If you need a break from sweaty subway platforms and overpriced iced lattes, the Hamptons are basically calling your name.Yes, the Hamptons are known for being extra, but you don’t have to drop your life savings to have a great summer weekend there.Here’s how to spend 48 hours soaking up coastal luxury — student-budget style.

Day 1: Escape the City and Hit the Beach

Morning: Travel Smarter

Catch an early Hampton Jitney or LIRR train out of Manhattan (trust: the earlier, the better).The ride takes about 2.5 hours if traffic behaves, and if you pack snacks, it’s a pretty easy trip.Aim for stops like Southampton or East Hampton if you want beaches + cute towns without fighting Montauk-level crowds.

Afternoon: Beach Therapy

Drop your bags at your Airbnb (or budget motel if you scored one) and head straight to the beach.

• Coopers Beach in Southampton is stunning (rated one of the best public beaches in the U.S.).

• Or, if you’re East Hampton-side, hit Main Beach.Beach access can be expensive by car, so biking or walking is your budget hack.

Bring a towel, a book, and snacks — you’re here to recharge, not reenact The Kardashians.

Evening: Low-Key Village Nights

After a full beach day, head into Sag Harbor or East Hampton Village.Walk the docks, check out small art galleries, and browse quirky shops.Grab dinner at a casual spot like:

• The Golden Pear Café (affordable sandwiches + salads)

• LT Burger (solid, filling, not scary prices)

Sunsets at the marina are unreal — free, gorgeous, and somehow make you feel richer just by standing there.

Day 2: Living the Coastal Dream

Morning: Farmers Market Energy

Start your Saturday like a real Hamptons local: farmers’ market crawl.

• East Hampton Farmers Market is small but iconic.

• Pick up fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee that tastes like someone’s grandma made it with love.

Grab a picnic breakfast and chill on the grass somewhere — it's the peak main-character summer vibe.

Late Morning: Bikes + Vineyards

Rent bikes for around $25 and cruise through the countryside (seriously, it’s gorgeous).If you have time (and extra cash), stop by Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack for a wine tasting.Even if you skip the wine, the views alone are worth it — rolling green hills, golden sunlight, horses grazing nearby... it's giving "rom-com montage."

Afternoon: Beach Round Two or Montauk Adventure

Depending on your mood:

• Chill at the beach one more time before heading back to reality, or

• If you're ambitious, Uber out to Montauk for the afternoon. Explore the lighthouse, grab seafood at The Lobster Roll, and pretend you're starring in an indie film about self-discovery.

Evening: Head Home, Softly

Catch an evening Jitney or LIRR train back to the city, sandy, sun-drunk, and wondering why you don’t just live by the beach full-time.

Trust: you’ll be refreshed enough to survive at least another few weeks of New York chaos.

Quick Tips Before You Go:

• Pack light — most places are super casual. Think shorts, sneakers, sundresses, not designer fits.

• Bring snacks and drinks — Hamptons prices are no joke.

• Biking saves your wallet — parking is often expensive or impossible.

• Plan ahead — accommodations book out fast once summer hits.

Two days in the Hamptons might not turn you into a millionaire, but it will make you feel like you’ve temporarily escaped the stress spiral.

Ocean air, small-town charm, sunsets you’ll want to write bad poetry about — it’s all there.

And honestly? You deserve it.