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Reviews of Budget Inn Express - Columbia

2.5 out of 5
Budget Inn Express - Columbia
1601 Sunset Dr, Columbia, SC

Reviews

4.4
Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 14 out of 66 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 30 out of 66 reviews" "

4.6/10

Cleanliness

5.2/10

Staff & service

5.2/10

Amenities

4.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

5.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Thaddeus

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
BARF! Not even worth $50/night!
Smoke leaked into our ‘non-smoking’ room from above; no TP; no soap or shampoo, dirty room; phone number disconnected; google maps says hotel is permanently closed… it should be condemned!
That’s it…
Smelled of marijuana in the curtains
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness
Good price and close to several fast food restaurants. The beds, shower and internet were all fine. The cleanliness needs some work though. When I arrived I found a pair of dirty socks underneath the table where the TV is (I was looking for a socket) and one of the drawers also had another guests old clothes in it. The other guests were not very friendly, and there are a lot of cars blaring music going by day/night. I was also awakened at 5am by the fire alarm going off. Be careful of the people in the neighborhood. There was a homeless person sleeping under a bench, also I was asked for money by a man on the street and I was yelled at by two men for walking up behind them and not announcing my presence (They were walking very slowly). Overall, I assume it is a very low income neighborhood, so don't go outside after dark. Also there is no laundry, and the front desk does not print documents or offer too many benefits. Good price and not a bad hotel, but not many services offered and be careful of the other hotel residents as well as the people in the neighborhood.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
If you are expecting to pay $44 and receive more than what this place has to offer, then the problem is you. The person at the front desk was friendly, personable, and accommodating. Did the room smell like stale weed? Yes. Did the top comforter have crusty stains on it? Of course. But no matter where you stay, you never use the top comforter anyway. Did I sleep like a baby knowing that I wasn't spending upwards of $100 just to sleep and leave in the morning? You bet your ass I did. If you need more than a soft bed and hot a shower, then stay somewhere else. If you only want to spend $44 then don't expect The Ritz-Carlton. Although I can say that The Budget Inn Express in Columbia, South Carolina was The Ritz-Carlton of run-down motels. I stayed two nights, slept like the dead, and felt safe. What more does one need? 5/5 stars.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Tanda

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

2/10 Terrible

Clint waldun

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

4/10 Poor

Isreal

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stay at your own risk!
When I checked in I had to wait for a long time & then was almost overcharged more than my Reservation....when my reservation price was way too much to stay there. The place is extremely old, run down, the doors were not secure, noisy & I had to fight Roaches! The only thing positive I can say about this property is at least you're not sleeping outside in the cold or heat.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

John

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cool
Great little spot
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good for the money
It was not fancy but good for the price. The location was also safe.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

6/10 Okay

Shannon

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Very nice owner, safe place, room was clean, took care of us very fast
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2021

2/10 Terrible

Jeremy

Travelled with group
Disliked: Staff & service
Never again
They wouldn’t even let us check in. The reservation price was $44 they told us we had to pay $75. This should be illegal.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It's ok
It could use a mirror in the bathroom area and there where a few pests but overall not bat for what i needed it for.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

2/10 Terrible

LaB30

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I opened the door and the first thing I see is a roach running across the floor and then roaches in the fridge. The towels and the pillow covers were not clean. Then there was soap from the previous guess in the shower. Luckily I was there just for the night for a football game a left right after.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

2/10 Terrible

John

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Never again
You should not recommend this hotel to anyone, it is filthy, the bathroom tub showed mold, no place to hang clothing. Although I went ahead and paid the fees, after entering the room, there was no way that I would stay there overnight, truly disgusting
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I didnt !ike anything about the place. It was seedy. No microwave in the room. Although promised in ads.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It is what it is. Basic but clean and comfortable for a good nights sleep along the way
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2019

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property manager was very rude and i did not want to stay there. Not to mention the facility look nasty
Stayed 5 nights in May 2019

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a horrific experience. I seen a roach in the first room I originally checked in to. I went back downstairs to ask for a new room. When I got into the second room i seen another roach in the bathroom as I was showering. The entire time I could not sleep because I was scared a roach was gonna crawl on me or something. TERRIBLE. HAVE TO DO BETTER
Stayed 1 night in May 2019

