Hilton Columbia Center

Parking is crazy We stayed here for one night at the tail end of what appeared to be a youth conference. The hotel was extremely crowded. The hotel itself was clean, very nice, and the rooms were nice. Hot water and water pressure were great. We didn’t have the time to use the pool or gym during our short stay. Even with the hotel being crowded, we all slept really well. The hotel is in a very convenient location with the convention center across the street and many restaurants nearby. The negative is the parking. When we checked in, we had to circle the block to even find a spot to park to check in. The “valet parking” is in the same garage as self parking. Don’t waste the extra funds to have them park it for you. I would highly discourage leaving anything in your car. The next morning as I packed up, I witnessed two men, not staying at the hotel, who were able to access the parking garage from walking through the hotel without any keycard. One of them tried to walk up on me at the garage to ask for money while I was packing up my car. Overall, I would stay again.

Front Desk could not be worse! I feel this hotel took advantage of me financially, so I called Hilton and will have to talk to them again after the stay is complete to see what they can do. I made a reservation a month ago, and while traveling down, I received an email asking me to go ahead and pick a room. I did and almost had a heart attack when, right behind it, my phone received an email that my credit card was charged $338.27. I called the front desk because I was sure that wasn't the price when I booked the room. I was told that once I clicked the room, although she KNEW I was not there yet, nothing could be done. I have been a loyal Hilton Honors member for years. I was a diamond member just last year but was told nothing could be done. I went online and saw that I could book the room for $191. The lady at the desk was very rude, I might add. Her name was Tobie, and she informed me that nothing could be done. I can tell you that with her attitude, she didn't want to do anything and did not care. I felt like the hotel reached into my pocket and took out $100. It is wrong to gouge customers like this, and I am astonished that Hilton would allow this. I returned and found the email where I made the reservations, and no price was attached. I can't prove it was not that much...so I will pay $285 for one night when I could have paid $191. This is a terrible business practice, and I desperately wished I had not selected the room because I would have never agreed to that exorbitant price. I called the main Hilton #, and they tried to contact the hotel but could not get the hotel to answer. I would not trust this hotel, and I am amazed at how I was treated. One can simply check my record. I am not one of those people who complains a lot. You can check out my reviews, but this one is wrong and really hurts. I would choose a different hotel.

Just okay… This Hilton is in a decent location for the USC buildings/campus. Some of the staff are courteous & helpful (shoutout to Mickey & Cameron at the hotel bar!) and others are definitely just there for a paycheck. The morning staff was not nearly as friendly as the afternoon crew. The elevators are old and make weird/scary noises. The free coffee machine was broken throughout our stay, with no offer to get any from the restaurant. Parking is $18 per night. The rooms are older and the air temperature is inconsistent and difficult to control. The vent was positioned to blow right in the bed in your face as you sleep. The makeup mirror is positioned way too high. The shower was tiny and it took two of us to pull hard enough of the spigot to get the water to flow only from the shower head and not leave us standing ankle deep in water. When we arrived the toilet had not been scrubbed out, as there were remnants of a past guests usage. Overall, for the price you pay per night, I’d stay elsewhere, but it’s fine for a night or two.

The stay was great, until I found that there wasn’t honesty on left items! Very disappointed. Check your rooms before you leave, check them more than once, if you forget An item or two, they will not be turned into left items or lost and found! I left items hanging on bathroom door, but the maid that cleaned the room did not turn them in as left behind items! Guess they needed them worse than I or my granddaughter!

Try another property in Columbia, South Carolina Very disappointing. The rooms are bordering on being shabby. The bathrooms are small and ,while functional ,need an update. You have to make sure you specifically request the room be cleaned or else they will only ask if you need towels and not actually make up the room. The breakfast is a very basic buffet. The express machine supposedly had been broken for a long time. You can’t order anything but an omelette in addition to the buffet. If you don’t like biscuits, there is no bread of any sort. It is served in the Ruth Chris restaurant which is very dark and dingy feeling. Staff when they come around are pleasant as are the cleaning people. I think you are probably better at one of the offshoot Hilton properties where you don’t expect as much. No one to take your luggage to your room. Overall would not recommend.