Residence Inn by Marriott Columbus Airport

I spent two weeks at the Residence Inn by Marriott near the Columbus Airport, and the team made that long stay feel easy and enjoyable. The rooms and common areas were spotless and comfortable, and every staff member I dealt with was respectful, friendly, and helpful. During my birthday, they surprised me with a card and a gift. That personal gesture meant a lot, and I won’t forget it. Kiya, Casey, and Alphonse deserve a special thank you for making the stay so welcoming. It’s one of my best hotel experiences in a long time. I’d gladly return and recommend this Residence Inn, especially for an extended stay in Columbus.

The airport is close, so there’s noise, but they do a good job keeping it out. The location works well, and the rooms are standard and okay, nothing remarkable. Staff do greet you, though my check-ins have been somewhat poor. As an ambassador-level member spending over $30k a year on hotels, I’d have expected an offer of a market item, points, or even a check on whether an upgrade was available. Usually I wouldn’t care, but I noticed.

Everything else here is good, but I won’t return over breakfast. I have to reach my destination by 7 a.m., and it takes exactly 30 minutes to get there. Breakfast is listed as starting at 6:30, yet they keep the doors shut until exactly then or later, not even a second early. Those few minutes of sticking to the posted time meant I spent two weeks at the hotel without breakfast. It annoyed me to no end.

The shuttle was prompt, friendly, and useful, and the location is great. But deadbolt your door: they have no way to stop someone else from being issued a key to your room. The bathroom lights are motion activated, and they’re painfully bright when you get up in the night. Also, why no complimentary bottled water? There aren’t any restaurants nearby. There’s a bar with a small food menu, but its oven was broken, so dinner and a few drinks meant taking an Uber.