My wife and I stayed here in mid-August 2007. Our experience was just about the opposite of what the CBI website indicated (idyllic retreat, relaxing, casual, comfortable, unhurried).

Rather, CBI was overcrowded and loud and not at all relaxing. If we weren't at the pool by 10 a.m., there were no chairs available, and the pool itself was packed from 10-5 -- swimming was not an option. Advance reservations were required for just about everything (meals, activities).

On top of this, we could not escape to our room because it was tiny and uncomfortable. The shower, TV, and telephone didn't even work properly.

Moreover, the hotel isn't even on the ocean (the website says it's "just steps away from your room") -- you have to take a short boat ride across a bay and then walk along a sandy path to get to the ocean beach, which does not have any amenities or facilities. We do concede that the ocean beach was beautiful (Hamptons/Montauk beaches are nicer, though).

The other positive -- the food was superb.

Final Thoughts: If CBI didn't require guests to pay in advance, and if we had not been desperate for a vacation (and already on the Cape during a time when availability was about nil), we would have left after the first night. Instead of wallowing, we made the best of it and in the end were able to laugh about how much we were paying for so little. But we did come close to erupting a few times.

We had stayed at Chatham Bars Inn over the years and expected the same quiet, restful visit we had always experienced. We were surprised by the number of families with small children (we didn't realize the Kids program had been added to the hotel's activities). We didn't experience a quiet moment while there. The dining room should ban strollers in the dining room. CBI should also make an extra effort to advise parents to keep their children under control. The room in the main inn was way overpriced ($380/night for a small room with torn curtains and a view of the rooftop air conditioners).

On a positive note, the hotel staff was very friendly and willing to please.

Our family just spent 9 nights at CBI. The beach was spectacular and the pool was great for the kids. Numerous choices in the kids activities kept the kids happy. Food was very good but service was slow and inconsistent.

Our suite and adjoining room were large, sunny, and had two garden patios; wonderful except for the noise from the rooms above. Management offered to upgrade us but that room also had noisy guests above it!

All in all, for about $1800/night including meals, we'd return IF we could get some sleep!

The brochure and website was so misleading to the service and luxury we expected at Chatham Bars Inn. There appears to be a high guest/staff ratio but we found that response time to any request was either slow or non-existent. Even a complaint registered to the hotel manager seemed to be a "get in line" attitude.

For a hotel that boasts service from a by-gone era, I'm now wondering what "era" they were thinking about! The service is horrible here and the noise from crying and screaming children is enough for you to head to the beach just to get away from the chaos and frustration. Thinking about the kids camps? Well, think again, the staffers are outnumbers and the children are running around like banshees everywhere on the beach and near the restaurant and beach bar. We saw a broken arm while we were there and an ambulance needed to be called. This place is unorganized, poorly managed, and extremely over-priced. Its continued sucess despite this must be to milking its pedigree and legacy to those who don't know better. There are better places in Chatham for a fraction of what this place will cost you.