OverviewLocated a 1-minute drive from the nearest Interstate 26 on-ramp and adjacent to Lake Harbison, the Hampton Inn on the Lake at Harbison is geared towards business and vacation travellers who require a pet-friendly hotel with easy highway access, a free breakfast and an outdoor pool.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms and suites offers free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a free weekday newspaper, a lap desk, a desk, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Rooms with a sitting area and a sofabed, a separate bedroom and a jetted tub are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms.
Hotel amenities include an outdoor pool, a fitness room, free bicycle rental, meeting space, a business centre, an outdoor fireplace and seating area, BBQ facilities, guest laundry facilities, free parking and a free breakfast. On weekdays, breakfast is available to-go. Pets are permitted free of charge. This hotel has a non-smoking policy.
Frankie's Fun Park is a 3-minute drive from the hotel, while Columbiana Center offers shopping roughly 14 minutes away on foot. Harbison State Forest is a 5-minute drive away and Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) can be found about 20 minutes away by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets permitted free of charge, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: September 11, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's staff, rooms, location and breakfast.
Numerous guests praised the hotel's staff. They were characterized as helpful, friendly, efficient and knowledgeable about the area.
The hotel's accommodations were complimented by many reviewers. They described their rooms as clean, quiet, spacious and well appointed, with comfortable beds and linens and nice lake views.
Several patrons were pleased with the hotel's location. They described it as safe, and close to Harbison Lake, highway access, shopping, restaurants, Lake Murray and Riverbanks Zoo.
The hotel's breakfast was enjoyed by several lodgers, who found it to be well stocked, with a good choice of hot and cold items and a clean and large seating area. One guest remarked, "Breakfast was a cut above most 'free breakfast' locations".
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few complaints about cigarette odours.
A few guests complained of cigarette odours throughout the hotel. They reported the odours throughout the hallways (although not in the rooms), as well as the outside seating area, despite the hotel's smoke-free policy.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #5 of 91 Columbia hotels with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 212 reviews.
Hotels.com guest reviews rated the hotel 4.6 out of 5 from 207 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.6 out of 5 with a 98% recommendation rate from 202 reviews.
The author called the hotel on September 11, 2013 to verify some information.
