Doubletree by Hilton Columbia SC

The staff were excellent, and the cookies at DoubleTree, as always were delicious. The shower pressure and bed were great for me, and the room and hotel were clean. The hotel is aging but appears to be well-maintained overall. My door, however, required a strong pull to shut it. Whenever I stay at a Hilton property, I'm reminded why I prefer Marriott. They weren't able to give me an extended checkout and, even though checkout was at noon, housekeeping entered my room at 11:45 while I was on the phone. Overall, a good but not great experience.

Hotel is very dated and my room was far from clean. I unfortunately stayed here at the same time the Little League World Series was being held. It was packed with 8-13 year old boys and baseball parents that treated the place like it was a Great Wolf Lodge. Kids running the halls and playing in the elevator during my stay. Far from peaceful but that might just be a poor timing issue. I assume the prices were high too because of the baseball. Breakfast was not included and was very pricey for the offering.

Although I have read several positive reviews of this hotel, it is evident that individual experiences can differ significantly. Our 5-day stay prompted me to provide a detailed review, as these specific issues were apparent during my visit. I don’t usually write feedback of this length but I believe it is warranted under the circumstances. Having stayed at multiple Hilton Hotels, I regret to say that I am unlikely to return to this location. BUILDING > PROS 1. All staff members, including those at the reception desk, housekeeping, and restaurant, demonstrated a strong commitment to customer service. 2. Complimentary breakfast was provided, offering a variety of options such as made-to-order omelets, all of which were of high quality. 3. The service in the restaurant was excellent, with attentive and courteous waitstaff. 4. Warm cookies were available daily, along with complimentary packaged cookies. 5. The conference room offered ample space for meetings and events. BUILDING > CONS 1. Hotel seems outdated. Its proximity to I-20 contributed to noticeable road noise in the mornings. 2. Rooms feature sinks located outside the bathrooms; as a result, using the sink at night may disrupt others due to bright lighting. 3. The B-side elevator lacks floor number displays, so guests must check lit buttons or look outside for room numbers. There is no A/C in the elevators, and hallway A/C units are insufficient to keep the area cool. Staff members frequently wait for available elevators to travel between floors. 4. On July 25, I reported all B-side parking lot lights were out. The front desk noted this ongoing issue but seemed unconcerned about the security risk. 5. Despite several tries until midnight, I couldn't find a luggage cart for checkout. The front desk explained that carts are often left in rooms after guests leave, and with housekeeping not done daily, they stay there until the next service. OUR ROOM > PROS 1. The A/C was really cool, although it generated some noise. 2. The shower was of high quality, offering strong water pressure and multiple spray settings. Body gel, shampoo, and conditioner were provided in wall-mounted dispensers (see photo). 3. Hot water was available on demand after approximately two minutes; while this was sufficient for shower use, it did result in greater water consumption at the sink. 4. A power-flushing toilet was definitely a plus. OUR ROOM > CONS At check-in, we received a room key but found it occupied (the bed was unmade and personal items inside.) The receptionist quickly switched us to another room; however, although we had selected a 2nd floor room earlier, we were reassigned to the 4th floor, which was disappointing. Several maintenance and amenity concerns were noted during our stay: • The baggage rack was broken, but it was replaced after being reported. • Laundry bags were not provided in the closet as is customary, so we had to ask for them from housekeeping. • The bathroom was notably small, with less than an inch of clearance between the door and toilet. • The entry door was heavy and difficult to open and would shake loudly when the adjacent room’s door closed. • Closet space was limited, requiring clothes to be angled in order to close the door. • The toilet paper holder was broken and, despite reporting it the following morning, remained unfixed during our stay. • The microwave was positioned really low to the floor, making it necessary to kneel for use. • Mini-fridge door shelves were too small to accommodate standard water bottles. • An electrical outlet near the dresser was nonfunctional; this was reported but not fixed. • Dresser drawer handles were found to be extremely dusty and sticky. • Housekeeping did not attend the room on two promised days. • On the final day, face towels were unavailable; housekeeping staff indicated there were no additional towels available at that time. These matters impacted greatly on our experience and highlight areas for potential improvement in guest services and facilities.