Escape to Orangeburg: Book Your Dream Stay at Holiday Inn Express!
Escape to Orangeburg: Holiday Inn Express – My Honest, Slightly Chaotic, But Ultimately Okay-ish Stay (and Why You Might Dig It, Too)
Okay, so I've just wrestled my way back from Orangeburg, South Carolina, and let me tell you, it's a trip. Not a bad trip, necessarily, but a trip. And the Holiday Inn Express? Well, it's kinda like Orangeburg itself: you go in with certain expectations, and you come out…changed. (Mostly in terms of needing a serious nap and a large coffee.)
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- Keywords: Holiday Inn Express Orangeburg, Orangeburg SC Hotels, Accessible Hotels, Spa & Wellness, Free Wi-Fi, Breakfast Included, Business Travel, Family Friendly Hotels, South Carolina Getaway, Hotel Review, Clean Hotels, Pet-Friendly (sort of)
Accessibility, The First Hurdle (and I Approached It Pretty Well!)
Let's be real: accessibility is crucial. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I've seen enough to know how important it is. The Holiday Inn Express in Orangeburg? Wheelchair accessible, good start! I didn't personally test every single ramp and elevator, but from what I saw, it seemed pretty decent. Elevator was definitely a plus, especially for those higher floors. They also mention Facilities for disabled guests, so hopefully, that means accessible rooms and whatnot – I'd recommend calling beforehand to confirm your specific needs are met.
Rooms of Random Comfort & An Obsession with Cleanliness (Mine and Potentially Theirs)
Okay, let's talk rooms. I opted for a non-smoking room (duh). Air conditioning? ✅. Crucial in the South. Blackout curtains? Thank the heavens! I'm a light sleeper, and those things saved me. Free Wi-fi in all rooms? Score! (Though honestly, the Internet access – wireless was a little spotty at times. I'd recommend using their Internet [LAN] if you need something reliable.)
The bed was comfortable, with a decent extra long bed, and I appreciated the bathrobes. There was a coffee/tea maker, which I immediately put to good use. The Bathroom had a separate shower/bathtub, which is always a win for me. Daily housekeeping was a lifesaver (I'm a messy traveler). And they mentioned Smoke alarms, fire extinguisher, and safety/security feature that were a comfort.
Side note: I'm pretty sure the cleaning crew was borderline obsessed with hygiene. They're listed as having anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, individual wrapped food options, rooms sanitized between stays, etc. I'm not complaining. In fact, the cleanliness and safety of the rooms was one of the things that stood out the most. I mean, everything looked pristine. I did briefly consider requesting the Room sanitization opt-out available, mostly just to see if I could. (I didn't, though. I’m not THAT quirky.)
The Breakfast Buffet: A Love/Hate Affair (Mostly Love, TBH)
Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express is a classic. They offer that Breakfast [buffet] I always secretly look forward to. The Breakfast takeaway service was a godsend on my early departure. I'm not sure how "Asian" the Asian breakfast was, but there were certainly some intriguing steam trays. Definitely the buffet in restaurant will be a game changer when you are trying to save cash. The coffee/tea in restaurant was… well, it was coffee.
Important Anecdote: There was this one tiny moment of sheer brilliance: crispy bacon. PERFECTLY cooked, crispy bacon. I may or may not have gone back for thirds. Okay, maybe fourths. No regrets.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Fuel for Adventure!
There is a bar and a poolside bar, which I never, ever make it to. There's also a Snack bar, and a couple of Restaurants listed, including an A la carte in restaurant. The fact that they have a Coffee shop is a huge win.
Spa, Sauna, and Self-Care: Pretending To Be Relaxed…Or Maybe Actually Relaxing?!
Hold on, there's actually a Spa and Fitness center? And even a Sauna, Steamroom, and Pool with view? I completely missed that! Dang it! This is what happens when you get too focused on bacon and Wi-Fi. Okay, next time I'm definitely checking out the Spa/sauna. I'm thinking a Body wrap might be in order after all that travel.
Things to Do (Besides Eating Bacon):
- There's a Swimming pool [outdoor]. I saw it! It looked inviting! I didn't get in. (See: Bacon.)
- They offer Babysitting service. Useful if you're traveling with kids.
- Gift/souvenir shop (I'd say this is a must-use).
- Indoor venue for special events and Outdoor venue for special events. Good if you are there for a wedding!
- Terrace, which I used to check to see if I had left the world behind. The answer was "No."
Cleanliness and Safety: Because It's 2024 (and We're All a Little Germ-Conscious)
They really go all-out on safety. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, food wrapped, distancing, and Staff trained in safety protocol. I felt pretty darn safe.
Services and Conveniences (They've Got It All!)
From Concierge to Laundry service, from Daily housekeeping to Luggage storage, they've got pretty much all the basics covered. They even have Currency exchange and a Cash withdrawal service (useful). They have Car park [free of charge], which is awesome. And Car power charging station.
The "Meh" Moments (Let's Be Real)
- The Wi-Fi. Sometimes it worked great, other times… not so much.
- The lack of readily available info about the spa. Come on, guys, sell me on that Body scrub!
- Okay, I missed the spa. And the pool (because of bacon). I have some serious FOMO.
Overall Verdict: Worth the Trip (Especially if You Like Bacon!)
Okay, so the Holiday Inn Express in Orangeburg isn't the Four Seasons. It's not trying to be. But it's clean, comfortable, generally accessible, and has a fantastic breakfast buffet. It's a solid choice for a stopover, a business trip, or even a mini-vacation (if you're into the whole South Carolina thing, which I surprisingly am). Would I go back? Absolutely. Especially if there’s more bacon. And maybe I will even try the spa.
