Gurney's Montauk

Gurney's Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a luxurious coastal escape at "The End" of Long Island, Montauk. While renowned for its stunning beachfront location and extensive amenities, guest experiences present a mixed sentiment, reflecting both its high-end appeal and areas needing improvement.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Gurney's Montauk holds the distinction of being a Michelin Key Selected property, recognized for offering a "very special stay with high comfort and great personality". The general sentiment leans towards appreciating its prime location and amenities, positioning it as a top luxury resort in Montauk. However, reviews often highlight a notable disparity between its premium pricing and the consistency of the guest experience, leading to mixed overall ratings from some visitors. It's often recommended for travelers seeking a full resort experience where they plan to spend significant time on-site, rather than just a place to sleep.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise Gurney's Montauk for several standout features:

• Location & Beach Access: The resort boasts 2,000 feet of private ocean beach, providing unparalleled direct access to the Atlantic and breathtaking ocean views from many vantage points. The Beach Club offers full service, cabanas, chairs, and umbrellas.
• Seawater Spa: A major draw, the full-service Seawater Spa features a seawater-fed indoor pool, steam rooms, saunas, and treatment suites. The newly renovated Bathhouse, reimagined by architect Ignacio Alonso, offers a multi-dimensional thalassotherapy wellness experience with thermal pools, a dry sauna, and a eucalyptus steam room.
• Ambiance & Design: The resort embraces its coastal roots with a design palette of weathered wood, soft neutrals, and oceanic blues, creating a polished yet relaxed atmosphere. Fire pits on the property contribute to a romantic and popular evening ambiance.
• Amenities: Beyond the spa and beach, amenities include a two-story fitness center, an outdoor pool (by the Residences), and multiple dining venues.

3. Room Quality

Gurney's offers 158 rooms, suites, and beachfront cottages, with options ranging from standard ocean-view rooms to multi-bedroom residences. Rooms are generally described as modern and comfortable, with a design that prioritizes the stunning ocean views, often featuring private balconies or terraces. Sleeping with the sliding glass door cracked open to hear the ocean waves is a popular tip. Plush robes are a noted comfort amenity.

However, the "standard" rooms, particularly the Oceanfront King, have been noted as surprisingly small (around 355 square feet) for the price point, and some guests find the layout tight. While renovations have made most rooms contemporary, some older units or specific areas have shown signs of wear and tear, such as cracks in bathroom grouting, and occasional cleanliness issues like dirty rugs or floors. Some lower-floor rooms may also have their ocean views partially obscured by a parking lot.

4. Dining Experience

Gurney's Montauk provides a variety of dining options, largely centered around ocean views:

• Scarpetta Beach: A fine-dining restaurant offering Italian cuisine with panoramic ocean vistas, often cited for excellent food and service, though acknowledged as pricey.
• Dune Café & Lounge: A more casual, all-day option serving classic American favorites for breakfast and lunch, including fresh juices, pancakes, eggs, salads, and sandwiches.
• The Beach Club: Offers beverages and light fare directly on the sand.
• The Firepit: An outdoor area for cocktails and light fare with a romantic vibe and piped-in music.
• OG Coffee & Juice: A coffee bar for assorted coffee drinks, smoothies, and light breakfast/lunch options.

Some guests have reported issues such as breakfast being served only outdoors, even in inclement weather, and occasional restaurant closures or communication lapses regarding dining availability.

5. Service & Staff

Feedback on service and staff is varied. While some guests highlight "wonderful valet attendants," responsive housekeeping, and overall helpful staff, particularly when navigating the resort's complex layout, there are recurring criticisms. Common complaints include unfriendly and unprofessional front desk staff, a lack of communication between different hotel departments (e.g., hotel, dining, spa), and instances where service felt below the expected standard for a luxury property. Some experiences describe slow service, disorganization, or even poor attitudes from management when issues arise.

6. Location & Accessibility

Gurney's Montauk is uniquely situated on Old Montauk Highway, perfectly balancing Montauk's laid-back surf culture with its small-town charm. It's celebrated for its beachfront setting, making it an ideal spot for those who want to immerse themselves in the ocean experience. The resort is a short drive from Montauk Village and other Hamptons towns like East Hampton and Southampton.

Transportation to Montauk from NYC includes driving, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and the Jitney bus. Once at the resort, Montauk town is about 3 miles away, reachable by taxi in approximately 6 minutes. The resort itself can be challenging to navigate due to its labyrinthine layout and numerous stairs, which may pose difficulties for elderly guests or those with physical restrictions. However, Gurney's does offer ADA-compliant guest rooms and accessible routes to key facilities, alongside designated accessible parking. Shuttle service is also available.

7. Value & Pricing

Gurney's Montauk is consistently noted as an expensive property, particularly during the peak summer season. Rates can start around $700 per night, with oceanfront king rooms sometimes exceeding $2,300 per night for a three-night stay, including taxes and fees. Many guests find the cost hard to justify, especially if not fully utilizing all on-site amenities. The value is often perceived as stronger during the shoulder and off-seasons (fall, winter, early spring) when rates decrease and the crowds thin out, allowing for a more peaceful experience with the spa and oceanfront rooms as primary draws.

8. Common Complaints

Recurring issues and criticisms from guests include:

• High Prices: The most frequent complaint, with many feeling the cost does not always align with the overall experience.
• Inconsistent Service: Specifically regarding front desk responsiveness, attitude, and general disorganization among departments.
• Room Size: Standard rooms are often described as small, especially given the price.
• Maintenance & Cleanliness: While renovations have occurred, some reports of wear and tear, dirty carpets, or issues like broken pull-out couches persist.
• Resort Layout: The sprawling, multi-level nature with many stairs can be difficult to navigate, particularly for guests with mobility challenges.
• Noise: Past complaints have mentioned noisy construction work in restaurant areas, although this may be less of an issue post-renovation.
• Restaurant Logistics: Issues such as outdoor-only breakfast during bad weather or unexpected restaurant closures have been noted.

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