Candlewood Suites Hotels in Columbia

Positives: front desk staff member tried to be nice. (I was so tired, I can’t remember her name.) The kids loved the popcorn and kitchenette, although we didn’t use it. My daughter enjoyed the reclining chair with the tray. Mix of soft and firm pillows. Sides of beds are comfy…just don’t fall in the black hole in the center! Showers and bathrooms were pristine…spotless. Very impressed. Fridge was also pristine and spotless. Negatives…poor experience. 1. 10:15 pm: Waited 10-15 minutes before someone even came to the desk. When she did come to the desk, she said she had to step away because was waiting for someone to come and lock the pool, as something happened that the pool couldn’t be closed, and it was a hazard to guests. So, because it took so long to get to the desk, she offered us extra points and told us to grab a drink and a snack. (Very kind and tried to remedy.) So, we headed to the room - exhausted after a long day of traveling and then waiting to check in - around 10:35. 2. Went up to room 417. Thermostat was set at 68, cool, and fan on (vs auto). AC fan wasn’t even blowing and thermostat read 79 degrees. I called the front desk. No answer. Went down. No one was there. “With a customer, will return soon” sign wasn’t even displayed. I headed to the pool area, since I was told there were issues with closing the pool. I open the door and find four people (two of which were clearly employees) hanging out, chilling and chatting. Meanwhile, the front desk is unattended. I explained the situation with the temperature and she said the power was out earlier and all rooms should have been checked. She gave us a new room and said she would call in 15-20 mins to check in to make sure the room was okay. So we were switched to room 225. Walking right out of the elevator, it smelled like cigarette smoke (& heaven knows what other type of smoke). To sign your life away on a strict “no smoking” policy, this sure doesn’t seem to be enforced. The room smelled so bad. I waited 15-20 mins. No phone call. Called the front desk. A gentleman answered and I explained that we were in room 225. The room smelled like smoke, and it was worse when you step out of the elevator to the hallway. Told him I wasn’t smoking and do not want to be charged for this room snelling like smoke. ($200 charge.) Guests were loud all night. Partying. Arguing. Stomping around 3 am. Beds are not comfortable ….centers of the beds are sunk in big time. Bedside lamp didn’t work. No alarm clock and couldn’t charge phone beside for the next day, since the outlet in the lamp didn’t work. Traffic outside is extremely loud (worth keeping the fan running all night, as long as you don’t freeze or overheat). Hairballs (not from me) were in the bed, along with specks of some off white debris that I had to wipe out of the sheets. Covered that part and did away with the sheets themselves. Very disappointed in this experience. (I can’t sleep - it is after 3 am as I type this.) Will not b