Marquis de Lafayette Hotel: A Fantastic Splurge in Cape May, New Jersey
During our recent trip to Cape May, New Jersey, we decided to splurge a bit for my first Father’s Day. We ended up staying at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel after looking at several different hotels and rentals.
While I was a bit on the fence about spending the money, I forgot all about it after our first day at the hotel. It was perfect for us. The pool was great since it was too windy to sit on the beach. Our third-floor balcony offered great views of the beach, and the room had everything we needed, including a small kitchenette that came in handy with our baby.
It’s not the type of hotel I’d want to stay at for more than a couple days, but for a weekend away at the beach, it was excellent. If you’re considering a trip to Cape May, this review of Marquis de Lafayette Hotel is for you.
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Rooms at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel
We stayed in one of Marquis de Lafayette Hotel’s suites. Our room, like nearly every room in the hotel, had a balcony with two rocking chairs overlooking the pool and beach. From the third floor, we had good views of the beach, but I’m not sure how good these views are from lower floors, especially the first.
Another nice feature of the balcony is you can hear the live music at the poolside bar in the afternoons from the leisure of your own rocking chair. And don’t worry if that’s not for you. You can’t hear the music from the inside when the door is shut.
The suite itself consists of four areas: a living room, a bathroom, a small kitchenette area and a bedroom. Each room is well furnished with just about anything you could need. The kitchenette came in handy for storing bottles for our baby and heating up her food. Most importantly for summertime trips to the beach is that the room stays very cold (if you want it that way). It’s also quiet in there. We never heard anyone else except for some kids making noise in the pool during the afternoon.
I mentioned how nearly every room has a beach view. Two rooms don’t have this view: the apartment suite and the penthouse suite. These rooms both overlook the town of Cape May and have additional balcony seating for the family.
The Pool at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel
My favorite part of Marquis de Lafayette Hotel was the outdoor pool. I didn’t expect to use the pool much, but the gloomy weather we had during our stay changed all that. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.
The pool goes to 5.5 feet deep, giving it enough depth for most people. You can’t comfortably swim laps in it because of its shape, but it’s great for just wading in.
In one corner of the pool is a decently sized hot tub that sits atop the pool. The hot tub has a small waterfall coming out of it and plunging into the pool below. This waterfall isn’t heated like the hot tub, but it is still a nice, relaxing effect.
Right next to the pool is the hotel’s outside bar, Barefoot Bar & Restaurant. The bar has a counter facing the pool for guests to order drinks. It also has the radio playing throughout the day and live music that comes on later in the afternoon.
The pool sits at the front of the hotel right across from the beach. However, despite being across from the beach, you can’t actually see it because of the promenade and dunes blocking the view. Still, if it’s quiet, you can sometimes hear the waves crashing against the shore.
And that’s really the only negative thing about the pool. It’s kind of small and doesn’t have a ton of chairs if it’s crowded, but these weren’t issues during our time there. In fact, I’d say it’s actually a bit on the larger side as far as beach hotel pools go.
The Best Location in Cape May?
The Marquis de Lafayette hotel is located right in the thick of the action in Cape May between Ocean Street and Decatur Street. With this prime spot, guests have easy access to the beach, restaurants, shopping and more.
Since Cape May is, after all, a beach town, it’s important to stay somewhere close to the water, and you can’t get much closer than Marquis de Lafayette Hotel. The beach is directly across the street from the hotel! What’s more, stairs and a ramp to the promenade and then to the beach are right there, too. So, you don’t have to walk more than a few minutes if you have lots to carry.
When you’re done with the beach, you’re still just a short walk away from Washington Street Mall. This pedestrian-only street is lined with many of Cape May’s most popular shops and restaurants. It’s nice to have it so close so you don’t have far to walk after a long day at the beach.
If those two things aren’t enough, you’re still close to plenty more to see and do. Whether you enjoy arcades, mini golf, shopping or just taking leisurely strolls around town, it’s all within reach from Marquis de Lafayette Hotel.
Eating and Drinking at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel
Marquis de Lafayette Hotel has two restaurants that serve guests and the general public. You have the option of the Barefoot Bar & Restaurant or The Bee’s Knees.
The Barefoot Bar & Restaurant is the hotel’s outdoor option. It serves fairly typical diner and poolside bar food throughout the day, and the bar has a good variety of beachy drinks on the menu. This restaurant has a kids’ menu and even a few options for your dog, too. They also have live music in the afternoon throughout the summer months.
Inside, the Bee’s Knees serves guests nightly from 5:00 to 11:00. This restaurant serves more upscale options, including American-style tapas, burgers, sandwiches, charcuterie and salads. Like the Barefoot Bar & Restaurant, they have live music in the summer, as well as other events like standup comedy and paint and sip nights.
Because we were only at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel for a weekend, we didn’t try out either of the restaurants and only had a few drinks from the bars. I didn’t see any of the food at the Barefoot Bar & Restaurant, but it did seem pretty lively throughout the day. I stopped in the Bee’s Knees once and can say all the food everyone was having looked very tasty.
Entertainment at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel
One thing about Marquis de Lafayette Hotel that was a bit unexpected for me was the different entertainment options provided for guests.
The most common entertainment we saw during our weekend at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel was live music. Each day at the pool bar was a live act, and then each night the lobby bar featured a different act. This is great for guests looking for something to do before heading out for dinner or upon returning to the hotel for a nightcap.
A couple other things we saw scheduled were trivia and painting classes. I checked out their Facebook page to see what else they offer and quickly saw a night with standup comedy. While we didn’t attend any of those things, it’s nice to know we had options if we wanted them. It made Marquis de Lafayette Hotel feel a bit more like a resort than a simple hotel.
Would I Stay at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel Again?
I wouldn’t hesitate to book a stay at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel again for a weekend at the beach. The excellent location, cozy rooms and balcony views more than make the price worthwhile.
On the other hand, if we were visiting Cape May for more than just two nights, I’d at least consider something cheaper. However, Cape May isn’t exactly budget-friendly, so Marquis de Lafayette Hotel still could be worth it depending on what else is available.
The other exception is if I were visiting with a large group. It would likely be cheaper and more fun to stay in a house where we were all together rather than kept apart in individual hotel rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marquis de Lafayette Hotel
Is Marquis de Lafayette Hotel family friendly?
Very much so. We saw plenty of families at Marquie de Lafayette Hotel with children of varying ages. Between the pool and easy access to the pool, kids have plenty to keep them entertained during your stay in Cape May. Cribs are available for an extra fee if you’ll be visiting with an infant.
Are pets allowed at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel?
Guests can bring their pets with them to the hotel. Unless it’s a service dog, pets are only allowed on the first floor and cannot go on the pool deck.
Is parking available at Marquis de Lafayette Hotel?
Guests get one parking space per booked room. From the parking lot is a ramp into the hotel for people who need it.
Do you need beach tags to access the beach?
Yes, but fortunately Marquis de Lafeyette Hotel provides beach tags to each guest as part of their booking. You can also get towels for the beach from the front desk before heading out for the day, too.
Is Marquis de Lafayette Hotel expensive?
Here’s the one big downside to Marquis de Lafayette Hotel: It is pretty pricey. After reading the rest of this review, that shouldn’t be surprising. You’re paying for one of the best locations in Cape May, in addition to high-quality rooms and access to a pool. It’s also important to consider that Cape May is expensive as a whole. The price is high, but it promises to be a fun splurge for a weekend away at the beach.
You can expect to spent a decent chunk of money no matter where you stay at Cape May. This beach town isn’t known for its budget accommodations.
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