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Duncan Hotel
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
1151 Chapel St Ste ANew Haven, CT 06511
(203) 787-1273
- Price Range:
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9 reviews for Duncan Hotel
9 reviews in English
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Review from Laura M.
Altadena, CA
1/2/2009
Love the Duncan--wish I had discovered it sooner!
First, let me say that the only time a maid has ever thanked me for a tip was at the Duncan. The bellhop seemed genuinely surprised to be tipped for taking my bag to the room door, and the concierge was helpful and friendly enough, both on the phone and in person.
I came across the Duncan when my son took me to the Thai restaurant in the basement. I'm glad I noticed it, because when I wanted a reservation for Yale Parents Weekend, every other hotel was blacked out--and this four months in advance! The Marriott had one room around $350 a night which may be a song for many Yale parents, but certainly not this one. I got a room for $100 a night at the Duncan and was quite happy with it.
The location is perfect. It's on the part of the Yale campus that houses three art museums, the school or architecture, and the school of drama. It's only a half mile from Ezra Stiles, my son's college. There are lots of restaurants (including Louis Lunch), shops, and attractions nearby. The Duncan doesn't have wifi, but there are several places within a block or so where you can grab a cuppa, open your laptop, and catch up on emails. Staying at the Duncan, rather than a low-priced motel out of town, allowed me to take a shuttle from JFK rather than renting a car, a big plus for me.
Sure, some of the nooks and crannies were dusty. It's an old hotel, which means a lot of the pipes and electrical are not hidden in the walls. Those things attract dust. I live in an old house that has lots of dust catchers. The essentials were clean, though--carpets, bedding, towels (and they gave me more than enough), furniture. I found the room comfortable enough to watch TV or read. Besides, I like old places with character. I can picture Barbara Stanwyck striding across the lobby or Madeleine Kahn riding up the elevator. Or maybe Gloria Swanson sweeping down the staircase.
A word on the visitor policy: I had read in a few reviews that they do not allow visitors in the rooms. When my son wanted to see my room, I asked the concierge if it would be all right. He had no objection at all. It's rowdy parties they want to avoid, not one or two quiet visitors.
For big events such as Yale Parents Weekend or graduation, they don't take reservations until a certain date. Then they start at 8 a.m. EST and are full by 9, so if you are looking for a place for these must-have dates, it can be a nail-biter waiting for that day and redialing again and again until you get through. Both times I needed a room, I got one, but you have to jump through that hoop. The reservation is contingent on a deposit by check (you can pay the remainder by credit card when you check out). I followed up with a phone call to make sure it was received.
I have booked two rooms for graduation, and am looking forward to enjoying the ambience of the hotel and neighborhood once again. -
Review from SJ F.
Tucson, AZ
10/10/2011
I stayed @ Duncan twice. The first time before freshman orientation, and the second time for my graduation. My mom found blood stains in the room we stayed. The front desk person was also quite rude to us. I remembered leaving New Haven in a really bad mood after staying in this miserable place for 3 days.
I think they charged by # of persons stay in the room, so you would pay for each person staying in the room rather than the standard double rate. If you count by number of guests, then Hotel Duncan is not the "cheap" hotel next to the Study.
It is cheap because of the smelly facility, the poor attitude, the rude management, and the squeaky shower. -
Review from Dan T.
West Hartford, CT
9/3/2010
The only thing redeeming about this place is the location, in a fun spot of downtown new haven. Other than that the place is terrible. Staff was busy watching WWE at front desk.. Found two rotten bananas in the room upon checkin which really set the mood. Air conditioning was non existent. Carpeting and comforters both looked like they were at least 30 yrs old.
If you want to stay in downtown spend another $20 and upgrade to the mariott or other decent hotel. If you want to go the cheap route there are plenty of respectable bargain hotels outside of town. -
Review from Lisa Z.
