The Top 5 Superlative Hamptons Summer Rentals

Baseball field? Check. Personal movie theater? Got it. Private island? Certainly. Unimaginable amenities, enviable environs and impressive price tags are just the beginning as we enter a quintet of quintessentially incredible Hamptons homes where you can spend your summer.

THE ROYAL TREATMENT
612 Halsey Lane, Bridgehampton
Rental Cost: $550,000 for 2 weeks or $1 million/month for July or August 

Castles made of sand melt into the sea, but the Sandcastle estate offers the ultimate, flawless foundation of luxury. Even the most discerning renter will find nothing missing—which may explain why superstar couple Jay Z and Beyoncé have chosen this spacious mansion as their Hamptons home base in the past. Even a casual look will show that the Sandcastle is the solid rock upon which to build a summer of dreams.

A full accounting of all that the Sandcastle property has to offer would stagger the mind, so here’s just a taste: 11.5 acres in South-of-the-Highway Bridgehampton; 31,000 square feet of living space; 14 bedrooms, including a 2,800-square-foot master suite; 19 baths on three floors. An elevator to whisk you from floor to floor; 8 garages, with a hydraulic lift to allow accessibility. A 10-seat theater with interactive seats. A huge heated pool, a Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and message area. A sunken tennis court.

For the kids, there’s virtual golf, a skateboard half-pipe, and a rock-climbing wall, not to mention a media room with five plasma TVs and a two-lane bowling alley. And, when the sun goes down, there’s the full bar and disco. And did we mention the baseball field? Play ball!

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
291 Great Plains Road, Southampton
Rental Cost: $975,000 for July and August 

Can you say “access?” It’s no secret that sometimes the true value of a Hamptons summer rental derives from the entrée it provides to the insular world of power brokers and dealmakers who summer nearby. This is one such rental. A lavish estate in the historic estate section of Southampton Village, this gorgeous rental will land its lucky tenants in the lap of luxury, but more importantly it will place them firmly in Southampton Blue Book territory.

They’ll want to get to know their neighbors.

From the stately main entrance on prestigious Great Plains Road to the formal gardens, from the gourmet eat-in kitchen to the master suite complete with two huge baths, from the expansive media room to the ample servants quarters, no amenity has been overlooked. There’s even a lap pool, spa and gym, so tenants and guests can work off those party pounds.

But all of these enticements pale in comparison to the ultimate luxury. Say it: access.

A SEAT ON THE ISLE
493 Rose Hill Road, Water Mill
Rental Cost: $600,000 August to Labor Day; $395,000 for any two weeks in August 

You can find a number of Hamptons summer rentals that come with amenities beyond the imagination. But how many come with their own private island? Welcome to Rose Hill Point.

This sprawling estate spans 2.3 acres and boasts one of the most spectacular views on the East End, right on Mecox Bay. Designed by renowned architect Val Florio, Rose Hill Point is a 7-bedroom, 12-bath, 8-fireplace wonderland where boredom does not seem an option. Inside there’s a 10-seat movie theater, a walk-in wine cellar, a fur vault and a rec room complete with billiards, arcade games and a full wet bar. The second floor, accessible by elevator, includes a personal gym and an office with 180-degree views of the bay.

Once outside, you’ll be hard-pressed to choose from relaxing in the infinity-edge pool or the full outdoor living room, or hopping on one of your watercraft at the spacious dock for some fun out on the bay…where, beyond the 365 feet of bulkhead, that island awaits.

HISTORIC HIDEAWAY
160 Ox Pasture Road, Southampton
Rental Cost: $950,000 Memorial Day to Labor Day 

Anyone who says you can’t put a price on history never set foot on the sprawling 10 acres that are home to the estate known as Linden. Celebrating its 99th birthday, or 114th (depending on the historian) but meticulously renovated with an eye on preserving its legacy and embracing modern amenities, it exudes the elegant seclusion of Southampton’s refined socialite past—a past that goes back to when it was called Lenoir, after early owner Rufus Lenoir Patterson, founder of the American Machine and Foundry Company (You’ve seen the “AMF” on bikes and bowling balls? That’s the guy).

In its current 18,000-square-feet incarnation, the 12-bedroom home and massive property offer such luxuries as two pools (one inside with a slide, one outdoors with a glorious pavilion); a majestic fountain; courts for bocce, tennis and paddleball; a gym; a state-of-the-art French kitchen; and a grandeur rare even for the famed Southampton estate surroundings.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
51 Miankoma Lane, Amagansett
Rental Cost: $275,000 July 1 through Labor Day 

It’s not easy to stage a “first” in the Hamptons, but whoever rents this charmer will have bragging rights as inaugural summer residents. A true summer-by-the-sea vibe resonates throughout the 6 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms. The upper level boasts a grand master suite and a balcony with stunning views  of the property and the tranquility beyond, while down on the main floor chefs will love the gourmet kitchen and guests can luxuriate in another master suite with its own fireplace. Entertainment awaits in either the in-house movie theater or at the
outdoor home theater on the deck. The property also sports a saltwater pool with waterfall and Jacuzzi, a pool house and outdoor bar. Outstanding without being over-the-top, it’s the ideal place to dip your toes into the summer-rental waters.