A train ride away from New York City, the Hamptons are a group of idyllic seaside towns along the southern edge of Long Island which have a history of attracting the rich and famous, from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to modern day A-listers.

Each town boasts its own attractions, from the therapeutic salt caves at Montauk (montauksaltcave.com) to the boutiques of Sag Harbor or Jackson Pollock’s former house in East Hampton. You can still see the famous paint spatters in the barn he used as his studio (sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/pkhouse).

Despite the glamorous pedigree, the feel of the Hamptons is understated luxury. Make like a native New Yorker and rent a temporary home with a group of friends, such as the chic yet charming Coolidge Lane Residence, which sleeps 10 (from $750 a night, kidandcoe.com), or try renting the six-bedroom Victorian beach house in East Marion that Lena Dunham and the Girls friends stayed in during the ‘Beach House’ episode (email the owner for prices, toweratrockypoint.com). Just make sure you had a better time than they did.

If you want to break with tradition, book into the supremely glamorous and individual The Maidstone hotel in East Hampton, which mixes Scandinavian-inspired décor with all-American charm (from £217, themaidstone.com).

For a relaxing day on one of the pristine white sand beaches, pick up an exquisite beach picnic from Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa gourmet grocery store in East Hampton and truly immerse yourself in a classic NY holiday.

Make a memory: Take the ferry from North Haven to nearby Shelter Island and book in for dinner and cocktails at the Sunset Beach Hotel (sunsetbeachli.com) – owned by Andre Balazs of Chateau Marmont and Chiltern Firehouse fame.

Travel less ordinary: how to plan a holiday you'll remember forever