visiting c-bus for the first time (Columbus: fit in, hotels, safe area)

[peanutbutternjelly]

My wife and I are in our mid-20's and are going to columbus for the upcoming us/mexico soccer game. We are looking for a hotel to stay at but have no clue where to begin looking.

We both love the nightlife, bars not clubs, and will more than likely be walking at night to and from bars and back to our hotel.

Where are the safe areas inside downtown? And where are the "bad" areas where you wouldn't be caught walking at night (especially if you're two innocent looking young white people)?

Thanks!!

[Tenzo]

Compared to most cities, Columbus is pretty darn safe with few bad areas and none with hotels.

There three main hotel areas, as I see it.
Downtown (expensive and dead at night), Cheap hotels not to far from the highway (red roofs etc.) Middle priced hotels near shopping centers.

What are you planning on doing besides the soccor game?
If you plan on partying at the bars you want to be in Short North / Arena Distrcit.

[peanutbutternjelly]

We will be hitting any open bars at night and during the day we want to do whatever sightseeing there is to see.

Are those districts up around the convention center and nationwide arena?

[Tenzo]

That would be my recomendation.
I think there is a fairfield suites on High by the arena.
You would have to trek pretty far to find an unsafe area from there.
Lots of transportation and easy walking from the capital (dont bother) to the North High nightlife to the sports bars near the arena.

[Columbusneon]

Hotels are all over the central city. If you are looking for something a little pricier (I am not sure where you are from, but Columbus hotel rates are very low compared to other cities of similar size) then try the Hyatt or Renaissance downtown. For something nice but not pricey. I am pretty sure there is a Holiday Inn Express very close to the stadium, and a Days Inn just off I-71 on E.17th Avenue.

As far as what to do? Columbus is fairly easy to get around. I am not sure if you are walking, driving, using public transit or taxi. Walking from the stadium..it will be a trek, but the campus area is not too far. Being in your mid 20s you may or may not fit in with the traditional college age crowd, but I am almost 32 and occasionally pretend I am still an OSU student going to Larry's! If driving, definitely visit the Arena District and/or Short North. About a 5 minute drive from Crew Stadium. If you are more adventurous, German Village and the Brewery District are on the opposite (south) side of downtown, but downtown is not terribly big, so a mile or so down High Street from the Arena area. I wouldn't recommend driving out to the suburbs for entertainment..bland to be honest.

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by Columbusneon

Hotels are all over the central city. If you are looking for something a little pricier (I am not sure where you are from, but Columbus hotel rates are very low compared to other cities of similar size) then try the Hyatt or Renaissance downtown. For something nice but not pricey. I am pretty sure there is a Holiday Inn Express very close to the stadium, and a Days Inn just off I-71 on E.17th Avenue.

As far as what to do? Columbus is fairly easy to get around. I am not sure if you are walking, driving, using public transit or taxi. Walking from the stadium..it will be a trek, but the campus area is not too far. Being in your mid 20s you may or may not fit in with the traditional college age crowd, but I am almost 32 and occasionally pretend I am still an OSU student going to Larry's! If driving, definitely visit the Arena District and/or Short North. About a 5 minute drive from Crew Stadium. If you are more adventurous, German Village and the Brewery District are on the opposite (south) side of downtown, but downtown is not terribly big, so a mile or so down High Street from the Arena area. I wouldn't recommend driving out to the suburbs for entertainment..bland to be honest.

Larry's? LMFAO. That place is awesome and half of the people that go there don't look like they've been in college for years. My buddies and I (also well out of college) go there all of the time when we're on campus for games or whatever.

[Clevelander17]

The soccer stadium is sort of near Ohio State's campus and the nearby bars, but you don't really to walk between the two areas. It would be a cheap cab fare in either direction.

I don't know much about hotels in that area, however.