Grand Hotel of Cape May

The staff were friendly and helpful, from the front desk to maintenance, and the place felt peaceful as soon as we walked in. We especially liked unwinding with friends on the ocean-view balcony and turf sky deck. The hotel is right across from one of the country's best beaches, with a freshly redone indoor pool, a summer outdoor pool, a solid gym, and The Hemingway by the lobby for seafood and chef specialties. One of the best places I've stayed down the shore. It really felt like a home away from home, and I'd highly recommend it.

The room was comfortable and nicely appointed, but the enclosed porch was strange: its big windows faced an outside wall, so there was no view or natural feel. Check-in took almost an hour, and the front desk staff were courteous but seemed unsure of the process and inexperienced. I had to insist before they gave me a copy of my guest statement, after first being told they don't usually provide one. Given the nightly price, I'd probably pick a bed and breakfast next time. The whole arrival and guest service experience could have been better.

We ended up here at 11:30 pm after a bad experience at a local B&B where we'd planned to stay. Tom helped us settle into a clean, lovely room with a gorgeous view, and was empathetic throughout. He turned the night around. The room had amenities we wouldn't have had at the first place, we slept well, and woke to a beautiful ocean view. We'd happily come back. Tom's the man!

We had an emergency and needed to leave a day early, and they refunded that night without any trouble. I'm so grateful for that and can't thank them enough. The room was very clean, the staff stayed on top of everything, and both the deck and balcony had amazing views. Can't wait to go back!