Natalie H
November 3, 2024
I spent four weeks at this hotel in September 2024 during my travels for work. As a seasoned IHG guest, I can confidently say that this establishment stands out—though perhaps not for the reasons one would hope. Let me begin with a topic that truly merits attention: emergency preparedness. During my stay, Hurricane Helene swept through Augusta. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the hotel was equipped with absolutely no emergency lights in the stairways. While the hallways featured red “Exit” lights, the stairway descended into pitch-black darkness, reminiscent of a horror movie. I navigated the four flights of stairs while dragging my heavy suitcase; I am surprised I wasn't injured. It seems this hotel is managed by a family that could write a book titled "The Art of Frugality." This was evident everywhere, from the use of environmentally questionable styrofoam dishes to the outdated refrigerators and dishwashers. In my fifty-plus years of life, I’ve never encountered appliances quite like these. And let’s talk about breakfast: instead of individual yogurt containers like you find in most IHG hotels, we were treated to a communal yogurt bucket. Picture this: I’m trying to scoop some yogurt into a cup to take on my early morning commute when a strict breakfast lady appears, wielding rules like a medieval knight. Apparently, using a tall coffee cup instead of a styrofoam bowl is an offense, and I need to "follow the rules" and use less expensive styrofoam bowls for yogurt. Who knew breakfast could be such a high-stakes affair? The customer service could use a sprinkle of friendliness. While the younger staff members were friendly, the older ladies at the front desk were gloomy and unfriendly. To top it all off, the manager promised me points for opting out of housekeeping—but those points are apparently lost and never reached my account. In conclusion, I cannot in good conscience recommend this hotel to fellow business travelers or anybody, for that matter. If you enjoy navigating dark stairways, stringent breakfast protocols, and a dash of questionable hospitality, this might just be the place for you! Otherwise, I suggest looking elsewhere for a more welcoming experience.