Montauk Ranked Nation's Most Expensive Summer Beach Spot

MONTAUK, NY — Once a sleepy destination known for its solitude and longtime family businesses, Montauk has seen itself transformed in recent years as a hot destination not just for locals, but for the swanky social set, celebrities — and even Malia Obama, who spent her 19th birthday in Montauk.

And now, Montauk has emerged as the most expensive summer beach destination in the United States, according to TimeOut.com in a post published Thursday.

Cheaphotels.com compiled the 20 most expensive summer beach destinations in the United States, according to TimeOut.com, looking at the average rates for the least expensive rates for beach accessible hotel rooms in August, 2017.

Montauk took the lead, with a $312 per night minimum, the post reads.

"Anyone who has tried to crash for a weekend with seven people crammed into their friend's three-bedroom on Napeague Stretch knows that it's expensive (if not impossible) to book a room in Montauk. The town hosts a seasonal crowd of surfers, celebs and investment banking interns looking to spend their weekend getting trashed at The Sloppy Tuna. With multiple casual bars like The Point and nighttime destinations like Surf Lodge, Montauk is certainly the rowdiest of the Hamptons towns," the post says.

But some say that image of a "rowdy" Montauk is no longer true or accurate: East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell responded, "I think the article is out of date, because that rowdiness is substantially over. While that may have been true three years ago, it's not true today."

In recent months, East Hampton Town has taken steps to reign in the loud music and other quality of life concerns found in Montauk years ago, Cantwell said.

Patch file photo.