Last-Minute Beach Getaways Made Easier

As daunting as it may seem to book a last-minute stay on the East End, one smartphone app is making it both possible and more affordable. 

One Night, a hotel booking app, offers the lowest possible rates for a given night by capitalizing on unbooked rooms in select hotels across the country. Now, with a recent expansion to the South Fork, anyone with the One Night app can book a stay in hotels from Southampton to Montauk, and even on Shelter Island. 

“One Night’s expansion to the Hamptons has seen great support from both our guests and hotel partners,” said Amar Lalvani, the C.E.O. and managing partner of Standard International, the group behind One Night. “Excitement is building for the new style of travel that One Night has brought to this area, making it easier for both locals and travelers to be spontaneous.”

Although One Night officially launched in September 2016, it originated from an app initially designed exclusively by and for the Standard Hotels, which have locations in New York, Miami, and California. In an effort to make use of what would otherwise become dead inventory, the Standard would list unbooked rooms at cheaper prices for single-night stays. After seeing great returns, Standard International launched One Night, expanding the same last-minute service to non-Standard hotels.

Realizing that New York was one of the biggest markets sought after on the One Night app — for people traveling and for those seeking a one-night staycation — the Hamptons seemed like the next logical step for the app. 

Among the East End hotels on the app are the Chequit on Shelter Island, Gurney’s Montauk Resort, Hero Beach Club Resort in Montauk, the Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton, the Montauk Beach House, the Surf Lodge, and the Latch Pop Up Inn in Southampton. While hotel bookings on One Night generally open at 3 p.m., Hamptons’ guests can book each day beginning at noon. This change was added to better accommodate travelers coming from New York City. Although the app is in the mind-set of staying last minute, users can book up to two consecutive nights when they are available. 

Unlike general booking and travel sites, One Night was designed to accommodate both the hotel and the consumer. “For us, it’s great for weekday business, and it provides the clientele we are looking for,” said Nicole Desormiers, the hotel manager at the Surf Lodge.

Each of the hotels also provides its own 24-hour guide that includes suggestions of restaurants and attractions for guests. 

While rates differ every day depending on availability, Ms. Desormiers said that for the Surf Lodge rates on One Night are typically discounted by 20 percent.  

Since arriving on the East End, One Night has also expanded to Boston and Washington, D.C. Its list of cities also includes Austin, Tex., Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.