The Blu Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection

About The Hotel

The Blu Hotel is an Ascend Collection boutique property with a striking interior-atrium design and budget-friendly rates starting at $99. Located on Reed Hartman Highway in Blue Ash’s business district, it offers an indoor pool, free breakfast, and free parking—appealing to value travelers and business visitors seeking a low-cost, distinctive base. Built as an older property and refreshed in recent years, it delivers some modern amenities alongside nostalgic character. Staff reviews consistently praise friendliness and responsiveness. However, reviews run polarized regarding room condition—some guests celebrate the fresh vibe and unexpected comfort, while others flag dated fixtures and wear in spots. It is a pool hotel, not an in-room-jacuzzi property.

What Guests Are Saying

“I Loved this Hotel. We are from Florida and spent a night in the Cincinnati area. The Blu Hotel in Blue Ash, Ohio. Although we only stayed for 1 night. It was very memorable. The evening and morning Receptionist Calela and Aisha were the friendliest, most professional and well mannered receptionist I have ever encountered at a Hotel. they went above and beyond their duties to make us feel comfortable and at home. The rooms were clean, bed was so comfortable and everything worked great. Breakfast was great, and I loved the coffee machine. It offered a variety of choices. We asked for a late checkout and was asked if the 1 additional hour requested was enough time or if we needed more time. I will definitely stay at this hotel again whenever I’m in the area.” — Marcos S., 5 stars

“This was a surprisingly nice stay, especially for the low price. Upon pulling up, I was a bit skeptical, but inside the vibe was much fresher. The hotel is older, but it’s been nicely refreshed and it’s clean. The unique inside atrium style layout with the iron railings was a surprise for the Cincinnati areas. The bed was quite comfortable and pillows were adequate, though I hate they have switched to such small pillows. Once again, in the room the old age is apparent at times, but things have been updated to be quite nice. The soaps are of high quality and the towels are nice as well (and a great supply!!). Booking a hotel in this price range is always a gamble, but this is one I would not hesitate to go to again.” — JBReview98, 5 stars

“As it was very late in the evening, I was a little apprehensive, pulling up, but wow, what a great surprise. The night auditor had such a winning smile and great personality. Everything fell into place. The room was a lot larger than I expected. The hotel was a great throwback to an era gone by. There were a couple little things, but you can see that they take great pride in their property and it is a work in progress. The room was clean, welcoming, and the bed very very comfortable. The only negative drawback, the coffee. It did absolutely nothing for me. Thankfully, I had a couple of my own basic K cups With me. This was a great stopping point for a well rested nightprior to hitting the zoo.” — marysia14, 5 stars

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Budget rate ($99–$109) with free parking, free WiFi, and free breakfast—excellent value
• Distinctive interior-atrium design sets it apart from typical budget chains
• Friendly, repeatedly praised front-desk and night-auditor staff
• Comfortable beds and high-quality towels in guest reviews
• Convenient location near I-71, Summit Park, Kenwood, and downtown

Cons:

• An older property showing wear in some areas—polarized reviews on room condition
• Pool rather than in-room jacuzzi; not a dedicated hot-tub property
• Inspect the room on arrival; some guests report dated fixtures or cleanliness gaps

The Location

11349 Reed Hartman Hwy, Blue Ash, OH 45241 — in the heart of the Blue Ash business district, off I-71 and Reed Hartman Highway, northeast Cincinnati. You can find more details or book your stay on TripAdvisor.