Hotel Du Pont

We were so excited to stay at this beautiful hotel. However,
the beauty is all it really has to offer. This rating is based mainly on the LACK of customer service we received as soon as we walked into this hotel.

I do want to make this clear. The valet folks were really nice and helpful with our luggage. They were very responsive when we needed our car and always friendly. Same with housekeeping. Kudos to them!

Now Back to the review... When we checked in, the front desk clerk asked for my last name, my credit card information and handed me my hotel key cards. Just like that... in that order. Not welcoming at all. As first time guests at this hotel... we knew nothing about it aside from what we read online. I had to ask... which way to the elevators... NO Welcome or any details about the hotel, restaurant, amenities, parking, nearby attractions... NOTHING!!! How rude and unwelcoming!!! It was very off putting and unreal how this same energy was carried out until the end of our stay. I honestly don't get it. For the price of this hotel and parking ($45 per day)... I expected better. Removing this from our list and have no plans to return.

I do want to note a couple of things. The hotel rooms are clean and the housekeeping staff was pleasant. The restaurant located inside of the hotel is lovely and the food was amazing. However, that was not enough.

We were actually rerouted here by another local hotel due to maintenance issues, so initially the Hotel DuPont was not on my radar for this trip. The size of the room was a pleasant surprise.
Upon arriving, the lobby is beautiful with all the details. Abundant, plush seating, a great long table for getting work done and the front desk rep did try to upsell us saying we could get a suite with a city view. We weren't planning on being in the room for long at all due to our itinerary, so the view didn't matter. All that mattered was we had two beds. Upon entering the room, we discovered if we had said yes we would have been upcharged $100 for NOTHING different. That put a slightly bad taste in my mouth about the front desk check-in process. Even when I declined the "upgrade", the front desk guy seemed a little offput, almost in a condescending way. He had no way to know that we usually stay at no less than 4* hotels when we travel and while the original hotel we were staying at was only a 2-3* it was only bc we booked late and had a very specific location we needed to be at.
Since my husband and I were traveling with our 17 year-old daughter, we had enough room and privacy, but also plenty of space for three of us to get ready without being all over each other. And since us girls needed some extra time and our daughter needed privacy from her dad as she dressed, it was wonderful to have plenty of options to go within the suite. Multiple mirrors and counters-even a vanity outside of the bathroom. Nice touch.
The room had everything we needed, coffee, tea, water, plenty of towels for three, a wonderful soaking tub, premium toiletries and the bathrobes & slippers were perfect since we needed to pack light.
One thing we noticed: the rooms and hallways do seem like they are worn. You can tell they need to update the rooms, but other than that, it was a lovely stay sans the attempted upsell at check-in!

From the first phone call to confirm and then upon entering the hotel as well as the entire trip, every day I felt like a VIP. The entire staff made us feel so comfortable, whatever we needed they found a way to accommodate us.

We travel by car a few times a year from Florida to New York and back. This is now going to be a permanent stop for us. We look forward to our next visit.
Thank you!!!

Having our daughters wedding at the Hotel Dupont was the best decision we could have made. The DuPont is old world classic hotel that is not replicated anywhere else in Delaware.
The event spaces were iconic. Each of the event venues presented their own personality and charm. We had a welcome party, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, after party and a brunch utilizing four unique spaces.
The staff at the hotel especially Sandra could not have been more accommodating and professional. At every turn the staff was available to help in anyway they could.
The food at every event was raved about from all of our guests.
Jamie Christinzio, Director of Events, was my "guiding" angel. Jamie led me through every step with such ease, and her suggestions were always spot on.

As far as I am concerned if you want a truly magnificent and memorable wedding, there is no other place than the Hotel DuPont.

the magnificent floral arrangements were created by Fernandfeme.com, and the fabulous music was performed by The Jack Faulkner orchestra.

WE WISH WE COULD DO IT AGAIN!

