Southern Suites Columbus

This is an extended-stay place, and many of the people here seem to live there rather than travel through. People were gathered outside rooms, on the balcony, around the parking lot, and near the office, which made the hotel feel unsafe. I booked through a third-party site because the price looked good and the photos seemed fine, so I wasn't concerned by the no-refund policy. That changed when I saw the small, smelly, dirty room. I turned around and left right away. I'm trying to get a refund, but be careful. You get what you pay for.

The AC worked great, the front desk women were really nice, and the rooms looked good. The rest of the stay was rough. The bed felt terrible, the bathroom door wouldn't shut, and the wifi was extremely weak. When I asked for extra towels and tissue paper, they said each item cost a dollar in cash. You also have to wash the towels yourself, and washing and drying them costs six dollars. At check-in we got a huge list of rules, and the website said check-in was at one, but the women in the office told us to come back at three. When we returned, the doors were locked. Luckily, we ran into the manager, who was incredibly nice, and another woman leaving, and she got us into a room. There aren't enough honest, detailed reviews of this place.

I travel across the US for work and have corporate IDs and rewards memberships, so I checked reviews for a lot of hotels nearby. Most looked awful, and this place had some bad reviews too, though they were all over two years old. I drove over with some doubts and was pleasantly surprised. Sheryl showed me a room, and I couldn't believe how clean and new everything looked for the price. She's an awesome manager, and all the staff have been friendly and ready to help. They treat you like family here. I'd definitely recommend it.

The weekly price is hard to beat, and management has really cleaned the place up. Twenty years ago, you couldn't come in without being approached by a prostitute or drug dealer. Now it feels safe for families and single guests alike. The front desk service is impeccable and always very helpful, and the updated rooms are much nicer than they used to be. I'd highly recommend it if you want somewhere affordable and safe.