Budget Inn East Columbus

Before I could finish checking in or get a key card, the owner kicked me off the property for asking whether bed bugs had ever been reported there. He kept my money and called the police. The curtains looked filthy even from outside, and the lobby chair was crawling with bed bugs. The conditions were shockingly bad before I even saw a room.

We booked online, then spent 10-15 minutes in cold rain waiting for someone to answer the office door. We rang the bell and called several times. While I was calling, I heard a phone ringing and saw a woman with a cart full of linens. She said she had to get the office key from the other side of the motel, which was a Motel 6 for some reason, then came back to let us in. At check-in, she asked whether we wanted smoking or non-smoking. We asked for non-smoking, and she got defensive, repeatedly warning that smoking in the room meant a $100 charge. I told her I don't smoke and would have booked a smoking room if I did. She raised her voice, pointed at the smoke detector in the office, and repeated the threat. She asked how many guests, and after I said two, gave me one key and said no more than two people. She wanted $5 for a second key, but eventually gave it to me free. The room had scrambled cable and an extremely soft bed with no support. The towels were thin, mismatched, and sloppily folded on the counter. The bathroom seemed freshly painted, with tape left over the door hook and paint splattered on the handles. The toilet hissed and clunked every couple of minutes. It took a lot of effort to turn on the shower, and I worried they'd charge me if I broke the handle. The listing said there'd be a fridge and microwave, but after check-in I didn't want to argue and planned to contact the booking agency. On our second night, the front desk woman was out patrolling. She hassled us when we parked by our room and asked what room we were in. We had to tell her three times, even though there were no other cars on our side, she'd taken our car's make and model the night before, and she'd worked with us. I woke up to a musty smell that seemed to come from the plumbing panel. Later, I smelled stale cigarettes in the bathroom while using it. If they try to charge me for smoking, there'll be a serious dispute. The toilet is clogged now too. Worst motel I've stayed in.

The location was handy, within walking distance of food and shopping, but the rooms were dated and dirty and the staff were rude. I stayed by the week and got no housekeeping or advertised complimentary breakfast. After four of my seven days, I had to go to the office just to ask for fresh towels, and the sheets didn't look clean either. I won't go back or recommend this place. I won't stay at another Budget Inn or Motel 6, either.

The steps to the rooms were in awful shape, with green carpet covered in what looked like years of dog hair. Inside, the microwave and fridge were filthy, and a nightstand drawer was broken. I was afraid to go farther than the doorway, and didn't want to sit in the lobby chairs. There was a man asleep on the couch. I don't think this place is fit for people to live in.