Stoney Creek Hotel Columbia

This place has a really cool, rustic feel, and the rooms fit that vibe. The lower floors had a bit of a moisture issue, so I'd choose level 1, 2, or 3. Staff were very nice, the service was great, breakfast was good, and the amenities were nice.

The upgrade was about the only perk at this outdated hotel. I arrived almost an hour after check-in time and was told my reserved king room wasn't ready. I refused to wait, so they gave me a different room. The floor clearly hadn't been vacuumed, and there were several hairs left in the tub. Two light fixtures flickered and couldn't be used, leaving the room extremely dark. The bathroom needs new grout at the very least, if not a full remodel. From my ground-floor room I could hear everything upstairs, including water running, toilets flushing, and people walking.

I paid for a late checkout, but housekeeping still banged on my door at 11 AM because they didn't know I had extra time. The queen suite I booked was supposed to have two queen beds, but they seemed more like twin XL or full size. They were tiny. The room smelled musty when I entered, two bedroom lamps didn't work, there was what looked like dried salt mixed with water on the bathroom floor, and the entry floor was sticky. The receptionist at the front desk was sweet, though they seemed short-staffed. The location was fine for me, a 14-minute drive from my destination, and I didn't want to complain for a one-night stay. Still, it was thoroughly unenjoyable.

I wouldn't recommend this hotel. Before arriving, I needed two phone calls to fix the mess they'd made of my reservations. One of the room keys didn't work, and when I opened the room, it smelled awful and the lights didn't work. I went right back and politely asked for another room. The desk attendant mumbled and handed me another set of cards. It was on the first floor, where I never stay, so I politely asked for a higher floor. They said I should HAVE SAID THAT and gave me new keys, with only a vague direction to the left. I had to ask passing guests where the elevator was. The elevator opened onto a steaming-hot hallway with a discarded tissue on the floor. The light didn't work there either, but at least the next room didn't smell.