Whilst visiting Yale in September last year (05), I stayed in the Hotel Duncan for 2 nights and will be returning in October this year. It is a ideal location for both the town and the university and I found the staff very friendly and helpful. There is a real old world feel to the place, reminiscent of the 1950's. I am a student and a real believer in value for money. Sure the decor is somewhat tired and the place is in dire need of some tlc but you get what you pay for in life. At $44 a night this place is a real bargain.

In taking into consideration the comfort for cost ratio I must give this hotel an "above average" rating.
I paid $50/night (plus $6.00 taxes/night) and had a teriffic room. It was spotless, had a tv, maybe not all the niceties one is used to but for me it was just fine.
It is very close to virtually everything...Yale U, museums, restaurants.
I found the staff to be helpful and congenial.
I've stayed in hotels where I have paid three times as much and didn't like them nearly as much as this one. As has been previously mentioned, there is something rather old-fashoned and genteel about this place. It is not your cookie cutter type hotel.

I live in New Haven but stayed at the Duncan one night when my water heater broke. The man at the desk was very nice to me and put me up in a huge, stately suite with bay windows overlooking Chapel Street (and my car). It cost $50. I remember calling the front desk about the lack of heat until it eventually came on. I had a comfortable night. For those of you unfamiliar with New Haven, the location is superb.

SOme Guy with a key came in to my room thankgod i was in the bath room I thought that he was staff and he was going through draws and stuff and went over to my laptop and said Hi can I help you and he replied is this tracy's room I said no can I have your name and he darted out the room and I called down stairs and ask the man down their that there was a man in my room with akey and said that thats impossable their only two keys and he has the other so I said then who just walkedin to my room and said I dont know and that was are PROBLEM to handle it. I SAY NEVER COME TO THIS HOTEL SLEEP OUTSIDE INSTED AND LET THE PLACE BURN..........