Red Roof Inn Columbus - Ohio State Fairgrounds — Hotel in Columbus

I had a horrific experience staying at this location from April 4-8th. I had drove from GA to OH to see family and had been on the road all day and was thinking I can’t wait to get into a nice bed and relax, NOT. I checked in and the front desk person was just there nothing like most hotels where they are friendly and chatty with you, she was doing her job at least. Stayed on 1st floor and got to my room and was not pleased with what I saw but ok can’t complain from the low price let’s give it a try, bed was hard, room smelled of smoke but from the other reviews I read I had anticipated that and the small cigarette holes and burns which I did see like all the other reviews said you will see. So the 1st night went and I woke up with bites all over my body and was like I hope this is a mosquitoes, pulled back the sheets searching and searching for bed begs cause you can see them, didn’t see anything so night 2 comes and I felt a bite and I pulled back a cover and found a small bug and when I killed it blood came out and I said to myself this is the bug who has been biting me. Well thinking I had killed the bug biting me NOPE because still more bites in new places on legs, back, arms and my daughter was so horrified but we didn’t see any on her bed and THANK GOD she wasn’t bitten at all. So then she was lying down and then she scream I see a bug and we found a TRUE BED BUG on her bed and once killed had blood in it as well. So then I was like this is it went to front desk to advise and show them and the girl different from person who checked me in, help out a little bit but only gave me a bag to my clothes in and switched up to another room on the same floor. She did apologize and I explained I have stayed at many hotels and I have never been thru this what do I do, she did explain to keep my clothes in this bag which she gave and that was it. No free nothing just an apology and she did see how bad my arm looked, because this is nasty and now I must say when they switched us rooms. My old rooms they only changed the sheets they did not throw out the mattress or nothing, so I am sure who ever gets the room next will be bitten just like me. I will never stay here again when I come to visit my family. The good points they do accepts pets but the breakfast they mention on their website is a joke its only coffee. PLEASE PLEASE READ all reviews for this hotel before making your pick. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE ELSE FROM GETTING BITTEN. Other things I noticed were a lot of mattresses thrown out by the back trash can and I many a lot, so this might be where more bed bugs are as well. Stayin on the 1st floor people will stand and talk loudly by your door in the middle of the night and there was broken glass in the parking lot from beer bottles and no one cleaning it up at all. So NASTY and this was a bad experience for my 1st stay ever for red roof, not sure if I will...

In my review two years ago, I stated that I was skeptical (based off of the reviews on here) so much that I tried to get Red Roof Inn cooperate to change my reservation and was upset when they didn't.

I also stated that I figured what the Hell? The room is already paid for. My family and I will try to tough it out and see what happens.

I concluded the review that I wrote two years ago by saying, "This was truly a nice surprise. For the price we couldn't have asked for a better room. I felt comfortable the entire time that I was there. There was no room issues and guest service was most helpful. The location was very close to the things we wanted to do and I would gladly stay there again."

Two years later and you know what? I would say the exact same thing. I have stayed at other fancier hotels sure. But when my son, daughter in law and I made a trip to Columbus a couple weeks ago, I made it a point to book this very hotel. In fact, when we got checked in, I sat in the chair at the desk (both of which were immaculately clean) turned on the ac (that kept us nice and ice cold on the super hot days) looked out the window and said, "ah home sweet home!"

I seriously do not know where all of the bad reviews come from. I have not seen a bug in our room, a stain on our sheets, heard a peep from any of the neighbors, had a clean bathroom, clean towels and the friendliest staff I have dealt with as far as hotels go. Without an expensive price tag.

While the area may look run down, I can honestly say that I have never felt afraid in it or at the hotel. I have seriously lived in far worse apartment complexes.

In fact, during this last trip we had a lot of luggage and didn't want to go upstairs with it, the woman at the desk could tell this and got us a room on the first floor without our even having to ask. Also, something unexpectedly came up and even though they were booked solid on a few of the days that we needed, she made sure that we got the days and got to keep the same room that we had. Yes, just like the last time, we had to pay a $100 deposit even though the room was prepaid (which we paid in cash) and it was given back to us without hesitation the day that we left.

I will conclude this review right where I left off on the other one by saying, " I would gladly stay there again." I am always disappointed to see the bad reviews of this place. It has such a nice comfy vibe to it and as I said when I got to the room this time...

I desperately wish I could give this place zero stars. I booked and paid for a room at Red Roof Inn Ohio State Fairgrounds through a third party website. We have three dogs - one is a registered ESA complete with doctor referral letters etc. When booking, we called to confirm this was OK and the staff assured us it was.

On our arrival date, we had a lot of travel issues on our way in and didn't arrive until approximately 1:30am. It was about 10 hours of travel, and both humans and all three pups were very exhausted and ready to sleep before heading to our next destination.

Upon arriving, I went to check in while my partner and dogs took their time coming in. I was "greeted" by the supposed manager of the location who told us his name was "Kevin??" But he definitely was lying about that.

When my partner walked in with our dogs, he immediately stopped and stared REAL HARD at my partner. My smallest dog heard a noise and did one bark which we immediately took care of so as not to bother the other guests. "Kevin??" slams my ID down and tells us we are not welcome.

I'm sorry, what? For the room I paid for weeks ago? For what purpose?

First he claims it's the number of dogs (ESAs do not count as pets for travel purposes in the US) Next he claims that obviously my dog will not quiet down all night and we can't have that. Then he just glares at my partner while I demand a refund. He prints out a paper and hands it to me and we walk out.

While outside this strange hotel, at 2am, in an unfamiliar place, trying to figure out our next moves, I notice the paper says $0 And then I also realize my dogs were not the problem - "Kevin??" was denying us our room because we are part of the LGBTQ community.

I went back in to confront him about that - he not only didn't deny it, but he got straight up HOSTILE towards me. He aggressively threw the paper back at me, while screaming "we have the right to deny anyone for any reason"

Overall: 0/10, do not recommend, use your...