Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Columbus Univ Area - Osu by IHG

The lobby looks great after the renovations, the beds were really comfortable, and the staff at both check-in and checkout were very friendly. Getting to the hotel and parking was easy, and compared with other nearby options, the price was reasonable. I'd call it a fair 3/5. The breakfast was a letdown for this brand, with no pancake maker and just apples for fruit. In the room, the Keurig didn't work, there were only decaf pods, and the bathroom seemed to have been skipped during the renovation. The grout was filthy. We could hear the upstairs neighbors so clearly it sounded like they were having a DDR competition, with running and stomping for whoever lost. The hot tub was closed for some reason, which was a big reason we booked. The pool was open, but the water was warm and questionably cloudy.

The bed was so soft I couldn't sleep well, and the bathroom wasn't clean, though the room itself was. The TV was hanging crooked. Parking was very limited, and a foot of snow from the week before made it obvious how poorly the snow removal company had cleared the lot.

The staff were very nice, and we had no security concerns. The food was good, too, though I noticed a strong smell clinging to my clothes after going to the dining area. This is the second Holiday Inn Express where that has happened, and it's quite pungent. They also charge a daily parking fee if you book through a third party. The room, sheets, microwave, and fridge were clean, but the bathroom had mold on the ceiling and bits of dirt and hair where the toilet seat meets the base. There's no bathroom fan. Noise was the bigger problem: the walls are thin enough to hear normal conversation next door, and you can hear and feel a door shut from several rooms away. Street-facing rooms get plenty of noise, too, and the AC/heater is loud. This isn't a quiet place to relax, so I wouldn't stay again.

We came into town for a concert, and the hotel gave us a free shuttle to and from the Schottenstein Center. Check-in and checkout were quick, and the front desk was friendly. The beds and pillows were super comfy, and everything was clean and affordable. My only suggestion is to redo the bathroom floor grout, which needs refreshing. I'd stay here again for sure.