Marquis de Lafayette Hotel — Hotel in Cape May

Stayed here for the week of August 5th to August 12th. Check in was at 4 pm and check out at 11 am. Lots to do within walking distance aside from the beach . The view from the 4th floor up is more than worth having. Anything lower and you can't really see much overlooking the beach, but its still beautiful. It's a very quiet, laid back area. So if you're looking for peace and quiet at night , you've found it. The hotel's bar has some type of live music playing almost daily in the evenings and they typically end around 8 which is good again if you're there for relaxation . They have a pool and hot tub, must watch your own hatchlings as there is no lifeguard which around this time of year is extremely packed and uncomfortable to swim in afternoon time, but it seems to clear out around 5 and is good to go in around then...but closes at dusk. Only complaint regarding the pool, an unbelievably large amount of bird poo everywhere. Yuck lol. The staff! First and foremost the rude older blonde bartender women snapped at my mother when she attempted leaving a tip, as well as barked at my SO for having wet money completely accidental . We werent a fan of that. Shout out for Joe at the front desk, he is extremely nice and very very polite. Most of the morning staff is too. The maids were pretty nice. One in particular was not, best way to describe her, as I didnt know her name ...and not trying to be rude, she resembled Ursula from the little mermaid. She was a little nasty when my Niece, Husband and son were trying to get by after we even waited for her to finish vacuuming . My only other complaint regarding maid staff... Maricel, was one who cleaned one of our rooms. She never replaced anything, or cleaned too well for that matter. It was a bit disappointing, as we were obviously tipping . My maid Tammilynn I think was her name . She was great at cleaning , however it's the same thing. Knowing 4 people were in our room, not replacing toilet paper or giving extra towels . We had to ask for towels twice. And even went as far as buying our own toilet paper since we would only get one roll . One of the maids on floor 6 was even poking fun at a guest who was asking for extra shampoo and conditioners etc . Being able to hear such was a big turn off. I understand being human and sharing a laugh, but doing so at the expense of a guest and in front of other guests when it's your job is unprofessional. The breakfast buffet staff was incredible and so polite. Always alert and busy. And the food, although repetitive , tasty! Always fresh. Theres everything from cereal and waffles to bacon and eggs. Theres even an egg bar where you can get fresh made omelets! And they're delicious. A wide arrangement of juices and coffee as well as water ...fresh fruit. Definitely worth having. Parking is definitely cramped as ever. The main back parking lot is ALWAYS full and the overflow lot is typically fairly full too . I definitely enjoyed the old Victorian style in the halls of the hotel...and hope that if in the future they choose ever to renovate anything, they keep that Victorian feel. The entire 1st floor as well as the building to the right as you face the front of the hotel is all pet friendly, which is cool. And the second floor up is regular. And theres no smoking in the rooms which I really loved. I hope next year we get to do this again , as I will...

Loved the proximity to beach, shops, and restaurants, and the great views. The location is absolutely amazing and the parking situation is great and not stressful. They have multiple parking lots around the hotel so even if you drive somewhere and lose your spot, I wasn't stressed about finding another spot to use and none of them are that far from the hotel.

Staff were all sweet and courteous. There was a dehumidifier in the room which was really appreciated.

Reasons for a lower review: The hotel is in need of some updates. The TVs are tiny and the cable was loose and kept cutting out on one of them. No channel guide or TV guide, and basic cable, not digital. It's a beach hotel, so it's not like I was planning to sit in the room watching TV all day anyway, but it is worth mentioning.

The cleanliness of our suite was definitely not very good upon arrival. The floor was sandy in many spots when we arrived. I can give this a pass because it is a beach hotel and there is nothing you can do to get rid of all of the sand, but in general the place felt dirty. One of the TV remotes was foul. The pullout couch mattress is the cheapest, thinnest thing that you could find. Not comfortable at all for anyone other than a child to try to sleep on it. I know that more comfortable thin memory foam options exist. You have to ask for sheets for the pullout couch from the front desk, because they are not hiding anywhere in the room (as I assumed). There was a stain on the couch cushions, which had been cleaned - the smell from the upholstery cleaner was horrible and gave me a headache the whole time I was in the room. Because of the humidity, the couch never fully dried. We didn't get a chance to try the bar or pool, but the food at the hotel restaurant was very subpar.

EDITED TO RESPOND TO HOTEL'S REPLY: I think it is interesting and a little sketchy that every response to a less than stellar review claims that there is no record of the name in their register. My room was booked under my friend's name but I was 100% registered as a guest, and this is my legal name... so I find it kind of odd and disingenuous to claim that there is no record of my stay. It may not be intentional, but it feels like it is a tactic to undermine the legitimacy of the poor reviews. I did tell the front desk that I was leaving early due to the cleaning fumes in the room giving me a headache, so if they did not let management know, that seems like an issue unrelated to...

(Note: This was from a stay two or three years ago, so it may not be the most current).

When I was young, I remember passing by "the cool fancy hotel in the center of the street on the ocean". We never stayed there, but I was always curious what it would be like to have a room with one of those balconies high up in the sky.

Finally had the opportunity to stay here over a Saint Patrick holiday weekend in a suite with my wife and daughter. Very reasonable rate for an excellent room, with a master bedroom with king size bed, and a cozy living room with a sleeper couch. Both rooms had TVs and one party could be asleep and not be woken up by the other room. Balcony view is as good a view of the ocean as you can get...I can see spending a long time ocean gazing in the warmer months. (In March, with a heavy coat, a cup of coffee and a book I was good for an hour, but I'm a Vermonter). You do have to go through the living room to get to the balcony.

The hotel itself has a long history, with many expansions over the years (there's a display on site). It's also decorated with a variety of items to enhance the air of a site with history...while it may feel a bit like trying too hard, it is definitely not a tchotchke museum. Personally I liked the ambiance, and it has personality.

Service was excellent even in off-season, and the included breakfast buffet was top quality; excellent selection and food was well prepared; you won't find better in a restaurant. We didn't interact with the staff too much, but the desk service and breakfast service were well managed, and everyone we interacted with was personable and positive.

Location is what I could consider literally the center of Cape May, with the ocean being across the street, the pedestrian mall only a few blocks away, and a good location for starting out in this very walk-able town.

If you do come in the off-season, do some research beforehand on when various businesses will be open. Over the holiday, the town was lively, but the next day it was back to a sedate experience...what we were looking for. The only issue was trying to find a place to eat late at night (we walked the town for two hours one night...half to enjoy the night sky, the other half to find a slice of pizza).

While I personally wouldn't budget this place in the summer, if it's in your budget, I can't recommend a better place to stay outside of B&Bs. In the off-season, I consider it a very good...