Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Downtown at USC

The front desk staff and manager were friendly and knew their stuff. Riley, Ryan and the assistant GM Andrew deserve a special mention for going above and beyond with customer service. The rooms were large, clean, and looked new, and there's a driver available on a first come first serve basis. The hotel is in a great spot, within walking distance of lots of good restaurants. I'd highly recommend it.

The front desk staff, including the Asst. GM, were great. That's the only redeeming part of this property, and it's unfortunate because it's the most convenient hotel to where I work when I'm in town. I won't stay here again. It feels like the only reason anyone would book it is if it's the only downtown Columbia hotel with availability. The water was shut off for maintenance while I was in the middle of a shower, shampoo in my hair. I only found out afterward. Doing that in the morning when guests are getting ready is hard to understand. They offered double points for my stay, which wasn't enough for me. I'm Titanium Elite for life, and basic things like a clean room, sheets, towels, hot shower, and amenities are what I expect. The noise was awful, too. The walls are so thin I could hear the person next door coughing and talking on a call, plus everything in the hall. Outside, train horns blare all night because of the tracks around Columbia and the lack of quiet crossings. Sirens, motorcycles, pedestrians, it all sounded like it was in my room. They even have a little sign saying, “Columbia doesn’t sleep, but we want you to!” and offer ear plugs and sound machines. I've stayed in quieter rooms at a Courtyard in Times Square in NYC. And the parking garage is nearly impossible to use. Every space has concrete pillars around it, the stalls are narrow and short, and the aisles are undersized. Even an average car is difficult to park, let alone an SUV or full size pickup truck. Avoid this property. It should be downgraded to a 1 star hotel without the Marriott brand associated with it.

Food prices are the one downside I'd point out, $10 for a yogurt parfait is a lot. Still, I'd absolutely stay again. The staff were welcoming, and the room was spacious, very clean, and comfortable after a full day out. The Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Downtown at USC is in a great location, walkable to the main spots around campus and close to everything USC-related. Great if you're visiting for a game or just exploring, and if you're a Gamecocks fan heading to CLA, it's a must-stay.

The staff went above and beyond throughout the weekend, even helping us recover some precious things we left in the room after checkout. Kudos to the management and the rest of the team at Courtyard Downtown! The rooms were very clean, had all the amenities, and service was excellent. It's conveniently located near plenty of downtown sites and restaurants. 👌❤️🌺