Los Angeles, CA
10/25/2008
This is one of creepiest places I've ever stayed. Floral patterned bed linens that looked to be about thirty years old and I could not make out the original color of the carpet. The room was furnished with mismatched thrift store style pieces, including a television that required you to turn a giant knob on the console to change channels.
Our room was keyed into in the middle of the night. I ran to the door and slammed it shut and the guy mumbled some kind of apology and disappeared down the hall. I can't blame him though. The only thing identifying our room was a number written on a POST-IT note on the door. -
Review from Charlotte L.
Brooklyn, NY
6/6/2010
Don't do it. I've been to old New England hotels, so I get it---I wasn't expecting the Intercontinental. But don't mistake this place for a quirky but charming inn; it's a cheap, crummy hotel that no one's bothered to renovate in at least 30 years, with awful customer service.
Was attending a wedding that, conveniently, coincided with reunion weekend at Yale, so the rates were jacked up to $90 a night. Not exactly free, and certainly not remotely worth it.
Rooms are shabby and unclean---we found a cigarette butt on the floor of our bathroom and the air smelled heavily of smoke. It was the only room they had left with an air conditioner (window unit), and it was oppressively hot and humid for early June, so we took it, but I wish we hadn't. The air conditioner worked not at all but made lots of noise all night long while we sweltered in the dark. Sheets were old and scratchy, and the quilt looked like it hadn't been washed since someone bought it at a thrift store in 1973. Exposed pipes and a view of an air shaft. Bare light bulbs in the overhead fixture. In short, one of the most depressing rooms I've ever stayed in.
My boyfriend had made the reservation, and when I went on Trip Advisor and saw the reviews I was immediately skeptical, particularly given the heat. We called 24 hours ahead to ask if we would be able to get a room with an air conditioner. They said they couldn't guarantee it, so I asked to cancel and they refused, stating that they have a 48-hour cancellation policy and would charge our card for the entire $90 cost of our reservation. Interesting that this never came up before, nor did the fact that---in a week when temps were averaging in the high 80s---they didn't have AC. Sorry, but any Motel 6 can at least guarantee that.
As we were leaving (we ended up staying a second night at the New Haven Hotel---oodles better and just $50 more expensive) I saw another exasperated, sweaty guest at the front desk. He said they wanted to check out early and when the person working the desk asked why he gave him this pitch-perfect look of utter incomprehension and exasperation. At least I'm not the only one who feels this way, I thought. -
Review from annie k.
Los Angeles, CA
4/7/2006
This hotel is smack dab in the "good part" of New Haven, a couple of blocks from the campus, and costs $45 a night. In other words, it would have to really suck to get a bad review. It's not the greatest hotel in the world, obviously, but it has an element of old charm (the oldest hand-operated elevator in Connecticut). The room was probably about what you'd expect at a Holiday Inn.
I'd stay there again in a heartbeat. A quick websearch shows the Courtyard by Marriott New Haven costs $135 a night. Courtyard surely has nicer rooms, but I'll take the hundred bucks. -
Review from John C.
Palo Alto, CA
8/17/2007
I stay at the Duncan regularly and have always had a good experience. As the other reviewers have stated, this is clearly not a luxury hotel. However, the rooms are clean, the location is great, the overall experience is pleasant, and the price is definitely right .
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Review from Andrew P.
Plymouth, MI
8/31/2006
I love the Duncan and would like to give it a five. Obviously, this is not a luxury five star hotel. Given what it is, a really cheap hotel in a really great location, the Duncan is excellent. I stayed there once a couple nights in between apartments, and have housed visiting friends there. I stayed there one night while I *did* have a nearby apartment because I oddly craved television. I recommended it to a Yale Sakai meeting attendee looking to travel on the cheap and he told me never to recommend it to anyone again (his cheapest rate room lacked air conditioning. Air conditioning is highly recommended for the humid New Haven summer).
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Review from Paul S.
Atlanta, GA
5/29/2007
Worth what you pay, but its in a great location.
