Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbia Downtown – the Vista by IHG — Hotel in Columbia

We paid for 3 rooms here at the end of September 2023 for a USC football game - over $500 each. While unloading the car after the game - in the only open area of the parking lot - to get out the food that we wanted to put in the refrigerators, the Front Desk girl, who parked in the very front of the building right in front of the main entrance doors, yelled at us and told us we couldn’t park there. We proceeded to tell her that we were unloading the food so that we could eat and save it by keeping it in our refrigerators before we move the truck down a couple blocks to the parking garage - it was almost midnight. She became so aggravated and told my husband and my son-in-law that they could not park there again - my husband got a little smart with her and said “we wouldn’t have to unload here you didn’t park in front of the building, let me take a picture of that and send it to your office.” That made her irate- at that point things went downhill quickly. She kept needling my bonus daughter while she was sitting in the main lobby area, waiting for them to unload. When my bonus daughter told her she wasn’t telling her anything the front desk girl made a rude remark about my bonus daughter’s deceased mother, at which point my bonus daughter stood up to push her and instead spilled her water and fell herself. The front desk girl called the police and decided she did not want any of us staying in our rooms and remember there were three rooms. At the time my husband was a Diamond Elite member as he traveled quite a bit for business, and we’ve never had to worry about him staying at a Holiday Inn. My younger bonus daughter had been in her room already with the children because they were in bed. I was outside with my older grandson who is 17. Yet they kicked all of us out. I didn’t even know what happened. The police had to go knock on the door of my younger bonus daughter’s room to get everyone in there to kick them out - with the three children. They made us leave the premises and since we had had some cocktails at that point we wouldn’t drive and they would not let us sleep in our cars so we had to walk around downtown Columbia with a six-year-old, a nine-year-old, a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy with all of our luggage because they would not even let us keep our luggage in our cars at midnight. All because the front desk girl had an attitude from the second she got to work that night. ||||The next day I called and spoke to the manager and explained everything- and he said he had reviewed the tapes that they had, and saw that we did not do anything that justified us being thrown out, and he said he could even see where we were being very apologetic to her for them, parking there and letting her know that they weren’t staying and trying to defuse the situation and he said he could see how she his employee was just aggravating the situation, and he said he could even hear on the tape where we were being very apologetic to her for parking there and letting her know that they weren’t staying and trying to defuse the situation and he said he could see how she - his employee - was just continuing to aggravate the situation. He told me that USC games typically get a little crazy and they prepare for that, but he could see absolutely nothing wrong with what we did according to all their cameras they had. He was very apologetic however, his employee or ex-employee (he said he was firing her because he had no need for people like that there) has become a nightmare. We are still having to deal with the front desk girl.||||They did refund our money, but That doesn’t even begin to cover what those children had to go through that night walking through the dreads of downtown Columbia after a USC game after midnight. We had to keep these kids up because there was no place for them to lay their heads. I have never been so humiliated and so aggravated in my entire lifetime. ||We have switched our loyalties, and all stays to two other higher end hotels. I’ve only had to stay at a Holiday Inn once since then, even though we’ve traveled extensively, and that was only because it was only hotel chain close to where I had to go. ||We have hired attorneys and are having to take this further. This is how horrible it has been. do not under any circumstances stay at this hotel if you want to be treated fairly or with respect or even if you want to sleep the night you are...

We paid for 3 rooms here at the end of September 2023 for a USC football game - over $500 each. While unloading the car after the game - in the only open area of the parking lot - to get out the food that we wanted to put in the refrigerators, the Front Desk girl, who parked in the very front of the building right in front of the main entrance doors, yelled at us and told us we couldn't park there. We proceeded to tell her that we were unloading the food so that we could eat and save it by keeping it in our refrigerators before we move the truck down a couple blocks to the parking garage - it was almost midnight. She became so aggravated and told my husband and my son-in-law that they could not park there again - my husband got a little smart with her and said "we wouldn't have to unload here you didn't park in front of the building, let me take a picture of that and send it to your office." That made her irate- at that point things went downhill quickly. She kept needling my bonus daughter while she was sitting in the main lobby area, waiting for them to unload. When my bonus daughter told her she wasn't telling her anything the front desk girl made a rude remark about my bonus daughter's deceased mother, at which point my bonus daughter stood up to push her and instead spilled her water and fell herself. The front desk girl called the police and decided she did not want any of us staying in our rooms and remember there were three rooms. At the time my husband was a Diamond Elite member as he traveled quite a bit for business, and we've never had to worry about him staying at a Holiday Inn. My younger bonus daughter had been in her room already with the children because they were in bed. I was outside with my older grandson who is 17. Yet they kicked all of us out. I didn't even know what happened. The police had to go knock on the door of my younger bonus daughter's room to get everyone in there to kick them out - with the three children. They made us leave the premises and since we had had some cocktails at that point we wouldn't drive and they would not let us sleep in our cars so we had to walk around downtown Columbia with a six-year-old, a nine-year-old, a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy with all of our luggage because they would not even let us keep our luggage in our cars at midnight. All because the front desk girl had an attitude from the second she got to work that night.

