Overview
Located just east of Interstate 77 and about a 16-minute drive from downtown Columbia, the Country Inn and Suites Columbia is geared towards road travellers who require a hotel with easy highway access, extended kitchen amenities and a free breakfast.
This hotel has 79 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a microwave, a mini-fridge, a desk, an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer and an in-room safe. Standard rooms offer two queen beds, while rooms with a separate bedroom, a living area with a sofabed, a jetted tub, a kitchenette and two bedrooms are also available. The hotel is wheelchair accessible.
The hotel also offers an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness room, a business centre, meeting/conference space, guest laundry facilities, a free continental breakfast and free parking. Pets are not permitted. The free breakfast, which offers hot and cold items, is served from 6:30 am to 9:30 am on weekdays, and from 7 am to 10:30 am on Saturdays and Sundays.
Captain D's Restaurant is about a 7-minute walk northeast of the hotel, while the University of South Carolina can be found roughly 15 minutes away by car. Woodhill Mall is approximately a 4-minute drive from the hotel, and Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is a 25-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: July 9, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's rooms, location, staff and breakfast.
Many reviewers enjoyed their accommodations at the hotel. They described their rooms as clean, quiet and spacious, with good Wi-Fi, good water pressure and comfortable beds and linens. It should be noted, however, that a few guests had complaints about their rooms (see below).
The hotel's location was praised by numerous lodgers. They found it to be close to restaurants, shopping, highway access, Walmart and Fort Jackson.
Several guests complimented the hotel's staff. They were characterized as friendly, professional and helpful with directions and suggestions.
The hotel's breakfast was also praised by several reviewers, who described it as excellent and delicious, with a good variety of items.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the rooms and noise transfer.
While the majority of reviewers were pleased with their spacious and well-equipped rooms, a few guests had complaints about their accommodations. They reported worn and dated decor, some cleaning issues and difficulty adjusting the water temperature in the bathroom.
A few lodgers complained of noise disruptions during their stay. They reported being bothered by doors slamming and guests in the hallways, as well as guests in adjacent rooms and rooms overhead.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.2 out of 5 with an 93% recommendation rate from 129 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #46 out of 91 Columbia hotels with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 from 81 reviews.
Hotels.com guest reviews rated the hotel 4.1 out of 5 from 62 reviews.
The author called the hotel on July 9, 2013 to verify some information.
