Super 8 Columbia/Ft. Jackson, SC

I’m staying across the street at Extended Stay America, where I’ve been for two years. We had continental breakfast for the first six months, then management changed, took it away, and raised the rates. My friend is staying here, and the lobby really impressed me. It’s Christmas time and they’ve made it look beautiful. The place was clean and friendly, and I was especially taken with the continental breakfast. I even snapped a couple of photos.

I felt safe here, and the hotel was so quiet I barely heard other guests or anything odd from the street. The staff were friendly and checked each day when I came out to see if I needed towels or anything. I stayed six nights, and while they didn’t clean the room during that time, they made small fixes quickly. The TV remote needed batteries, and the little fridge door wouldn’t close until its feet were adjusted. My keys always worked, the basic cable was fine, and the Wi-Fi was great. Check-in and online checkout were easy, and I got the room I’d reserved months earlier, a smoking room. I had my service dog with me and that caused no trouble, unlike at other local hotels I’ve stayed at. The beds had clean, soft sheets that stayed put, and the mattress was neither too hard nor too soft. There were three very light, short pillows per double bed. They didn’t offer much support, but I liked propping them behind me to watch TV. I had enough towels, no bugs, and the room was clean. The bathroom had pump soap, shampoo, and conditioner by the shower and sink. There was no coffee maker, but I did have a fridge and microwave. I didn’t use the continental breakfast. The room was basic, as I expected for the price, and pretty spacious, but sparse. No chair apart from the desk seat, no drawers, and just one hanger. There was room for drawers, another hanger, and a chair, which would have been a nice touch. The small parking lot is one way, and you drive around the back to get out. There’s mostly cement and just a small grassy spot for dogs. It’s close to the base, Walmart, Sam’s, shops, and restaurants, with places in walking distance and quick access to I-77 and downtown. I came to celebrate my birthday with friends in town and wanted a safe place for six nights. I got that, along with good service and a quiet place to rest. I don’t need luxury or want to pay Hilton prices. This is a great Super 8, and I’d absolutely stay again. It might become my usual choice for the several trips I make to Columbia each year.

We just needed somewhere to sleep and stopped at the first hotel we came across. It was okay. The receptionist was great, and the beds were fairly comfortable. I liked the three pillows on my double bed and chose the best one. The hotel itself was old, noisy, and extremely dirty. It needs a deep clean.

I booked a room for a military graduation and asked for a non-smoking room, but the one I got reeked of smoke. It was so strong my eyes burned and my chest and throat felt irritated. The room was dirty and disgusting. I tried cleaning it with the disinfecting wipes I happened to have, but ended up checking out because I couldn’t stay there. There were stains and trash on the ugly carpet, the bathroom floor needed mopping, toothpaste was splattered on the mirrors, and the counters needed a proper wipe. It felt really unsanitary and unsafe to stay in. They need to do a much better job cleaning the rooms and hire someone to handle it. If you do stay there, check the room before checking in, because they won’t give your money back. I’d never book with them again. 18