The Lafayette Inn

The Inn is reasonably priced and perfectly placed for Lafayette College, an easy walk away. It has a wonderful atmosphere, with a gas fireplace and a sitting room with game boards. It felt like everything there showed quality and a good atmosphere. I’ll stay again, whether by myself or with family. The rooms are very clean, and the bed is so comfortable. The staff are professional and always available to help. The breakfast is excellent, with waffles, bagels, cereal, and eggs on request. The room where you eat is spacious, with large windows looking out over the ample grounds and fine gardens. Just be aware that if you arrive after 7:00, you’ll need that day’s door code.

We’ve been coming here for 25 years, through four changes of ownership, and the quality has really fallen since the university took over. It used to feel exceptional, charming, and cozy. The fresh baked goods, homemade dishes, Belgium waffles, classical music at breakfast, and real flowers are gone. Now it feels like a bed and FROZEN breakfast, with items like you’d find at the Wawa down the street that you have to heat in the toaster yourself. The decor and atmosphere have become more like a Holiday Inn, even though the price is astronomical. There are no more local newspapers in the living room. Our room’s fireplace, which used to work, was turned off. The flowers and everything else feel fake. The dining room now has mess hall benches instead of the cute little chairs, and the baked goods that used to be in the living room for a midnight snack have been replaced by Giant grocery store cookies. The university ruined the charm. The one plus was that our bathroom was better insulated.

The two people I met who worked at the Inn over two days were great, but this was my first stay since the ownership changed. The place was very understaffed. I know it was a holiday weekend, but I’ve stayed here on holiday weekends before. Because there weren’t enough staff, I was moved out of the room I’d originally reserved. The once excellent breakfast is gone. I’ve had better at Holiday Inn Express. Maybe they’ll realize someday that cutting these corners hurts business. They’ve lost mine.

The Inn is spotless and well maintained, and management clearly wants guests to have a pleasant stay. Our room was comfortable, especially the bed. There are snacks and coffee available 24/7, and parking is free. Car chargers are available in the private lot, and the college is just a short walk away. It’s a lovely, comfortable, convenient place on College Hill, especially if you’re visiting the College. The colonial style decor includes memorabilia from its time as a fraternity house, its conversion to a B and B, and artwork related to the Marquis de Lafayette and the colonial era. Breakfast was well done, though a bit limited: yogurt, fruit, granola, toast, cereals, hard boiled eggs, coffee and tea, and freshly baked pastries. We really enjoyed our two night stay.