks are all free to borrow, and there is a playground for kids. The resort grounds include areas for volleyball, bocce ball, and horseshoes, plus outdoor seating areas and fire pits (the resort holds bonfires with s’mores in the warmer months). Private, semi-private, or group surf lessons and paddleboard sessions or tours can be arranged, and a Kids' Surf Academy is held on the weekdays. Excursions are available from charter boats in the marina. The hotel offers free shuttle service to Montauk Harbor, downtown, and beaches. Parking and resort-wide Wi-Fi are both free.

See More Features

All-Inclusive / Food

A range of upscale cuisine, specialty cocktails, and casual bar bites make it easy to stay close

Montauk Yacht Club offers a good mix of dining options that appeal to both families and couples seeking romance. The upscale Coast Kitchen is a New American restaurant focusing on local ingredients (the menu features a daily fresh catch), while the casual The Alley & The Deck has a Florida feel and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. B-Bar is an indoor nautical-style lounge offering specialty cocktails and small bites, and the seasonal Sunset Pier allows for dockside eating, drinking, and watching the sunset.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beach

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.