Hotel Trundle — Hotel in Columbia

I travel a LOT and stay in countless hotels, home stays, airbnbs, you name it, so it takes an extraordinary situation for me to notice, much less review, a hotel. I was in Columbia for the first time as a performer at the Columbia Museum of Art as part of their Music on Main series, and upon arriving at the airport, simply followed the email from the concert presenter telling me to check in at the Hotel Trundle. I was exhausted when I arrived, but the front desk staff was exceptionally and genuinely warm, and took the time to answer my many questions about their favorite food in the area. I also noted that desk staff and cleaning staff shared a collegiality and congeniality that was both surprising and heartening. The pleasant surprises only continued when I saw my room- the space was well appointed, thoughtfully designed, stylish, spacious, and the bed was unbelievably comfortable. I'm very picky about my personal toiletries, so usually do not avail myself of hotel offerings, but the selection at the hotel were from an Italian Slow Food designated source.

Later in the day, I asked a different front desk worker if I could have the "welcome drink" that was mentioned when I checked in, and I was instantly poured a very tall glass of tasty rose. The man had just started working at Hotel Trundle, but could not contain his enthusiasm as he shared what a fantastic place it was. When I mentioned how comfortable the bed was, he told me that the owners sourced as much as they could from local artists - the beds and mattresses were hand made by local artisans, all the art and furniture in the lobby were created by local makers, the photos adoring the hallways were the work of local photographers, large scale crochet art installed directly onto the staircase, local artists' names enmeshed into a word jumble painted onto a wall, on and on, down to the "Do not Disturb" hangtags on the doors, which were also created and illustrated by local artists. As I continued to talk and learn about the hotel, the front desk worker explained that the hotel was originally three separate buildings, one of which was an automotive shop. He then offered me peeks of some of the unoccupied rooms, and I was again surprised to find that the rooms were different - some had kitchenettes, some had retained the industrial walls of the automotive shop, one had a beautifully florid tin ceiling, and more - it was clear there was nothing cookie cutter about the rooms.

I was unfortunately so busy rehearsing that I was not able to partake in the happy hour hosted at the hotel, the "Sip and Nibble," where pimento cheese, salsa, chips, and drinks are apparently served, but yet another front desk worker was very accommodating when my colleagues and I arrived way after the Sip and Nibble had ended and offered us drinks anyways.

I didn't have a car and didn't have time (or desire) to exercise, so can't speak to the parking or the fitness amenities, but the hotel really caught my attention. Fortunately for me, the hotel was downtown and in easy walking distance of everything I needed. If I ever have the opportunity to stay in Columbia again, I would...

My colleague and I booked two rooms here while travelling on business. It was a leap of faith on our part as the hotel only had 7 reviews at the time, but when we learned they had just opened we had to try it. The images and description were too much to ignore.

When we arrived we were greeted with the option to have a welcome beverage - they had a few cute beers on tap as well as wine offerings. They also host "happy hours" to mix and mingle with other guests. This lends to the boutique feel and was appreciated although we did not get to partake.

I was particularly impressed with the level of detail throughout the establishment. There was a decorating opportunity in every corner and each piece was thoughtfully selected and placed. The decor was modern and hip, interesting without being over stimulating. The complementary aspects of the polished cement floor and crushed velvet settees was absolutely stunning both in image and in person.

The rooms were cared for similarly. There was a black makeup removing cloth in addition to the standard white wash cloths, waste baskets and recycling, a microwave and a fridge. The beds were comfortable and well equipped.

One night when we went out for dinner there was a torrential down pour. The concierge was kind and provided us with cute clear branded umbrellas. They literally thought of everything! You will not be disappointed when you stay with Hotel Trundle.

The proprietors, Rita and her husband, were absolutely darling. Should we come back to Columbia South Carolina for future projects this is the only place that I will stay!

My one "shtick" is that it didn't seem very environmentally friendly. I would have been happier to see no bottles of water in the room than the small plastic ones - however that's just because I am a hippie and probably not a real draw-back for anyone else. Please consider more renewable materials as you continue to grow as a business, other than that keep doing what...

HOTEL TRUNDLE MAKES COLUMBIA BETTER

We just stayed at Hotel Trundle for an in town getaway to celebrate our anniversary, and we can't rave enough about this gem. As lovers of boutique hotels, this exceeds any other boutique hotel we've ever stayed at. The personal details by the owners Marcus and Rita are in every nook and cranny. It's so obvious they poured their hearts and souls into this endeavor, and it came out spectacularly. It's like a fun and whimsical love letter paying homage to what is fantastic about our city. They sourced everything possible from local craft artists and artisans (coffee, beer, baked goods, art, furniture, mattresses- heck, even the "Do Not Disturb" signs are made by a local artist). I toured the hotel several times while planning our getaway and it was a real struggle to narrow down to one room. They all are so unique with their own character showcasing the history of the buildings - exposed brick, rafters, garage door hardware, etc. And every time I walked through, I saw something new and unique that I hadn't noticed before. There are just so many little touches.

But a hotel is only as good as it's staff. Luckily the passion of the owners is matched by their fantastic staff. Every member we met was equally fun and whimsical and added to the magic of our stay. They greeted us with genuine joy and left personal notes and thoughtful touches in our room to make our celebration special.

And the location can't be beat. Being right off of beautiful renovated Main Street, it's an easy stroll to so many other Columbia gems. Great restaurants, the Columbia Museum of Art, The Grand, The Nickelodeon Theater, and The Soda City farmer's market are all just steps away.

Thank you, Marcus and Rita, for all of your efforts and pursuing your dream. You created something beautiful...