The next day I called and spoke to the manager and explained everything- and he said he had reviewed the tapes that they had, and saw that we did not do anything that justified us being thrown out, and he said he could even see where we were being very apologetic to her for them, parking there and letting her know that they weren't staying and trying to defuse the situation and he said he could see how she his employee was just aggravating the situation, and he said he could even hear on the tape where we were being very apologetic to her for parking there and letting her know that they weren't staying and trying to defuse the situation and he said he could see how she - his employee - was just continuing to aggravate the situation. He told me that USC games typically get a little crazy and they prepare for that, but he could see absolutely nothing wrong with what we did according to all their cameras they had. He was very apologetic however, his employee or ex-employee (he said he was firing her because he had no need for people like that there) has become a nightmare. We are still having to deal with the front desk girl.

They did refund our money, but That doesn't even begin to cover what those children had to go through that night walking through the dreads of downtown Columbia after a USC game after midnight. We had to keep these kids up because there was no place for them to lay their heads. I have never been so humiliated and so aggravated in my entire lifetime.

We have switched our loyalties, and all stays to two other higher end hotels. I've only had to stay at a Holiday Inn once since then, even though we've traveled extensively, and that was only because it was only hotel chain close to where I had to go.

We have hired attorneys and are having to take this further. This is how horrible it has been. do not under any circumstances stay at this hotel if you want to be treated fairly or with respect or even if you want to sleep the night you are...

If you're looking for a stellar hotel experience in Columbia, SC, then look nowhere else other than Holiday Inn Express and Suites Columbia Downtown – The Vista My recent stay there was nothing short of amazing. I am admittedly a Hilton Honors snob that has had diamond tier for over 15 years due to my travels and such. I stuck by the feeling that if it was a not a Hilton, then it would not be a hotel that would impress me. This experience has me rethinking and looking to staying at more Holiday Inn locations. I have 5 things I look for in a hotel stay: cleanliness, quietness, comfort, “appreciated and wanted” feel, and finally value. This stay knocked all 5 of those requirements out of the park. From the moment I stepped into the lobby, I was greeted with warmth and efficiency. Despite the hotel being packed with softball tournament teams, the atmosphere remained tranquil, and the beds were unbelievably comfortable. Even with the buzz of activity around, the room was quiet, allowing for a peaceful night's sleep. Somehow this hotel was able to make me feel that we were not in the hustle and bustle of downtown, but a relaxed location in the suburbs. You could barely hear any outside noises as well. One standout aspect of my stay was the exceptional hospitality provided by Ms. Tapp during breakfast. Her service went above and beyond, making each morning meal a delightful experience. The front desk clerks were equally impressive, going out of their way to accommodate our needs, including personally searching floor by floor to find a luggage cart for us. When one was not located she graciously offered to help us carry our luggage. Never has this been an offer at any stay except hotels with dedicated bellhops. Cleanliness is paramount to me, and I was pleased to find that every corner of the hotel, from the parking lot to the rooms, was impeccably maintained. Despite the hotel being fully booked, the staff made us feel like valued guests, attending to our needs promptly and efficiently. I must give special recognition to the manager, Mr. Timothy Lowe, whose friendly and helpful demeanor set the tone for the entire establishment. It was evident that he not only cared about the guests but also fostered a supportive environment for his coworkers. Despite being part of a chain hotel, the personalized service we received made it feel more like a cozy bed and breakfast. Nestled in the heart of downtown Columbia, the hotel's location could not be more convenient. Yet, despite its bustling surroundings, the hotel managed to create a haven of tranquility and safety. As someone who values peace of mind, especially when parking my vehicle, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of security measures in place. At no time did I worry about my personal safety nor my vehicle during my stay, which is unusual for many stays in more congested downtown areas. Overall, my experience at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbia Downtown – The Vista exceeded all expectations. With its comfortable accommodations, exceptional service, and welcoming atmosphere, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable stay...