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Did not like the area or neighborhood where it was located. Did not feel safe or comfortable leaving my car outside
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I will never know because they do not answer the phone when you are going to arrive late . Called 5 different times over a 3 hour period and the phone rang , rang, rang. Then I got a call from them @ 11:54 pm, saying my room would be given away at midnight if I didn’t respond. Spent 15 minutes of ringing with no answer. Called back a minute later & they said my room had been given away. How can you give my room away when you don’t answer your phone. I expect a full refund!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Shearenthea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2019

2/10 Terrible

D.Kay, Columbia, SC

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I checked out a whole day early when I found another place. This place was very dirty, it smelled of urine. Thank God I am a nurse and had gloves with me. I did not touch anything. When I asked about not being charged because the place was so dirty they said I had to speak with the owner. I never saw that person. I was only there because it was right beside the hospital I was having orientation at.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018

2/10 Terrible

David, Columbia CT

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
* The desk clerk insisted upon full payment for six days even though I showed Expedia confirmation showing 1st night deposit payment. I had either to pay twice for the extra night or to abandon the deposit by going someplace else. *The toilet leaked--apparently the wax ring had failed. *There were only three electrical outlets in the room. The GFI by the sinks was defective. It was replaced after three days. Phone, toothbrush, and hearing aid charging was accomplished by unplugging the TV when it was time to sleep. *The light switch by the door did not turn on the lights but turned the TV off and on instead. *The TV remote did not work. Four attempts to re-program the remote. The TV set needed examination by that time. The TV worked but we had to get out of bed to operate it. *The fridge was unplugged each day. Why have it then? * Plaster repairs were not repainted. *The sheets were stained but they did appear clean. * The carpet was grungy and didn't appear to be vacuumed. * There were dim lights over the bed but no lights suitable for reading...none that illuminated the desk. *It was impossible to close the door to the toilet quietly. It was not fitted in the jamb properly--important in the wee hours. * No provision for hanging clothes. ********* Comfortable mattress. Sink/vanity was clean and new. Effective A/C. Clean shower with hot water. Good bath towel service. Quiet neighborhood. Hotel has potential but it needs work that can be done by handyman.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2018

4/10 Poor

Tonia, Columbia SC

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I am so sorry but to answer untruthfully would be a crime and against the law but it was shelter and nothing else to put it mildly.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018

4/10 Poor

Conner

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
No such thing as non smoking room
We asked specifically for a non smoking room so the host showed us some other options and they all reeked of smoke. On top of that the room was no clean. We sprayed everything with Lysol. The water pressure was good though.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

6/10 Okay

Jon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
"Low-Budget" Express Inn
You truly get what you pay for and, maybe it's just me, I would not pay over $50 USD for a room here. Check-in states 1pm, but the room I requested "was not ready" until 3:30pm. The room I requested was "unavailable", even with fewer than (6) vehicles in the parking lot at one time. Upside: the woman at the front desk was willing to give me a double-room setup for the same price as the single. For whatever reason, there are little-to-no power outlets.. So few that the Microwave and Mini-fridge were left unplugged. Had to move them to the nearest outlet available, which happened to be in front of the bathroom door and thus blocking movement. Plusses: comfy bed, clean room, A/C unit worked!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2018

2/10 Terrible

Michelle

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
roach infested hotel
I wasn"t even in this room 20 minutes.It's roach infested don't stay there.I had to buy a can of raid that didn't..they were coming out of the tv and all.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved this stay
Very friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2017

2/10 Terrible

Marina, Tennessee

We had to pay for the hotel again
They charged us again at the hotel and the Indian guy said he would not charge us but it is on y bankcard. The tv was difficult to turn on. The room was clean but had some roaches.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2017

2/10 Terrible

Marcus, St Louis, Mo

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Trap House
Wrost Place Ever IDK How this place is on hotels.com but i mad sure to tell them to take it off. we go in late around 3am tired all we wanted was sleep my boyfriend went in to check in door was locked no one in sight area is really bad looks like a drug ring are cops everywere. i payed for first night and was charged for 2 more after checking in. when we go in the room the lamps tv and fridge and ac were all unlpugged no phone in the room after that went in the bathroom and the toliet was all cracked and broken there was no toliet paper the shower was gross and rusty and bugs crawling everywere. then when we pulled the sheets back the matress was ripped open and bed bugs and ants, and also roches crawling out of it i about fainted when that was all in room 108... then we got moved to room 107 when we go into the room samething dirty smelled nasty gross bugs everywere.. went back to the front desk checked out and got a full refund and went to the rodeway inn airport much better. please for ur safty and health do not stay here...
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2017

