The Hotel Macomber is one of the largest historic properties in Cape May. While not a Victorian, its shingle structure dates back to the early part of the 20th century. It's location directly on the promenade makes it a perennial favorite of the beach set. You can step out from the hotel, cross the street, and be on one of the nicest beaches Jersey has to offer. With moderate prices and nicely sized room, the Macomber is a good bet for families looking for an affordable getaway. Many of the rooms offer a view of the ocean, and a select few feature a private patio with ocean view.
There are, however, some downsides to the hotel. The first would have to be the staff. They disappear for hours on end during the day. Good luck reaching them by phone, either. Perhaps it was just the season, but we were unable to ever reach anyone by phone. The other shortcoming is the lack of breakfast onsite. Cape May is full of bed and breakfast inns, but the Macomber is not one of them. The hotel's restaurant, the lovely Union Park, is not open for breakfast. The attached coffee shop/pizza parlor does open early and offers wonderful cinnamon buns, but not a true breakfast. For breakfast, I would recommend walking over to The Mad Batter .
The interior of the public areas and rooms are understated. The wide front porch has a selection of rocking chairs that overlook the ocean and provide a smoking area (there is no smoking inside). The parlor has a fireplace and limited seating and there is a glassed in porch for smoking during inclement weather. Our room was furnished with a lovely canopied bed, but an awful set of wicker furniture that was falling apart. The screens in the windows were quite ratty as well, but in October we had no need to open the windows. The hotel offers free parking for approximately 90% of the guests, but be aware that they are very strict about the 11am checkout and moving your car at that time. I would guess things are less tight in the off-season, but in Summer you will be towed!
The biggest draw of the Hotel Macomber, for me, was the price. They frequently run specials for weekend getaways and these are quite competitive when compared to the cost of local bed and breakfast establishments. We took advantage of the Haunted Weekend package and received 2 nights stay, dinner at Union Park, the haunted tour and perks for a bit over $255. On the tour we learned that room 10 is haunted. Beware! Overall, it was a great deal. Their packages can be found on their website . If you are looking for a moderately priced stay in Cape May that still retains some historical charm, you may find the Macomber fits the bill. Please not that the Macomber, like many Cape May properties, is closed January and February.