<p>We will be visiting in June for freshman orientation and looking for a hotel from which we can easily get to the campus As I understand the student will stay in the dorm for one night but parents are on their own. As we will be flying in on say a Wednesday night and leaving on a Saturday, we would like a hotel which is not to far from restaurants or shopping. Also, given that we might have Friday afternoon, are there nearby attractions or places that we can visit. We will most probably rent a car, so hopefully that will open up some more options.</p>
<p>This thread from last June might give you some ideas
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ohio-state-university-columbus/1346335-visit-osu.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ohio-state-university-columbus/1346335-visit-osu.html</a></p>
<p>Our youngest has just signed his acceptance form for OSU, so all 3 of our sons have gone there! Looks like we’ll be there frequently (orientation, move-in, etc) and will probably stay at the Varsity Inn North each time.</p>
<p>HTH</p>
<p>Thanks. </p>
<p>There are no rooms in the Blackwell. Also suite hotels seem to be full, so we may need to stay in a hotel with roll-away. </p>
<p>There seems to be some hotels around Hutchinson Ave. Is it difficult to get OSU in the morning from there, as I think the students need to be there around 8:30 AM. I am not sure how traffic conditions are at that time.</p>
<p>Here is a helpful link to hotels close to campus: </p>
<p>[Ohio</a> State University Hotels: Find Hotel Deals near Ohio State University in Columbus, OH](<a href=“http://www.expedia.com/Ohio-State-University-Hotels.0-l6066363-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels]Ohio”>Find Hotels near Ohio State University in Oletangy West from $71 | Expedia)</p>
<p>I’m in Columbus for a scholar’s session and we managed to find a Sonesta ES Suites in Dublin (about 15-20 minutes from campus) Our rate was around $75 a night. There’s two queen beds (in separate rooms) a kitchen and a living room area. Each bedroom had a separate bathroom and closet. It is set up very much like an apartment and there is a lot of privacy. There is also free wi-fi and a continental breakfast. There’s a pool and a basketball court. The area is nice. About five minutes down the road is a shopping center with lots of different stores. The Columbus Zoo is about ten minutes away. The furniture is a little outdated, but everything is very clean and well kept and we were willing to settle for outdated furniture for the great price. When my family comes back in June for orientation, we will hopefully be staying in the same place.<br>
If you want to look into it, it’s called Sonesta ES Suites in Dublin. It used to be a Residence Inn and was recently converted. We booked this through Expedia, so I’m not sure how the price fluctuations work.</p>
<p>Hopes this helps!
Good luck!</p>
<p>Red Roof Inn on Olentangy? Very convenient to main campus but not in the middle of it.</p>
<p>When we visit, we normally stay at Residence Inn Downtown–they normally have parking packages. The rooms are larger, and it’s simple to get to campus from downtown–right down High Street. Other times we stay at the Fairfield Inn on Olengtangy.</p>
<p>If you want to stay a bit closer to shopping, you could choose a hotel near Tuttle Crossing Mall (such as the Drury Hotel at Tuttle Crossing) or one at Easton (such as the Hilton Garden Inn). It would be about a 15 minute (Expressway) drive to drop your student off in the morning for orientation, but there would be more for parents to do during down time, and prices would be better than for hotels on campus. The Polaris Mall area is another nice area to look for hotels. All of these are easy to find by googling the area and have many hotels.</p>
<p>I think the hotels on campus (such as Varsity Inn) are a good choice if you really do NOT like to drive at all and want to stay super close. </p>
<p>As someone else mentioned, you could also look for hotels in downtown Columbus. You can drive straight up High Street - don’t have to get on the Expressway if you don’t want to. Drury Hotel is an affordable choice there with free hot breakfast.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Attractions: Malls (Tuttle Crossing, Easton, Polaris); North Market in downtown Columbus -unsure of weekday hours (I have only gone on Saturdays) - this is a neat collection of ethnic food vendors; “short North” shopping area just North of downtown Columbus; Columbus Zoo; COSI (Science Museum); Hollywood Casino; various parks to walk around if that is your thing; lots of nice restaurants in the Malls that I mentioned</p>
<p>Also - not sure how long your family can stay, but Cedar Point Amusement park in Sandusky, OH might be worth an add on if you can stay extra time to visit :-)</p>
<p>^^ Cedar Point is not very close to Columbus, around 2.5 hours drive without traffic</p>
<p>Thanks for all your suggestions</p>
<p>There are also a set of hotels between High street and Campus view BLvd, just north of the 270 Freeway. (It appears not to be very far from Polaris Mall). Are there restaurants and shopping around there or do we have to go the Polaris Mall. Would that area be preferable compared to the other areas.</p>
<p>Also will it take to long from Tuttle Mall or the Polaris Mall (or the hotels near Campus Blvd) to drive during the morning i.e. is there going to a lot of traffic going to downtown in the morning when we will be dropping him off or picking him up? In other words, I am not particular we should be close but I would prefer not to spend an hour on the roads in the morning.</p>
<p>We are leaving Saturday early morning. So I expect we will be free around Friday early afternoon (say by 1 or 2 PM). Given that we have an early morning flight out the next day, what would be places that we could reasonably visit and come back, especially given it is a Friday afternoon. Is the Football Hall of Fame too far </p>
<p>Thanks again for all your great suggestions.</p>
<p>We like to stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Olentangy River Road. Next door is a Holiday Inn Express and across the street is a Hilton Garden Inn. All three a very close to campus.</p>
