This hotel is a great value and in an excellent location in New Haven near Yale. Do not expect the Hyatt but the hotel is clean and is perfect for a guest that is basically using the hotel to sleep.

One BIG CAUTION though, DO NOT use a debit card for form of payment. The hotel will put a hold on the pre-authorization and it will take weeks to have the funds released and credited back into your account!!!!!

Not clean is the key word, I was glad to find a large room for a low cost but at night when going in to bed, I just wished I was in a more expensive hotel.

Duncan is just a charming hotel. Its old and a little shabby but clean and the staff are really friendly and helpful with a good sense of humour. I loved the location, although there is now some construction on Chapel st and its a bit noisy. And the price is great. Keep up the good work guys.

I was excited to see the price and location. Even though the other reviews were poor, I figured I could stand it given the PRICE! I called for a reservation and was told the rate was $25 more than what I saw. "Well, you saw wrong," was the reply I got when I explained that I saw a lower price. When asked why the discrepancy, I was told "that's that rate." I don't do rude, not even for $55!!

I don't mind quaint, old or rustic...even simple, but totally unkept and dirty I wasn't prepared for! I was embarassed to have my elderly parents with me. Never again!!

A lot of people don't understand what the Duncan is about. The price should alert you to the fact that this is not a hotel renovated to look like a period piece, it actually is a period piece. It hasn't been updated since the 1940s or so.

Local motels such as the Super-8 cost twice as much.

So, stay here if you want a funky ...

First let me say I went during Yale/Harvard weekend so the cost of the room was twice as much.

The pros
1. located near campus. You can walk to Yale bowl (there was an hour wait for cabs).

2. It is right by est, est, est. (pizza place)

3 They start taking reservation a month before the Yale/harvard game. So you may be able to rent a room ...

After reading mixed reviews on the Duncan, my wife and I decided to give it a chance afterall. While I was a student at Yale, we stayed at the Duncan and found the experience to be quite positive: friendly staff--for the most part; helpful; quite couteous. We liked the "quaintness" of it all. Also, major sites are within walking ...

with the price of ~$50 you can not find better. the hotel was old but nice the elevator man was so funny, he kept tilling me that the elevator is old for the 5 days I stayed in the hotel.
Not bad but make sure you arrange early reservation for a good room.
Would recommend it for low budget guys like myself...
Ami, NY traveler....