The DeBary Inn

My stay at The Debary Inn was a pleasant surprise. I travel almost 40 weeks per year and normally frequent upscale hotel chains, and a few B&B's that I have known for years. I came upon The Debary Inn by accident when my usual hotel informed me that they were filled up and suggested The Debary. I thanked them and booked a week sight unseen at the inn. The location was a dream, down the block from downtown Summit, walking distance to the train. I was greeted warmly by the GM and shown to my room, which was one of their premium rooms, beautifully decorated, and extremely clean. It had a wonderful feel as did the rest of the Inn. I will be adding The Debary Inn to my list of preferred stays and hope to frequent there as often as my business permits.

The DeBary is a beautiful Grand Victorian Inn located in a quaint NJ shopping village town. So, right from the start it has a lot going for it. Decorated to perfection in the traditional style with just the right touch of modern amenities (Such as flat screens and wireless internet), it could be a real slice of heaven. The bones are there, but the staff isn't really up to par. I called three times before I could get anyone to return my call for reservations. Four of us met there for a girls' weekend and, while the mattresses were magnificent and the silken sheets were indeed by luxurious, someone should have taken as much care with the bathroom and living room cleaning. I dashed out to the local Quik Mart type store for some scrubbing bubbles to make the shower stall more ... friendly, the carpet could have used a vacuuming, the bar sink had dirty glasses in it, and the refrigerator had a container of take-out - apparently left from some prior guest. The garden was overgrown and the wicker seating, while adorable, was old and rickety and in dire need of fresh paint. That might have added some ambiance, had the cushions been clean. But they weren't. Was the place filthy? No, not by a long-shot. But it could have been and should have been much cleaner than it was. I do hope they get their act together, as the DeBary is a fine, stately house, and with a better staff, it could be so much more.

I stayed at the DeBary Inn in a small room by choice, so my review is with that in mind - but I really enjoyed this Inn. I've stayed in much more pretentious B&B's, but this one had a casual aire that I appreciated. It was in an excellent location for walking to restaurants and/or the train station as well as a great walking trail in a nearby Arboretum. Cleanliness was excellent. The food was average - but adequate. I found the value very good. Also the proximity to the mall across the freeway was good. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this inn. The only thing that could be improved was the parking!