<p>Just my opinion, but I’d stay closer to campus. I think you’ll hit a lot of traffic in the morning. Are you planning to attend orientation too? There are great sessions for parents that are worth going to. H and I both attended OSU so are familiar with the campus, yet I learned a lot during orientation and enjoyed meeting other parents. I attended orientation with oldest son, middle son and now our youngest son will have orientation this summer! </p>
<p>There’s info about what parents might experience when kids go off to college, financial aid and FERPA info, a session for out of state students/families, health ins and more. Open a bank account, etc. I left the kids alone for the evening activities, so I wasn’t hovering.</p>
<p>Yes you will have Fri afternoon/evening free and have time to explore Columbus. Might be tough to get to Canton though (Football HOF) probably a 2+ hour drive each way - although they are open til 8, but you and especially your kid may be tired.</p>
<p>I would agree with staying close to Campus–and agree with the hotel suggestions given by editor. The Fairfield Inn includes breakfast which is a bonus. There is also a nice Hampton Inn on High Street that is across from the North Market, and right in the middle of the Short North shopping district. Polaris and Easton Malls are nice, but the stores and restaurants there are the same ones you see in every large mall. I love going to German Village–and the flowers will be starting to bloom–here is a note that I sent to a friend that was going to Columbus:<br>
- The Ohio State University is a nice campus to wander through–the new library is especially nice, and you can go up to the top floor and get nice views of the whole area. On the outskirts of the campus, near the basketball arena is the Jack Nicklaus Golf Museum, which you might enjoy: </p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to the Jack Nicklaus Museum](<a href=“http://www.nicklausmuseum.org/]Welcome”>http://www.nicklausmuseum.org/)</p>
<p>2.From the Ohio State Campus toward the downtown, along High Street, is an area called the Short North–with lots of cute shops, restaurants, etc. We have stayed at a Hampton Inn here, which is nice and in a good spot. Right across the street from the hotel is the North Market, with cute places to eat, bakeries, ice cream, BBQ, etc–kind of an upscale Westside Market.</p>
<p>[Welcome</a>! | The North Market](<a href=“http://www.northmarket.com/]Welcome”>http://www.northmarket.com/)</p>
<p>[Columbus</a> Ohio Hotels - Hampton Inn & Suites Columbus Downtown](<a href=“http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/ohio/hampton-inn-and-suites-columbus-downtown-CMHHSHX/index.html?WT.mc_id=1HX2RE3Hotel4OneTagSol]Columbus”>http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/ohio/hampton-inn-and-suites-columbus-downtown-CMHHSHX/index.html?WT.mc_id=1HX2RE3Hotel4OneTagSol)</p>
<ol>
<li>One of my favorite places in Columbus is an area called German village. It is an old area of the city founded by Germans, and has many shops. restaurants, delis, etc–lots of cute houses. there is a wonderful Book Store, a very nice gift store and a great Fudge shop. There is also a very nice restaurant there that we go for special dinners.</li>
</ol>
<p>[Retail</a> shopping | German Village Business Community](<a href=“http://www.gvbusinesscommunity.com/shop/shopping/]Retail”>http://www.gvbusinesscommunity.com/shop/shopping/)
[BookStore</a> Homepage - Book Loft](<a href=“http://www.bookloft.com/]BookStore”>http://www.bookloft.com/)
[Helen</a> Winnemore Craft](<a href=“http://www.helenwinnemores.com/]Helen”>http://www.helenwinnemores.com/)
[Schmidts</a> Fudge Haus](<a href=“http://www.schmidtsfudgehaus.com/]Schmidts”>http://www.schmidtsfudgehaus.com/)
[Lindey’s</a> > Home](<a href=“http://www.lindeys.com/]Lindey’s”>http://www.lindeys.com/)</p>
<p>I don’t find morning traffic to be too bad - and prefer staying away from campus - but it is a matter of preference. I haven’t done it recently but plan to drive from my house which is 2 hours away for orientation in July 
I was just trying to be helpful. Obviously, you have to do what works for your family. I do not enjoy the hotels near campus at all and find them to be overpriced. Again, I recommend pricing and making your own decisions. I think the normal commute from Easton to campus would be 15 minutes, but with morning traffic, that would be more complicated, and since I don’t do it on a daily basis, I hesitate to estimate. I am sure the editor would know better. For my normal 1 hour and 40 minute commute, I allow 2 hours when I come during peak hours and I make it without trouble. We are a very “price conscious” family but perhaps you find your drive time to be a more precious commodity. By all means, do what works for you!</p>
<p>Regarding Cedar Point - I should have explained. I was saying, if you are coming (flying) from far away, that it might be worth STAYING in Ohio for an extra few days, for vacation, and enjoying travelling up to Cedar Point. Again, just my two cents.</p>
<p>Thanks, I was looking at the hotels near the campus and find them to be overpriced for those dates. I find that hotels a further away seem more reasonable and that is why I was asking about commute times.</p>
<p>Yes both of us parents will be attending the orientation, we will be on campus the whole of Thursday till about 5 PM and then come back the next day (while my son stays on campus). Given that it just two days I am willing to deal with a slightly longer commute (say half hour) if needed if we can get a better hotel.</p>
<p>We also stay at the Hampton Inn in Polaris. It is definitely cheaper than the hotels on Olentangy. Actually, we’ll be staying there next weekend for DD’s graduation!!! It’s about a 10-15 minute drive to campus.</p>
<p>I’ll be staying at the Holiday Inn Express on Olentangy, according to google maps it’s within walking distance of the campus. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.</p>
<p>Let me know how the hotel was — we’re staying there in early June for orientation - only place close to OSU that we could get a suite</p>
<p>We’ve stayed there in April during an OSU honors visit, and we’ll be back there in July for orientation. We liked the Holiday Inn express…very close to OSU (not sure about walking, though)…The breakfast was fresh, hot in the mornings. They were very friendly and the rooms were very clean and spacious. We had a double queen suite. It was close to a small strip mall that had a grocery store and a couple of restaurants.</p>