After much research on hotel features verses cost, I decided to book a room at this hotel during a visit back to my old stomping grounds. It's a new building with lots of amenities, from cordless in-room phones to large televisions with cable stations. Everything was very clean and spacious, and a newspaper arrived under the door each morning. A large continental breakfast selection is available in the morning, including warm French toast and cinnamon buns. The staff was helpful, and the hotel wasn't booked, even on a Friday night during graduation weekend.
This hotel is located right across from Columbianna Mall, where you can shop until you drop (trust me!). There are a number of restaurants, including an Outback Steakhouse, within walking distance. It's also right off of I-26, which takes you into downtown Columbia in about 10 minutes. Luckily, the air conditioner/heater/fan is loud enough to block out any traffic noise without disrupting sleep. The regular room rate is around $130, but a visit to the Holiday Inn website provides the cheapest room rates (even cheaper than the budget travel sites), between $69 and $89 a night.