Magnuson Grand Columbus North

The hallways had a stale cigarette and marijuana smell, even though all the rooms were non-smoking. Fortunately, it never got into our room. It was quiet, and I slept well, which was what mattered for our one-night stay. I didn't use the pool or gym. The area seemed fine to me, with nothing shady around. I was nervous checking in after reading some of the reviews, but it wasn't bad. Our room was clean and spacious, the bed was very comfortable, and there were four fluffy pillows. The bathroom was clean, and the fridge and microwave both worked. The TV was unreliable, with few channels and patchy reception. The water got warm enough for washing hands, but there was no hot water that night.

The $100 damage deposit is a big hit, and travel sites often don't mention the changed policy. The beds were uncomfortable, the water-saving toilet didn't flush properly, and noise carried through the thin walls. Breakfast was only bananas and blueberry muffins. Still, the hotel was clean and well maintained, with a lovely pool and a good location. It seemed fairly safe too, since you need a key to get into the building and after 11 p.m. can only enter through the main lobby. It's a decent cheap option if you can handle that deposit.

I only found out about the free breakfast when I saw the sign at checkout. Nobody mentioned it, and there was nothing in our room to let us know. Checkout at 11 a.m. felt early, especially since check-in isn't until 3 p.m. There was an ice machine and a pop machine in the hall. The pool is fairly large and across from the lobby in a separate building. It's set up for competitions with lane ropes, which makes it less easy for kids to play. I didn't try the gym, locker rooms, hot tub, or sauna. The hot tub is for adults 18 and up. The parking and lobby layout was confusing, so we had to circle the lot to find the entrance, which faces the main road behind the building by the pool. The halls and public areas looked reasonably clean, and our room was clean enough. The polyester-feeling bedspread wasn't to my taste. I saw no signs of bugs, though something bit my arm. The breakfast would've been nice to know about.

I've stayed here twice for business during the state track and field event, and it was a good choice both times in the last three years. Staff are nice and helpful, and the location is convenient, with gas stations and restaurants nearby, including a Pizza Hut right next door. The room was spacious and clean on both visits. The TV was fine, and the AC worked well and quietly in warm weather. Breakfast was fine too, though there could be more choices than waffles, bananas, toast, and cereal. My only issues this year were key cards that failed on two different days. The front desk fixed them promptly, so it was a minor annoyance. The bathroom towels were a bit small, and I liked the water-saving toilets but worried they might not flush completely.