We had my parents' 50th wedding anniversary here - a small soirée with family in a private dining room. The service was superlative - the maître'd and waitress didn't merely respond to requests but anticipated them. The comestibles were of excellent quality - particularly the cake and the macaroons for dessert...although I was equally impressed by the main course. It was a perfect evening - I highly doubt that any other place in Delaware could have come close. The Hotel duPont is clearly the best that the state has to offer.

Great historic hotel. Gorgeous furnishings, decor n lovely restaurant to boot. Lovely stay n delicious breakfast.

We enjoyed a beautiful Saturday evening at a wedding reception at this very glamorous and beautiful hotel. Absolutely stunning ! Everything was perfect
Sadly, upon the end of the reception the awesomeness ended abruptly!
When we had checked in around 3 o'clock the room had felt quite warm so we had adjusted the thermostat to 69°. When we returned to the room at midnight it was still hot. Thus we dropped the thermostat to 64° and tried to sleep. When the room temperature reached 76° we called the desk and they told us all we could do was turn off the air conditioning or switch rooms. It was now just past 1 o'clock in the morning so we suffered through the night. Turns out this is a known problem to them- my husband found reviews going back to early 2021 complaining about this very issue!! This is why I am so angry, it wasn't a fluke. They know this happens. Additionally, FYI there is no coffee. There is an espresso maker in the room, but no coffee readily available even down in the lobby. Confusing to write this review because it was such a fabulous wedding, but trying to get sleep afterwards was near impossible.

Hotel itself is honestly beautiful. But for a 5-star hotel, I expect much better service. With the exception of Frank at Le Cavalier, the stay was all around one of the worst customer service experiences I've had. It's mind-blowing how awful they are. It's as if they're trained to be as unaccommodating and unwelcoming as possible. Literally every request was denied. And they also don't hide their disdain for black customers.

Came for dinner the night before check in (met up with a friend who was staying at the hotel), asked the front desk for directions to the bathroom. Was told I couldn't get directions unless he saw a room key. Really? For directions?? To a lobby bathroom??

Checked in the next afternoon. Was told my room was on the 5th floor. I asked if that was the highest floor available. Without even checking she tells me "unfortunately we're all booked so there's nothing else". I just so happened to have checked that hour (was going to book a second room for a friend) so I know for a fact there was availability. I let her know this. Then she checks the system and tells me "okay, I guess we can do the 8th floor for you". Just wow

I had booked a luxury king, got to the room. No robes, no tissue. Called down ~1:30pm to request the items get delivered. Was told it would be right up. Came back to my room at ~6. Items still weren't there. Called again from a friend's room to request the items. Housekeeping wanted to know why I was calling from a different room. What difference does it make??? Got back to my room ~8:30. Still no items. Called a third time and finallyyyy, after just 7.5 short hours , I got tissue at 9pm.

Had reservations for brunch at the hotel restaurant at 11:30 so asked if it was ok to check out ~30 minutes past the 12pm check out time. Without even checking the system... "No unfortunately we can't accommodate that"

Service at the restaurant wasn't much better. Our waiter never checked on us to see how everything was, multiple times we had to find a different server to request items. One of the people I was dining with asked for avocado- was told no. We found another server who brought it out. Another person requested a baguette instead of toast. Same "no" response.

Prices are in line with the Four Seasons- which I stay at often. But somehow they think it's ok to treat you as if you're at a budget hotel. For that price, I expect better treatment. Again, it's a lovely historic hotel. But between the poor service, and open, blatant stares- I highly doubt I'll return.

Beautiful jewel in the heart of Wilmington, clean environment, customer service depends on who you are dealing with.

I love this hotel, but the new woman at the valet station doesn't understand the purpose of valet. I paid for valet, and when it was time to pick up my car, she gave me my key and said it was parked at the end of the block. That is not valet. I could have parked on the street for free. I was stunned because I have parked here before and never had that issue. If I see her at the valet, I will find somewhere else to park.