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

Reviews

• TT

  T Thornhill

  Feb 26, 2026
  5.0
  The staff was very nice but most important it was immaculately clean! I would definitely stay here again
• TR

  Terion Rogers

  Feb 19, 2026
  1.0
  Beware of this old creep that preys on younger girls. His name is Ephraim aka Lance. Me and my sister whom is 15 rode on his shuttle yesterday. He wouldnt stop staring and made nasty comments the entire time. Even went as far as smacking her butt when we got off the bus. The hotel and airport security refuses to do anything about him. He drives for Doubletree Hotel on bush river rd. Also for Courtyard Marriott downtown. It goes to and from the hotel to the airport in West Columbia. Anyone know him?
• CT

  Christine Troskey

  Feb 7, 2026
  3.0
  Room was nice. Parking lot isn't big enough you may have to park in an overflow lot and parking isn't included in room price, it is extra. Breakfast was decent but the hotel was busy and they were consistently out of everything. They would fill it then people who had been waiting would clear the tray and it was out again. Feels like they aren't prepared or maybe not staffed to be busy. Location is convenient to downtown and they did let us stay parked in the lot past check out time.
• SA

  Santiago Arboleda

  Feb 1, 2026
  5.0
  This review is long overdue. Brian, Alexa and the man with the big beard (can't remember his name), the housekeeping staff (specifically the manager and her daughter) made my long term stay here very enjoyable. Granted this was a year ago and I wouldn't know if any of them are still in there but my experience was enriched by all these folks. The view facing behind the hotel made the sunsets so beautiful, the wifi was solid for internet and streaming, the breakfast is great. The convenience of being so close to the culture district and just everything in general was a plus. I still think about my times here fondly. I hope all of those folks are doing well.
• DS

  Devin Sea

  Jan 14, 2026
  3.0
  Located in the heart of downtown, this hotel has a fairly nice location, especially if you are attending events at the convention center or visiting other downtown attractions. It is also situated directly next to a police station, which made the area feel safe and secure during our stay. Unfortunately, our main issues began at check-in. We had reserved a two-bedroom room, but when we were given our key and went upstairs, the room only had one bed. We returned to the front desk, explained the issue, and were reassigned to another room—only to find that it also had just one bed. This happened a total of three times before the issue was finally resolved. On the third attempt, we were given the correct room with two beds. While the front desk associate was polite throughout the process, the repeated inconvenience was frustrating and time-consuming. Once we were in the correct room, the experience improved significantly. The room was very clean and well put together. The sheets were fresh, the bathroom was clean, and the room was stocked with basic amenities such as soap, shampoo, and air conditioning. The hotel also has a pool, which is a nice amenity if you’re a swimmer or simply want a place to relax and cool off. The hotel does not have a bar, so adult beverages are not available on-site. However, the complimentary continental breakfast was surprisingly good and offered a solid variety of options. Items ranged from cinnamon rolls to different sausage selections, bacon, eggs, and more. If you’re looking to cut costs, this is a great benefit, as you can skip breakfast elsewhere and eat at the hotel—assuming you wake up early enough. Parking was another challenge during our stay. Some days the parking lot became very full, making it difficult to find space. If you have a larger vehicle, such as a truck or a truck with a trailer, I would strongly recommend arriving early each day to secure a decent parking spot. Our final issue occurred on the last night of our stay. The parking lot was completely full, so we asked a hotel associate on duty whether it was acceptable to park in front of the hotel on the street. We were told that it was fine. However, the next morning when we came down for breakfast, there was a police officer behind our vehicle. That situation was uncomfortable, especially since we had parked there based on guidance from hotel staff. Overall, aside from the room assignment issues and parking complications, the stay itself was decent. The room was clean, the location was convenient, and the breakfast and pool added value. If these issues—particularly the room mix-ups and parking miscommunication—are resolved, this could be a solid place to stay. However, if those problems continue, I would be hesitant to recommend this hotel.

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