Playa Cherry Grove

The ice palace is pretty much the only hotel in cherry grove so naturally they could get away with high prices for very little. Don’t expect a resort. Check in was busy and took a while cause of everyone coming off the ferry. Our room was average size. The bed was barely a queen size. My gf and I got one pillow each. No extras in the room. Nice wardrobe space. The bathroom was small and the shower even smaller. Our sink had a leak. Sand was on the floor and because the floor isn’t carpeted the sand got on our feet constantly. The hallway echoes so you can hear every person yelling and laughing, especially since the bottom of our door had no seal. The walls were thin so you could even hear a phone vibrate and think it was yours. Overall you stay for the location and the fun of cherry grove, not for the hotel and amenities.

Now that it's gone, it is recollected by most who want to stay at The Grove as the best hotel that ever was. It was lost in a fire two seasons ago, and that has changed the entire experience at Cherry Grove. And not for the better. The one other hotel that is open to all, raised its rates big time. The same day that the fire happened they jacked them up! And all of the people on Craigslist and AirBnB that are now renting out rooms in their private homes are gauging the hell out of all of their fellow "family" members. It's a crying shame. Makes me really sad. Oh well. That's life in the little town of Cherry Grove.

The Cherry Grove Beach Hotel is perhaps the only lodging in Cherry Grove you can book on the Internet. The daily or weekly lodging options on Fire Island are very limited. If you have tons of money, there are Fabulous Homes that can be rented in Cherry Grove or Fire Island Pines, weekly, monthly or for the season. But you will easily pay $20,000+ a month for luxury. For the season, it is possible to get a very small space for under $20,000. Don't be surprised by rentals for $60,000 and UP for the season. But if you are looking for a few days, the Cherry Grove Beach Hotel is your best bet [and it has a great pool]. Daily rates for VERY simple rooms run as low as $80 for an early or late season weekday. The same room will cost almost $400 for a major weekend holiday. You are not going to Fire Island for the lovely rooms unless you are renting for the season. A weekday getaway can be very affordable and delightful. Go for the incredible beauty of the beaches and the location and the isolation and for the sense of Gay History. Making friends is easy. There are no cars, not even bicycles. Only narrow boardwalks where everyone says hello when passing. Try the Grove Hotel and enjoy its simplicity. No phone, no TV (unless you opt for a "deluxe" room). The relaxation begins with the 20 minute ferry ride. Let that set the tone. Relax. Let your hair down. Talk with strangers [unheard of in NYC!] And never mind that your room will be more simple, cramped and plain than the dullest Motel 8. You're on Fire Island. You're home.