Rating: 4 out of 5 bacon strips
Gold Coast Paradise: Your Dream Riviera B&B Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. Because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is… my attempt to schedule a stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Orangeburg, South Carolina. And, well, let's just say I'm not exactly known for my organizational prowess. Mostly, I'm known for flailing. But hey, it's us, us who make this trip memorable.
Day 1: Arrival and the Eternal Quest for the Perfect Coffee
3:00 PM: Officially supposed to check in. Realistically? Expect me closer to 4:00 PM. I'm legendary for underestimating travel time. And you know what? I'm probably going to get lost. GPS and I have a complicated relationship; it speaks in riddles, and I respond with profanity.
- Anecdote: Last time I relied on GPS, I ended up in a cow pasture. Don't ask. (Fine, I'll give you the gist: it involved a rogue rooster, a very muddy pair of boots, and a profound realization that I really need to learn how to fold a map.)
3:45 PM (ish): Arrive at the hotel, slightly dishevelled, probably smelling faintly of highway and regret. The lobby looks… nice. Okay, surprisingly nice. The carpet isn’t that awful, institutional beige. Score!
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: CHECK IN. I hope the person at the front desk is patient. I'm going to need some patience. And a good pen. And probably a snack. Definitely a snack.
4:45 PM: Room recon. Okay, let's see… bed size check, shower pressure assessment (crucial!), and… oh, the coffee situation. This is where things get real. I am a connoisseur of terrible hotel coffee. I am almost excited to see how this one stacks up.
- Emotional Reaction: My heart sinks a little. It's one of those… instant coffee machines. You know the ones. The ones that promise “freshly brewed” but deliver a lukewarm, vaguely brown liquid that tastes suspiciously like sadness and dreams of better coffee. I suppose I should have checked the coffee situation before booking. This is going to be a long trip. I will look for the nearest Starbucks (probably a 10-mile drive!)
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Unpack. Or rather, throw my suitcase on the bed and decide that living out of it is perfectly acceptable for the next few days. I’ll probably live in my suitcase for about a week…
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner. Okay, so I have two options: either I order some crappy chain restaurant food delivery, or… I get brave and try and find an actual restaurant. I have been told that there are some restaurants downtown - some of them look legit. I guess I'll just have to wing it. Wish me luck (and pray for good food).
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Wallow in the glorious, mindless joy of hotel television. Catch up on my bad reality shows. Order snacks.
Day 2: Orangeburg Adventures (or, the Day I Almost Got Eaten By a Gator)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. That terrible coffee, unfortunately, will have to do. Time for another round of coffee despair. I also have to try and be productive: maybe go to the gym? Or maybe sleep? Definitely sleep.
- 8:00 AM: Actually, maybe the gym? Then again, who am I kidding? I am a champion of the "snooze" button. This is where I fail to stick to my goals and end up back in bed.
- 9:00 AM: Actually get out of bed and get ready. This is where I get lost in the room and am not ready at the planned time.
- 10:00 AM Start the actual tour of Orangeburg. Oh man. I have no plans. Let's just go explore.
- 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Visit the Edisto Memorial Gardens. Actually quite lovely. Got a beautiful rose garden. I probably spent too much time smelling it.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch at a local diner. My stomach leads the way. I might actually eat some good stuff for once.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: The Swamp Incident. I was going to visit a park. I thought it was a park. Turns out, it was an actual swamp. The mosquitoes were like dive bombers. I swear I saw a ripple in the water that looked suspiciously like a… well, let’s just say I retreated rapidly. Maybe saw a few alligators. I'm not sure. I was running.
- Quirky Observation: The park has a sign that says "Beware of Alligators". No kidding. This is one of those "duh" signs.
- Emotional Reaction: Pure, unadulterated panic. I haven’t run that fast since I was chased by a particularly aggressive toddler wielding a plastic shovel.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Recover from swamp-related trauma. Ice cream? Maybe a nap? Definitely a shower to rid myself of swamp-related grime.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Rest. Possibly start some laundry. Possibly watch some TV.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner. This time around, I'll try and visit a different restaurant - a local one is always better.
- 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Back to the TV, but I'm starting to get the hotel room blues. I may get a craving to visit a small bar to get to know more of the culture
- 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Sleep. Need to recharge for the next day.
Day 3: Departure (and a Final Farewell to Terrible Coffee)
- 7:00 AM: Awaken to the coffee situation. Deep breaths. This is the last round.
- 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM: Pack. Try to pack. End up just haphazardly throwing things into the suitcase.
- 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: Final hotel room inspection. Did I leave anything behind? Probably. Accept defeat.
- 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Check out. Hope the front desk person has a good day. Thank them for their hospitality.
- 9:00 AM: Hit the road. Maybe stop for actual coffee on the way home.
- 10:00 AM (ish): Reflect on the trip. Orangeburg? I think I survived. The alligator, anyway. That coffee, though… Still traumatized by the coffee.
Post-Trip Reflection:
Okay, so the Holiday Inn Express was… fine. The bed was comfy. The staff was friendly. The coffee? Well, let’s just say I’m heading straight for the nearest Starbucks on my way home. Would I go back? Probably. But next time, I'm bringing my own French press. And maybe a hazmat suit for the swamp.
And that, my friends, is the essence of my travel style: messy, imperfect, and gloriously, hilariously human. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.
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