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Duncan Hotel – reviews, photos

1151 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Hotel amenities
Duncan Hotel
Ranked #8 of 12 hotels in New Haven
2.5 of 5 stars 44 Reviews
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44 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    3
    9
    8
    8
    16
Date Rating
FL
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
“Great Location Wasted”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 September 2011

This is your classical 1 star no frills hotel, located right across the street from the prestigious Yale University campus. Everyone else within walking distance of Yale was sold out so this was the only choice outside of renting a vehicle. I suggest renting a vehicle.

The question is WHY they would not renovate this ancient place with their large rooms and easily get triple the price. But some people just don't get it & the family who owns this just doesn't get it. Don't expect decent furnishings, towels, hair dryers or internet service. In fact, don't expect air conditioning because the majority of the rooms don't have it. Don't expect decent carpeting as it was likely last changed in the 1970's or a level floor. It may be one of your last opportunities to see a rotary phone & bring your own alarm clock. You may also want to make certain that you're in good enough shape to go up & down the stairs as the "lift" operator is not there all night.

Now they probably have many excuses such as the "historic" hotel option but there are NO excuses for the occasional obnoxious front desk clerk (especially at night) or the DIRT that you'll find in every room, on the ancient floors, sinks, tubs (yes, I said tubs), which just makes you want to keep a tight lid on your toothbrush.

We expected the worst, reading the reviews, which were accurate so we came prepared with spray for the musty odors. The best part of the hotel without a doubt is checking out, knowing you will not be back. And don't misplace the room key or they'll hit you up for $10.00!

  • Stayed August 2011, travelled on business
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Ireland, West Virginia
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Not good”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 September 2011

When we look at the prices, its not bad. But, if you are looking for something more, this wouldn't be the right place for you. We stayed there for the last two days. we didn't get what we expected.

  • Stayed November 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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“A Great Deal & Clean Too”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 October 2010
2
people found this review helpful

Reviews make the Duncan out to be something out of Dante. It was not. My stay was brief (1 night), but for the price mid-week ($60), it was an amazing deal. The hotel is old and a bit worn around the edges, but I found my room to be simple, clean and comfortable.

The Duncan now also suffers from being next door to the pricey, trendy and drippingly hip "The Study." My room cost approximately $120 less than the room I could see out my window. The difference? Well in my case it went towards an amazing meal that night in New Haven.

Trust me, this place is not for everyone. But if you're Ok old and a frayed around the edges... the Duncan works.

  • Stayed October 2010, travelled on business
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask travelmanlax about Duncan Hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Boston, Massachusetts
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Horrible Haunted House from 1970s”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 August 2010
1
person found this review helpful

So one weekend, my best friend and I decided to just drive from Boston and see where we ended up, just to get away. We made it to New Haven and got sick of driving, so we decided to stay there for a night and searched for a hotel. For the price, we could stay at the Duncan for one night. We drove by the outside and it didn't look so bad, so we figured that we could brave what was on the inside. BAD CHOICE.

First of all, the guy at the front desk is really weird and impersonal. Fine, since we didn't need more from him other than a key.

The room was a totally different story. It looked like something out of a murder novel. Our room was down a tiny corridor and opened up to reveal a strange-shaped room. We immediately went out to hang out at the bars, and even coming back after a night of heavy drinking and pizza in hand, the room still scared the heck out of me. We SWEAR at one point during the night we heard the door creak open slightly and then slam shut when my friend went bounding towards it. I was really glad that I was there with a guy at that point.

I've stayed at my share of gross hotels and weird places (even one in Peru where the owner organized weird trips to take some peyote-like substance and talk to nature and stray cats came into my room though the window at night), but this was something special altogether. In addition to our scary moment, there was plenty more to complain about.

The rug was the color and texture of a bygone era (that delicious shade of 70s orange), and hadn't been cleaned since then.

The bathroom was not clean, and the toilet rocked back and forth over the tile because it wasn't fastened securely to the floor.

The furniture was old and banged up, and the curtains were dirty.

Bed was gross - we ripped it apart and checked for bedbugs, of which there were none, thankfully.

Thinking back, I would have been totally cool with sleeping in the car.

  • Stayed March 2009, travelled with friends
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
1 review
“not worth it!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 December 2009

Not particularly cheap.
Located close to yale, but so are other better hotels.
The quirky lift and the guy taking you up and down was the only ok part.
Room stank of cigarettes, and in need of desperate revamp.
Ancient heating system that clanked all night long. Clank for the hour warm up, hiss hot steam into the room for an hour, then clank for an hour warming down. We contacted lobby to inform them of noise and steam and were assured that the heating wouldn't be on again that night so there was nothing to worry about. This was untrue, and we woke every 2 hours. Horrible for two adults, horrendous for a baby!
Next morning, staff were unperturbed by our lack of sleep and could only offer an insincere apology.
For a few extra dollars, say somewhere comfortable. What was once I'm sure an authentic yale hotel with character, is by now a dump.

  • Stayed December 2009, travelled with family
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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