Mid-Range Travel Guide: Columbus

Accommodation

$90-180 per night

Mid-range chain hotels, boutique inns, and well-located hotels in Short North or downtown areas

Food & Dining

$45-85 per day

Casual sit-down restaurants, brewery dining, food hall vendors, mix of chains and local establishments

Transportation

$20-45 per day

Mix of rideshare services, occasional taxi, some public transit, parking fees for attractions

Activities

$40-90 per day

Museum admissions, guided tours, brewery visits, sports events, entertainment districts

Use COTA public buses instead of rideshare for daily transport (typically 70-80% savings)

Eat lunch at food trucks and casual spots rather than sit-down restaurants (usually 40-60% cheaper)

Visit museums on free or discounted community days (can save $10-20 per attraction)

Stay in neighborhoods like Clintonville or Grandview rather than downtown core (typically 25-40% lower accommodation costs)

Take advantage of brewery happy hours and daily specials (generally 20-50% off food and drinks)

Book accommodations 2-3 months ahead during Ohio State football season (can save 30-50%)

Use grocery stores for breakfast and snacks instead of hotel or convenience store purchases (typically 60-75% savings)

Staying downtown during major Ohio State football weekends without advance booking (prices typically increase 200-400%)

Relying solely on rideshare without considering public transit (can cost 3-5x more for daily transportation)

Eating only in tourist areas like Arena District without exploring neighborhood spots (usually 50-100% markup on meals)