Americas Best Value Inn

Friendly, attentive staff and affordable rates, even with a last-minute booking, made our Christmas visit to Columbia a good one. We travel with pets, so the pet-friendly policy matters to us, and the hotel is close to family and local attractions. The facilities are in fairly good repair but feel dated and could use an upgrade. New carpet and shower heads would make a big difference. We'd definitely stay again, and with a few updates I'd rate it five stars.

Jami was so kind and cheerful, even with a couple of people waiting for their rooms. She kept reassuring them it would only be a few minutes. I arrived tired and lost, and she saw it was late, so she rented me a room for the night, saying a couple hours of sleep never hurt anyone. She was right, and I had a great stay. The front desk service was great, and I'd recommend the hotel to everyone I know. I hope Jami gets recognized for her hard work and lovely attitude. I'll stay here again.

We left about 15 minutes after arriving and found another hotel down the street that accepted dogs, since we were traveling with pets. The woman there said this was the place where you'd expect to see hookers and druggies. The front desk lady at this hotel was nice, but the room was disgusting. Our non-smoking room reeked of smoke, the carpet had gross stains, and there were what looked like blood specks on the sheets. The back side of the complex felt sketchy, with people screaming and chain-smoking outside. It was an awful time. Avoid it, even if you have to drive another two hours.

I booked a Days Inn through Priceline seven months before my stay, but on arrival I couldn't find it because the name had changed to America's Best Value Inn and nobody had told us. After dropping our luggage, I went to dinner with friends. When I looked more closely at the room later, I found bed bugs. The front desk moved me to another room and planned to charge only one night, but that room had bed bugs too. I packed up, found a room at La Quinta, and told the manager he'd need to pay for it because it was twice as expensive on the night before homecoming. He cursed at me, called the police, and ran me out. I waited for the officers and made them go in to give me a receipt showing I owed nothing. I called the health department that night, and an inspector came the next business day. I have their email saying some rooms had been taken out of service until a certified pest control operator treated them, with a follow-up inspection planned after enough time for the treatment and any secondary treatments. I was there less than six hours, found bed bugs, got cursed at, and had the police called. I'd never stay there again and recommend everyone stay far away.