Clean hotel with a small bar. You have to climb stairs to get to the elevator since this is a charming older building, but they offer to help so it's not a problem at all.

This area is VERY quiet after 5pm since it's smack in the middle of a business district. There is one cute restaurant nearby, the Elevator Building.

Downside- Valet parking. I'd prefer just to be able to park myself. And with all of the help I felt like I was tipping up the wazoo. But the service was super friendly.

Lots of hotels have interesting histories. The Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Columbus, Ohio, is among those with a ‘sole-full’ past.
The property was race headquarters for the 32nd annual Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon held on October 16, 2011. We were warmly welcomed by eager, friendly staff members all sporting bright green “Race Crew” t-shirts. Our check-in and check-out were smooth and hassle-free.

At no time did we feel crowded or ‘just another number’ even though the lobby/check-in area is small. Although valet parking was available for $19, we chose to park for $6.00 in a public lot a short 2 blocks away. The central location made for an easy walk to the Columbus Convention Center for the running packet pickup.

Our request for a high floor and refrigerator were honored. The refrigerator had been brought in and was already cold. What a pleasant surprise to find a spacious room. A unique feature of our room was a two-step ‘upstairs’: a separate area with a desk and work chair plus a floor lamp and easy chair with natural light streaming in the windows with a great view of downtown. I liked the colors: navy blue carpet and clean, fresh color coordinated bed furnishings. The beds were very comfortable although the pillows were too soft for my preference.

The toilet and shower were separate from the sink area. I thought the tub and toilet area was quite small, with little clearance for the door to close. The water pressure in the sink was high, making it difficult to control without getting splashed. A lever rather than the existing round pull knob would help regulate the pressure. Standard features include: hair dryer, coffee maker/tea; individual climate control; iron and ironing board; cable channels (CNN-ESPN-HBO-satellite TV-movies/videos, pay-per-view; VCR player). The ‘upstairs’ work area has an electrical outlet at desk level. The phone provides voicemail and speakerphone. Channel 50 provided marathon course information for runners and spectators.

The hotel has 5 floors, 145 rooms and 4 suites. Free high-speed Internet is available in all guest rooms, public areas and meeting rooms.
We were issued two Internet passwords for two devices. Additional passwords were available upon request. Service animals are permitted; pets are not allowed. The main lobby/ check-in area has free popcorn and coffee/tea. Stairs lead to a lower level. Additional stairs from the lobby lead up to a public seating area and to the main elevators. (More about the stairs later). Hotel personnel are available to take luggage to rooms if a guest is unable to carry them up and down the lobby stairs. An accessible elevator is located in the main lobby area. American breakfast is available in the Courtyard Café with a choice of a hot buffet breakfast or an a la carte menu. The hotel has a heated indoor pool, whirlpool and fitness center.

24 golf courses, some as close as 5 miles away, will satisfy any player. Activities from biking to volleyball are within easy driving distances.
Among the local attractions are: the Ohio Statehouse and Capitol Building; The Ohio State University; German Village and Brewery District; Short North Arts District; Columbus Museum of Art; and, COSI Columbus.

So. What’s the 'sole-full' past? A plaque in the lobby explains: “The hotel was a shoe factory. In 1890, Harry Preston Wolfe and his brother, Robert F. Wolfe, worked for H.C. Goodman Shoe Company in Columbus. After work they operated a side business: Harry made shoes; Robert sold them. With $500 capital in borrowed money, they quit Goodman and started Wolfe Brothers Shoe Company in a rented room at 35 West Spring Street. On November 30, 1984, the building was renovated and dedicated as a 165-room hotel, the ‘Victoria Inn.’ In 1994, Concord Hospitality bought the building and branded it a Courtyard by Marriott. The stairs remain as historic preservation.”

Warm welcome; central location; friendly, caring staff; and, a unique room configuration make this a ‘shoe-in’ choice for your next downtown Columbus, OH stay. Oh, and, yes. The Columbus Marathon was a big hit!

Reasonably priced,attentive staff and the rooms were very clean. The bed was extremely comfortable. Bathrooms a little smaller than most, but how much time do you spend there? Valet parking was twenty bucks, but very efficient. Easy to get a cab when you needed one.

I was down in Columbus for a Leadership conference that was held at the Nationwide Arena from the 21st-23rd of October, 2011. This hotel was great, friendly staff, Free Wi-Fi and right where I needed to be. Only a 5 minute walk to the hockey arena. I would recommend this hotel as I didn't see anything wrong with it.