But in recent seasons, the quality and range of options have been getting much better, as new owners renovate tired properties for guests accustomed to Frette linens, in-room Wi-Fi and flat-screen TV's.

Since this is the Hamptons, room rates for the busy summer season have not yet dropped along with the economy—and it's unclear if they will. So to sample the good life at more affordable prices, savvy weekenders can take advantage of deals this winter and spring, when the nightly rates dip into the $150-to-$350 range before they doubling after Memorial Day.

Off-season visitors not only save money, but they have less competition for restaurant reservations and parking spots—and far less traffic to contend with on Route 27, notorious for its summer backups.

In East Hampton, inns dating back more than a century are getting makeovers that preserve working fireplaces, traditional woodwork and beams, but add modern touches like whirlpool tubs and iPod docking stations.
...

...the Baker House 1650, formerly the J. Harper Poor Cottage, reopened with new owners and new decor in 2005; an outdoor pool followed and a recently purchased two-room carriage house will open this spring, bringing the inn's total number of rooms to seven. Nightly rates, which climb as high as $950 in high season, start at $395 on weekends through March 25.

Antonella Bertello Rosen said the house was "tired" when she and her husband bought it, so they redecorated with an eye toward giving each room an individual yet traditional style, adding modern must-haves like Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs.

Ms. Rosen said one variable that affected hoteliers in the Hamptons—especially those in historic buildings—was the need to balance development plans with local regulations and preservation efforts.

"I cannot paint the house unless I have approval that the color is in keeping with the historic nature of the village," she said, adding that she has had no problem with those charged with maintaining the character of the Hamptons. "They're very good, very respectable people."
...


Susan Stellin
New York Times - Friday, February 20, 2009