My sister and I stayed at the inn In Sept '03 and were impressed by the cleanliness. The Inn is lacking warmth, and ambience but we go for the relaxation and privacy so that was OK with us. Despite having to share a bed, we inquired about making reservations for a week in '04. The innkeeper, Victoria Clayton, told us if we paid by the end of the year, we could get a great rate and tax would be included in the room price. We made the reservation and paid in Oct of '03 for the Labor Day week of '04. Almost a full year ahead!!!! I emailed Victoria in April, as I had not heard a word from her, although I knew she received the money. I inquired about a personal fashion show she was involved with and also about our room. She confirmed our reservation with the dates, and price. I again emailed late August, just to say we would probably arrive later in the day. I got no response but was not concerned at all, assuming she was too busy to reply. After all, our reservations were made right??? WELL!!! Imagine our surprise when we arrive and Ms Victoria comes out on the porch with a nasty "And you are??" We gave our names and stated we have confirmed reservations.Wrong!! It seems she didn't know we were coming and our room was rented out!! I calmly repeated we paid almost a year ago and surely she remembered. While disputing that we had any reservation at all, she was, at the same time telling us she would find us another place. I didn't pay a year in advance to drive 8 hours and have to find another place!! As it turned out, she had a suite we could stay in until Thurs, at which time other guests were coming and we would have to leave. I inquired if these other guests had paid a year in advance, and why should we leave instead of them?? Take it or leave it she says, or I'll just call the police!! I should have insisted she call the police because we were the victims. My sister was upset, thinking we would not find a place to stay, so we opted to stay the 4 nights. WHAT A MISTAKE! We were treated like DIRT!! Our room was made up the first morning, although the floor was NOT cleaned, and a note was left that the staff was off the next day. So all we got was clean towels for the 2nd day. OK, I could live with that. So on the 3rd day, we return from the beach and AGAIN our room was not touched!!! After inquiring of the other guests if they were being treated the same way, which they were not, I was able to reach Ms Victoria by phone. The girls knocked on your door and you didn't answer, so we didn't want to disturb you. WHAT A LIE!! You all know if that happens they open the door and clean! This woman told so many lies in 4 days, I don't know how she can look in the mirror. We got a partial refund, which was less than we should have received but I couldn't wait to get out of there, and money was not an object for us. Although I suspect that our room was rented for more than we paid, so it must be with the innkeepers.
So, take a word of advice, Victorian Week is coming up, as is Christmas. STAY AWAY FROM INN ON OCEAN!! Make your reservations somewhere with innkeepers who are honest and trustworthy and will honor an agreement. And as you can see, by the reviews, we are not the first people this has happened to. Don't start your holiday with a problem!!
These people, Victoria Clayton and Rick White also own the Merry Widow on Jackson, so be forewarned.

The days before Christmas at Cape May...lighted mansions, crisp air, pretty Christmas decorations. I expected the Inn to be decorated inside like a Winter Wonderland. But, the decor was very limited to a single tree and a few angels. I expected a lot more in terms of Christmas decorations.
The room, the Sandpiper, was quite attractive with a claw foot tub. The breakfast was a little too limited for me. One morning, a quiche, the next day french toast, but I would have liked a buffet table chock full of fruit, cereal, and bread. Rick, one of the owners, was friendly.
However, for the dollar, I think that more attractive alternatives exist. I guess it depends what you are looking for. Proximity to the beach, A+, proximnity to Washington Mall, A+; interior decor, B-.

On August 31, 2002-September 1, 2002, my girlfriend and I, Amy, stayed on the Inn on Ocean. Amy and her family have been coming to Cape May for over 10 years, and I have been to Cape May twice. We always come to Cape May on Labor Day weekend to celebrate the end of the summer.

I have to express to you how disappointed I was with the way we were treated during our visit to the Inn on Ocean. The purpose of going to a "bed and breakfast", instead of a typical "hotel", is because of the personal treatment guests normally receive at bed and breakfasts. We want to feel like we are guests at a person's home, and not simply visitors to another hotel. Last labor day Amy and I stayed at another B&B, which was 1/2 the size of the Inn on Ocean, and simply was not as nice as the Inn on Ocean. The room we stayed at last year was very small, and the house was not as well kept as the Inn on Ocean. Despite this, however, both Amy and I had a wonderful time last year because of the small things that the innkeepers did. They greated us warmly when we arrived, and seemed to take a genuine interest in speaking to us, and making us feel "at home" in their B&B. We all had afternoon tea together, and the weekend was great.

Our experience at the Inn on the Ocean was the complete opposite of what we experienced last year. First, when we arrived, we told the innkeeper's husband that we were staying until Monday, September 2, 2002. He had no idea who we were, no idea how long we were staying, and did not check his records before giving us the room key. He seemed to have better things to do than to talk to us. Unfortunately, the innkeeper's wife, Victoria, had messed up our reservation, and thought that we were only staying two nights, instead of three. If the innkeeper's husband had simply paid a little attention to us when we checked in, this problem could have been avoided.

Victoria specifically told me that on labor day weekend she only accepted reservations for three nights. This was clear and unambiguous. I then specifically told her that we would stay for the three nights of the 31st, 1st, and the 2nd. She made the mistake in our reservations, and sent us an incorrect confirmation that unfortunately I did not review carefully.

What was the most upsetting was how aloof Victoria was about trying to make the situation better on Sunday afternoon. There was no warmth, no personal treatment--simply a take-it-or-leave-it offer to move into another room, after you she threw all our belongings out into the hall while we were out having lunch. Victoria could have put our things in the other room as a show of good faith. She could have offered us a discount for staying the extra night. But she acted like you did not care one way or the other, and actually seemed to be rushing our decision. This is not the way that a guest expects to be treated at a B&B, or any other establishment for that matter.

Amy and I fully intend to continue visiting Cape May every year, but we would never consider staying at the Inn on Ocean again because of the way we were treated by the innkeepers. We have lots of friends and family who also enjoy visiting Cape May, and unfortunately, we also cannot recommend the Inn on Ocean to any of them either.