My family (three generations) stayed at the Chauncey for an event at Princeton University. My understanding is that it was not built as a hotel for the public, but as a private conference center for ETS (the company that administers the SAT and other tests) and it is accordingly located in the middle of ETS's enormous campus northwest of the university. It's an odd location for a hotel, not particularly close to anything. But it's just as convenient to the university as any of the Route 1 hotels and the openness and isolation of the ETS campus give it a much more peaceful atmosphere than the busy highway that is Route 1. They also have a complimentary shuttle van driven by a quite friendly guy that will take you places (or pick you up) with a little advanced notice.

The architecture of the place screams 70s. Our two rooms had slanted ceilings that created an inaccessible loft-like space above the bathrooms, and one had a funky wall with wooden slats between the door to the hallway and the bed area that made it opaque when viewed from the open door, but transparent once you stepped inside the room. But the rooms were average sized, the beds were comfortable (nothing special, but comfortable), and everything was completely clean. Our advance request for rooms next door to each other and a refrigerator in one were met.

I've stayed in the Hyatt, the Westin, the Nassau Inn and a couple of lower end Route 1 hotels over the years. Overall I'd say the Chauncey is distinguished in being the quietest, but I wouldn't say it is particularly distinguished in any other manner. On my next trip to Princeton, I'll have no hesitation about returning to the Chauncey if it again presents the best available value, but I won't seek it out over other alternatives if I can find a better deal elsewhere.

We stayed there this June with our kids, during Princeton Reunions. Everything right in town was booked, and our other choices were the hotels on Route 1. This hotel was a pleasant surprise. In a beautiful setting at the end of Rosedale road, about ten minutes from the center of Princeton. The grounds are large and park-like.
The rooms are comfortable with nice beds and comforters. The room was very quiet. I would choose it again.

I stayed at the Chancy for one weekend this spring and last. Both times the hotel and the grounds were lovely and the staff friendly and helpful. The problem is the food. The food is not average or mediocre. The food is dreadful. And it is not that you have a choice of places to eat. If you want to dine outside Chancy and you don't have a car you have to count on an expensive taxi ride to town. The best way to convey to you what the food is like is to say that it tastes like school cafeteria food or army food but it looks quite attractive. Last year, for example, I could only tolerate a single bite of the scrambled eggs but the terrible tasting eggs looked to the eye to be deliciously fluffy and the buffet platter was overflowing. You could have all you want of these eggs. A friend speculated that the explanation was that the cook used powdered eggs. I don’t believe this is the case but it shows the kind of thoughts that come to the patrons of the hotel’s restaurant.

The people who serve the food are earnest, enthusiastic, and polite but there is perhaps room for improvement in their training. Today at dinner, for example, our waiter brought us the wrong bottle of wine. How often have you ordered a bottle of wine in a restaurant and they actually bring you a different bottle without comment? When we pointed this out the waiter sought an explanation in the kitchen and offered it to us: the Chancy no longer had the wine we ordered from the menu so they decided to give us a similar one. When we ordered white wine by the glass the wine came luke warm.

The problem at the Chancy us not the staff in and out of the restaurant. The problem is the food. If this hotel has the funds, they might consider calling a meeting of the hotel management and see if there is a consensus for upgrading the kitchen. The Chancy would be a fine location for a weekend getaway or a conference if the food was good.
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This was my second stay here within a few months...consulting for ETS. Again I had a great stay and my room was wonderful. Extremely comfortable beds, great amenities in the bathrooms...and plenty of hot water! Food in dining room was buffet was fine. I highly recommend the made to order omlets for breakfast. Service by staff was so wonderful in all areas. Since I was there in freezing temperatures...and it was NOT pleasant to go outside, the lodge setting was made extra cozy by all the lit fireplaces. Made you want to curl up with a book on all the cozy couches! Another treat was the Chauncey bar...Ron, the bartender was fabulous. Great cosmos! It was a nice place to gather after dinner and hang out and chat with colleagues.

A group of us did venture into NYC one night...taking the train from Princeton Junction. I highly recommend doing this. Hotel shuttle will take you to station. Train fare is cheap and the ride is just about an hour long. train takes you to Penn Station in NYC...just blocks from Times Square...we walked from there, walked to Rockefeller Plaza...and ice skated :) also
had dinner overlooking the rink.