8/10 Good

Lex

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
good for price
Cheap hotel! Kinda rough on the outside but the rooms were nice and clean. Nice staff. Very friendly. Dependable wifi. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2017
Thank you for taking the time to review our property. Our guest feedback is very important to us. We look forward to your next stay with us. Thank You Reservations

2/10 Terrible

Michelle

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
My husband has bed bug bites all over his body, roach in the bathroom, refrigerator and microwave unplugged, noisy! Never again!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2017

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It's a bed.
The room looked like they were fixing it up after a fight. Fist holes in the bathroom door, mirror falling off the wall, recent drywall repair above the toilet. Most of the furniture looked like a dog had been gnawing on it. They also charged me a higher rate than the one I reserved. And no receipt.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Roaches no toilet paper
Roaches no toilet paper asked for extra towels refused those I was quoted one price when I got to hotel he charged me 15.00 more I wouldn't recommend this place to no one

10/10 Excellent

Muhammad

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very good

2/10 Terrible

Patrick

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Cheap, but not worth it.
Checked in late on Friday night (as I advised I would when I reserved room) and found they had not reserved the smoking room I had reserved. They then promised to put me in one the next morning. Got the room, which looked like it needed lots of work. Plaster strip hanging from ceiling. No remote for the TV. Next morning, I waited until just after noon for them to move me. When they hadn't I went down to the office and was advised they were still cleaning, but told me I could leave me stuff in the room before it was cleaned. I chose instead to put my luggage back in my car till I returned. When I returned, I was given the key to my new room and took my luggage there. No flat screen TV in this. An old 27" tube TV, but this one had a remote, at least. This room much in need of upgrading, as well, with stained carpet (in both rooms) and plaster patching in the bathroom. No toilet paper holder in the bathroom. TP was sitting on the back of the toilet. As I was eating some chips that second night, I got some crumbs on the floor. Those were not vacuumed up when I got back to the room on Sunday, although the door was made. I will not stay here again.

4/10 Poor

James

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bad
Smelt bad , wires hanging out the ceiling , phone don't work, WiFi slow , only thing there for a drink machine and it was out of drinks. It was located in bad neighborhood, heard cop cars all night.

2/10 Terrible

niecy

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
DONT GO!!
Don't go. Seriously. It's a death trap. The staff doesn't even stay in the front to help. We couldn't even check in because no one was there except crack heads. It looked like the place wasn't even open for business. We thought it was a joke at first but nope. It's just the how they keep the hotel

2/10 Terrible

SHALONDA

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Ran down crack house
The hotel looks like it's a drug infested hotel and nothing is up to date. We drove up and didn't not state at all requested a refund. Plus room was not even ready at 5 pm.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Really not bad
My wife was skeptical but for the price and location, I would stay again. Brand new king bed and new shower and back drop. Other guests and staff were very friendly.

6/10 Okay

Cynthia

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Convenient and Clean
I chose this motel because of its proximity to the Children's Hospital and it was in my budget. While it was clean and the area was quiet, the tv was not programmed correctly and we had no hot water in the shower.

6/10 Okay

kyle

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
Angry owner
The owner wasn't the nicest of people, but the room was clean and cold.

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worst Experience Of My Life!
Didn't have the room I requested. Couldn't get the key to work on my room. A/C and all appliances they unplug after each person so I had to wait hours to get the room to an appropriate temperature. The refrigerator took even longer before I could put all of my stuff in it for a race I was running in the next day. In a bad area and not located next to anything that's open late or any places to eat. I'm shocked Expedia promotes them! I want a full refund of my money!

2/10 Terrible

Julia, Columbia, SC

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bugs, flooded commode, hot fridge, no clock, u name it!

2/10 Terrible

Tamara, PA

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Terrible dirty hotel, with staff that speaks no English and when I translate she still pretend she doesn't. So therefore my room didn't get clean. Just filthy dirty unclean hotel.

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Under staff, decent location
Felt that the rooms were not completely clean and were very out dated... Very under staffed and the people at the service desk showed no interest in making sure the guests were satisfied...

2/10 Terrible

Phillip

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Shabby motel for not much money.
Terribly run down no-tell motel. Dents in doors. Bulletproof glass at check in Trim off doors and light switches. Literally no place to hang clothes No shampoo. Tiny soap. Handle fell off sink tap Towels disappeared after first night but weren't replaced. Sweet little Indian family couldn't be nicer but the place needs a total overhaul. I will say that the bed and bedding was comfortable and clean