FairBridge Inn Express London

We needed somewhere to stop after an unexpected drive two weeks ago, and hotels near Columbus were either full or asking $250 to $450, which we couldn't afford. After leaving the interstate for highway 40 in Ohio, we found Fair Bridge Inn Express near London for under $100. It looked like a small mom-and-pop place, but inside the room was beautifully furnished, with nice floor boards, clean sheets, and a clean bathroom. A very pleasant place to rest, and the employees were lovely and respectful.

There’s a Holiday Inn Express next door, and if I hadn’t booked this room online, I would’ve gone there. The room was disgusting: stained towels and bed, a dirty, scummy bathtub, holes in the walls, and loose flooring. The door needed a special pull-and-kick motion to unlock it, so I had to go get the manager from the desk to show me how, as if I should already have known.

Both rooms I was given reeked of smoke. The first was room 304, and when I went back to the desk, the man acted surprised and moved me to another room, but that one smelled just as bad. The online photos are misleading. I wish I’d checked the reviews before reserving. Stay away.

The staff was curious, and check-in and checkout were easy. My room was clean, with a comfortable bed, a good-sized TV, plenty of hot water, and air that worked well for both cooling and warming. A huge storm knocked the lights out on both nights we stayed, through no fault of the hotel, but we had flashlights and the TV, air vent, and water still worked, so we got adequate sleep, TV, and shower time. The price was very reasonable, so I recommend it.