Explorer Rest & Recreation

Hotels
8.8 (465 reviews)
2227 Cleveland Rd , Sandusky , us

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Heating
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Fishing
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Close to Cedar Point / great location
Comfortable beds
Clean and modern rooms (many mentions)
Easy/text/no-contact check-in
Responsive and hospitable staff/owner
Dog friendly
Good value / budget friendly
Well maintained / upgraded rooms
Suitable for families
Lots of nearby food options
Cons:
Bugs / dead insects / cobwebs reported
Limited room storage (no dresser/luggage rack)
Minimal in-room furniture (no chairs/tables/sofa)
Shower curtain/containment issues causing water on floor
Occasional neighbor noise/screaming
Train noise nearby
Small cleaning issues (sticky floor, hairs)
AC had concerning smell / filters may need change
No staffed front desk at times
Top bunk safety concerns

Categories

Cleanliness
7.6
Mostly clean rooms reported overall, but multiple guests noted bugs (dead bugs, cobwebs, spiders), occasional sticky floors and hairs, and an AC odor — cleanliness has notable negatives.
Service
9.8
Consistently praised: hospitable manager/staff, responsive communication, easy no-contact/text check-in and helpful owner — strong service experience across reviews.
Location
10
Excellent location repeatedly noted: very close to Cedar Point, downtown and many food options — location is a clear highlight.
Room Quality
7.8
Rooms are modern and beds comfortable, but several guests reported practical issues (no dresser/chairs/sofa, limited hangers, top-bunk safety concerns, shower curtain/water splash) reducing room functionality.
Amenities
7.9
Limited in-room amenities (small Keurig, few hooks, minimal trash cans, no luggage racks or dressers) — functional but sparse for families/stays requiring storage.
Value for Money
9.4
Good value noted multiple times: budget-friendly, convenient proximity to attractions, comfortable beds and clean spaces make it a solid value for the price.
Food and Beverage
8.8
Standard quality for this hotel tier (hotel-level food/beverage offerings not specifically discussed; nearby dining options mentioned).
Overall Experience
9.1
Generally very positive stays reported (clean, comfortable beds, dog-friendly, family-appropriate, easy check-in), tempered by isolated issues like bugs, neighbor noise, and minor room practicality problems.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-21 05:12

Property Description

Welcome to Explorer Rest & Recreation!

Convenient Location: Located just a short distance from Cedar Point Amusement Park and other attractions, our hotel offers easy access to the best of Sandusky.

Comfortable Rooms: Relax in our air-conditioned rooms equipped with flat-screen TVs and cozy bed linens.

Family-Friendly: With family rooms available, Explorer Rest & Recreation is the perfect choice for your next getaway with loved ones.

Ready to experience comfort and convenience in Sandusky? Book your stay at Explorer Rest & Recreation now!

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 465 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.6
Service: 9.8
Location: 10
Room Quality: 7.8
Amenities: 7.9
Value for Money: 9.4
Food and Beverage: 8.8
Overall Experience: 9.1
K
Klotz • solo_traveller • us
9
Pros:

Room was great. beds comfy .location perfect

Cons:

The sheets had something on them not sure if ut was dirt .at first we were afraid they were bed bugs .. coffee pot had no where to plug in except on a chair in living room area

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
C
Creazola • family_with_children • us
10
Pros:

Me encantó el ambiente del hotel muy familiar, las instalaciones limpiar y me sorprendió la manera de hacer el ingreso no hay contacto con nadie todo es vía telefónica o por un código QR

2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
S
Stephanie • family_with_children • us
8
Nice get away for a couple of days with the family and dogs. Very clean !
Pros:

Very clean, and comfortable

Cons:

The shower leaked all over the floor.

2026-08-27 • via Nuitee
B
brittany • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
S
Smith • solo_traveller • us
8
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
N
Nancy • solo_traveller • us
9
Awesome Choice for a 2 Family Group
Pros:

Comfy beds, 2 smart TV's, contact-less check-in, fridge and microwave, multiple tables, ramp entry and roll in shower, loads of towels and pillows, great location, friendly housekeepers. Room for air mattresses.

Cons:

Decorative bedframe was hanging off wall precariously on one bed, and one light fixture was damaged. We were afraid we would be blamed for existing damage but nope. We were fine.

2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
A
Angie • family_with_children • us
10
Pros:

Cute!

Cons:

Felt like it needed some kind of small table and a few chairs!

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
S
Sara • solo_traveller • us
10
Favorite sleep spot in the area
Pros:

This place is a gem.

2026-08-16 • via Nuitee
N
Nadia • couple • us
5
Pros:

Price and proximity to cedar point, easy check in process, and very kind and helpful owner

Cons:

Bugs. I hate bugs and the first room we were in had a lot of dead bugs squished into the wall. Had two corners full of cobwebs and spiders as well. The ac also had a concerning smell to it, air filters likely need to be changed. We did switch rooms which fixed these issues.

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
D
denika • couple • ca
9
Pros:

Very cute and clean room! We could hear the train go by when we were awake, but it did not wake us up. This is a nice area, lots of food options close by. Our pup loved it as well

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • extended_group • us
7
2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
B
Brandon • family_with_children • us
10
2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
M
Melinda c • family_with_children • us
8
Nice hotel close to things only down fall dresser even a small one.
Pros:

Cozy space and flooring

Cons:

No dresser to store cloths or a luggage rack.. Had to put cloths on twin bed and sleep with kid on their bed

2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
E
Eric • solo_traveller • us
10
Wonderful and Impressive stay.
Pros:

Layout was very modern. Features were of great taste. Entertainment was sophistcated.

Cons:

Shower . even though it was modern needed a bottom lip and a longer curtain.
Some water got on the beautiful bathroom floor

2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
D
Davion • family_with_children • us
10
Exactly what we needed with our budget.
Pros:

it had comfortable beds, a clean room, and it was located really close to the destination we were there for. The staff was very accommodating, and it was easy and felt private.

Cons:

Mostly, the price and the location and the beds were comfortable. No mold, no bugs, just clean.

2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • couple • us
8
2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • us
10
I would come again most likely!
Pros:

The manager or lady who checked me in was very hospitable and it was very classy

Cons:

The lady next door screaming and cussing at her kids all night and the husband too and so i went and slept in my car!

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
S
Shane • solo_traveller • us
1
Skip it
Pros:

Terrible

Cons:

Train near by

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee
A
amanda • couple • us
10
Our stay was wonderful
Pros:

Very well maintained, clean, great location.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-23 • via Nuitee
T
Taylor • couple • us
8
Decent
Pros:

The room was very basic and was all we really needed for the weekend and was close to downtown where we needed to be for an event. Everything was redone and modern inside the room. Being texted the code to access the room made check-in easy.

Cons:

The room only had one tiny trash can in the bathroom; adding one more or two more small ones by the kitchen or by the bed would be helpful since the small bathroom one fills up quickly. Would be helpful to always have someone at the front desk for questions. There were also a few bugs in our room but they could have been from coming/going.

2026-07-22 • via Nuitee