Homewood Suites By Hilton Columbia Downtown

We won’t be coming back. It was nice in some ways, but too expensive and they charge for everything. The location was perfect, close to shops and restaurants and not that far from Ft. Jackson. Staff from the front desk to housekeeping were cheerful and helpful, and our corner king suite was very clean with a great view. The reservation process was frustrating, though. Since we booked through Expedia, changing from a double to a king cost $20 a day, and we couldn’t extend our stay without checking out and checking back in. I’ve extended stays at other properties without trouble, and have changed rooms elsewhere without a fee, including when the original room no longer met our needs. I agreed to pay because there wasn’t another option. The parking fee was a first for me at a Hilton, especially for an uncovered lot run by a third party. Cars parked parallel to the accessible spaces sometimes blocked the route, so you had to loop past the entrance to get to accessible parking, and at times couldn’t get through. Our room had an awkward high-top desk. I’m 5’ for context, and the stool slipped out when I tried to sit; even my 6’3 husband had similar trouble. It looked nice, but didn’t work well. We ate breakfast two of our three nights. There was a decent selection, but lots of pork and few other protein choices. One day there were chicken tacos, and the next only two pork options. If that’s not an issue for you, you may like it. Other Hilton free breakfasts I’ve had always offered an alternative. One morning we had to leave before breakfast, so I bought two Pop-Tarts from the snack shop. They tasted and felt awful, and crumbled into dry bits as soon as I opened them, like they’d been there since opening. Our first evening, my husband and I ordered wings and each had a beer downstairs at the bar. After 40 minutes, the bartender told us something had gone wrong and the order never went through. We waited another 15-20 minutes because we were starving. The bartender was kind, but there wasn’t even an offer of a discount or comp.

I spent several months in Columbia and tried a number of hotels. This one was head and shoulders above the rest, with a resort-level stay right in the heart of Columbia. It’s close to downtown activities, the school, the capitol, and the arenas. The front desk staff were always helpful, the rooms consistently clean, and the breakfast staff greeted me with a friendly good morning.

I’ve been a Marriott Titanium member for years, but tried Homewood Suites on a business trip and was impressed enough that Hilton may have won me over. The property is lovely in the heart of downtown, easy to get to, with a secure, well-lit parking lot. The lobby feels warm and stylish, the staff are friendly and efficient, and the market has plenty of snacks and drinks. My room was spotless, bright, and really comfortable, with plush bedding and fluffy towels. Even the TV remote beats Marriott’s. The water pressure was great, hot water came instantly, and the lighting was thoughtfully done.

The rooms were brand new and very clean. The staff were super friendly, and breakfast was delicious and impressive. There’s lots to do in the lobby, and the gym was the best hotel gym I’ve seen.