Cape Cod Irish Village

In an area peppered with charming New England-style hotels and vintage motels, Cape Cod Irish Village stands alone. The exterior and entrance feel vaguely like other area hotels, with white siding and pitched shingle roofs. However, the grand, vaulted lobby is strangely reminiscent of a corporate office building. There's also the matter of the hotel's name, which may conjure images of quaint, wood-heavy interiors and roaring fires. That is not the case here, though, as many of the common areas lack a definable style though they are mostly well-maintained. Yes, there are some token Irish-inspired accents -- including plaster Celtic crosses and large tapestries in the lobby, plus Guinness brand rugs and lots of green -- but it all seems fairly haphazard from a design perspective. 

With two pools, a whirlpool hot tub, and a large, authentic Irish pub hosting regular live music, the property offers a number of lively social spaces. While many of these areas can get boisterous, bordering on rowdy, much of the hotel is family friendly. The hotel's game room and outdoor playground -- features not found at much of the competition -- make this a reliable and relatively pleasant choice for families vacationing on the Cape.

Situated on Hyannis’ busy Route 28, the hotel is within a 10-minute drive of the town’s popular Main Street tourist district. The center of town has dozens of local restaurants, bars, and shops, and there are several chain restaurants even closer. Two of the town’s most famous museums -- the Cape Cod Maritime Museum and JFK Museum -- are likewise only 10 minutes away by car. The closest beach is under five minutes away by car, and area day trips include a 30-minute drive to Chatham and a one-hour drive to Provincetown, the lively village at the end of the Cape.

From a public transportation perspective, the south-central Cape is isolated and inconvenient to reach. Travelers arriving via the two nearest major airports -- T.F. Green (Providence) and Logan International (Boston) -- will need to rent a car to make the 90-minute drive to the hotel. The municipal airport in Barnstable is less than 15 minutes away by car, however, flights are limited.

The decor in every room is unfortunately what most travelers would expect of a two-pearl hotel, and aside from the mint-green walls, there's nothing to suggest the visions of Ireland conjured by the hotel's name. The dated paisley bedspreads, worn wood-veneer furniture with old-school silhouettes, and old tube TVs in some rooms seem like remnants of the hotel’s grand opening. Newer couches in some rooms and freshly painted walls are a gesture at updating things, but overall the effect is humble. That being said, they are well-kept (and rates are a comparable bargain), to make them a pleasant enough place to rest at night for many vacationing families.

Amenities include mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers, are standard in all categories. The hotel advertises free property-wide Wi-Fi. However, we found the service to be slow and unreliable. Many customers provide mixed reviews of the Serta Perfect Sleeper beds offered in every room category.

The layout in every room category is virtually identical, with the only notable difference being the bed configuration. Every room offers a split suite-style floor plan with a separate room that serves as a living area (in Standard Rooms) or a second bedroom with two additional twin beds (in Family Rooms). Many rooms provide private balconies with basic plastic patio furniture. Poolview Room balconies offer a view of the outdoor pool while most Family Rooms provide only views of the hotel grounds or parking lot.

Relative to comparable hotels, the bathrooms are average in size and amenities. The look and feel is homey, with cream-colored tile flooring and yellow walls. In many cases, fixtures are basic and clearly dated -- we spotted salt-worn metal and notable areas of peeling grout. Bathrooms in all categories feature a standard, plastic shower/tub combination.

Cape Cod Irish Village offers a surprising amount of communal amenities for a two-pearl hotel. Two adequate pools, an outdoor tiki bar, and a large, authentic Irish pub restaurant all provide a sizable amount of space for socializing.

The hotel offers more pool space than most other hotels in the area. A sizable indoor pool is housed in a bright and well-maintained space between the lobby and outdoor pool terrace. A few dozen basic lounge chairs and patio sets provide a modest amount of seating, and there's a small, six-person hot tub at one end of the pool. Outside, a second pool sits at the center of the horseshoe formed by long rows of Poolview Rooms. The entire terrace is likewise clean, spacious, and well-maintained, with white plastic lounge chairs lining each side. A small tiki bar at the far end provides seasonal poolside drink service with a full liquor menu of wine, beer, and cocktails. The atmosphere is lively, though family-friendly.

The only restaurant and bar is an unnamed pub with a distinct Irish aesthetic. The large, open space is evenly split between a bar side and a restaurant side with a stage. Large slatted wood covers every inch of the floor while a cherry bar and matching seating fill the space. Subtle Irish accents, including small flags and signs adorned with Gaelic quotes, provide a bit of flair. The hotel hosts live music on many nights, as well as breakfast and dinner every day. Curiously, there is no lunch service available, and breakfast is unfortunately not included in room rates.

Unlike other budget options in the area, the hotel does have a fitness room, but expectations should be managed as it's a narrow, dark room with three clean, though dated, cardio machines. A small gift shop in the lobby provides kitschy Irish-inspired souvenirs and trinkets. Among other items, the expected selection of shamrock T-shirts, Celtic patterned scarves, and authentic Irish snack foods are all available. There's also a game room to keep kids entertained, plus an outdoor playground.

A large private lot provides plenty of safe, secure parking for the hotel’s 124 rooms’ worth of guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but unreliable.