Monticello Vacations from $594

Smelled like an older hotel not unexpectedly so

My wife and I recently stayed at The Lantern in Columbia, SC, and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. From the convenient valet service to the comfortable room and excellent location, the hotel exceeded our expectations. We arrived late Thursday afternoon and were able to pull directly up to valet parking. The service was especially convenient, with a text allowing us to track our vehicle and conveniently provide a tip. Check-in was equally seamless and took only a few minutes. Our room was cozy, exceptionally clean, and comfortable. One small detail we especially appreciated was the bathroom door—a real, solid door that actually provided privacy! After several recent hotel stays with barn-style or partially transparent doors, this was a welcome change. Just outside our room was a coffee station with a distilled-water fountain for refilling the room’s water carafe, along with small bags of ice in freezer drawers. These thoughtful touches were very convenient. We also enjoyed the bar at Ladder 13. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, and breakfast offered an excellent selection with food that did not disappoint. The location was another highlight. After our niece’s Army graduation at Fort Jackson, we left our vehicle with valet parking and explored the neighborhood on foot, enjoying great coffee at a nearby boutique shop and sharing oysters at a restaurant just up the street. Overall, we had a wonderful stay.

The room itself was clean except for the toilet, broken bathroom door. Very sketchy area.