AC Hotel by Marriott Columbus Dublin

We wanted to spend Christmas in Bridge Park without driving back to Worthington, since my husband and I love the area at that time of year. But after this stay, I wouldn’t pay $368 for a room under Vaso. We arrived at 4:45 pm and were told, after several calls and checks, that housekeeping hadn’t started on our room and we’d need to wait another 30-60 minutes. We left our luggage and went to dinner. The same thing happened to us the year before. When we returned around 8:30, the room was finally ready. It was a King Suite, though the smallest suite we’ve ever had. Our corner room on the 7th floor was directly below Vaso, the hotel’s rooftop bar and one of Columbus’s most popular bars. We could hear conversations, chairs scraping, and every word and note of the music. We lasted about 15 minutes before deciding to leave. The only other rooms offered had two double beds and a partial river view. We asked to cancel instead, and after the front desk employee called a manager, we were allowed to go home. There never seems to be a manager on site, leaving the front desk staff to absorb guests’ anger. I do give those employees credit for helping us. If you don’t mind trying to sleep below a busy bar that stays open until 1 am, or Bridge Park isn’t your main destination, you may be fine here. For nearly $400, though, I expected more than 400 square feet and a night of scraping chairs and bar noise until 2 am. I’d suggest taking an Uber to a local restaurant or bar and heading home, or choosing Cincinnati or Cleveland instead.

The hotel was modern and clean, and the staff made us feel welcome. There are lots of restaurants and places nearby within walking distance, as long as it isn’t cold out. I enjoyed both the hotel and the area.

The location is great, but the price really isn’t justified. I’ve stayed twice, and neither time was my room ready by the 4 pm check-in. The “Suite” was basically a king room with a wall added, leaving less space than a standard one-king bedroom. On top of that, the corner suite sits right under Vaso, something nobody mentions. You hear every movement upstairs, and the bar stays open until 1 am. I like most Marriott properties, but this one was a miss for me.

Vaso has outdoor seating, including igloos in winter, and overlooks the Scioto River and bridge. It’s a great rooftop bar in the heart of Dublin’s Bridge Park. Reservations are recommended, though you can also walk in and sit at the bar.