- Wingate by Wyndham Columbia: Your Perfect Fort Jackson Getaway!
- Wingate by Wyndham Columbia: My Fort Jackson Getaway - A Review That's Honestly… All Over the Place!
- So, like, what *is* this whole FAQ thing anyway? And why are we even doing it?
- Okay, okay, but what *specifically* are we talking about? Like, what's the main topic here? My goldfish died and I need to know if this is about replacing him. (RIP Bubbles, by the way.)
- Why is everything so hard? Like, why does folding fitted sheets feel like a personal attack?
- What's your favorite thing to eat? I need food motivation.
- What’s the most surprising thing you've ever learned?
- Tell me about a time you completely failed. And don't sugarcoat it.
- What's your biggest fear?
- Okay, real talk: What makes you happy?
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be? And try to be original.
- What’s the single most important piece of advice you’d give someone?

Wingate by Wyndham Columbia: Your Perfect Fort Jackson Getaway!
Wingate by Wyndham Columbia: My Fort Jackson Getaway - A Review That's Honestly… All Over the Place!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to lay bare my experience at the Wingate by Wyndham Columbia, your supposed "Perfect Fort Jackson Getaway." And let me tell you, perfection? Honey, we're aiming for mostly functional, with a dash of delightful, and a healthy dose of "well, it's a hotel." Prepare for a review as chaotic and unpredictable as my own brain after a week of travel!
First Impressions (And Let's Be Honest, Airport Shuttles):
So, here's the deal. I booked this place because I was visiting a friend stationed at Fort Jackson. Location, location, location, right? And the Wingate advertises that sweet, sweet airport transfer. Score! Except… the pick-up was a bit… late. Not catastrophic, mind you, but just enough to make me question if I’d accidentally entered a time warp. (I'm already feeling a bit of that travel stress, you know?)
Accessibility & The Stuff That Actually Matters:
Now, for the important stuff, the good news is this place is pretty decent on the accessibility front. Wheelchair accessible is a big plus. And the elevator? Functional! (Thank the heavens, because I'm not exactly a spring chicken when it comes to stairs). They've got facilities for disabled guests, which is fantastic. I didn't personally need them, but knowing they're there gives a good feeling.
Rooms: Comfort Level - Achievable (Mostly):
My room? Well, it was… a room. Daily housekeeping – yay! Air conditioning – THANK YOU, LORD! (South Carolina humidity. Enough said.) I had a desk, which was a lifesaver because, you know, work doesn’t just disappear. The Internet access – wireless (Wi-Fi [free]) was reliable. Thank goodness because I needed to call home. And the free bottled water was clutch because I always get so dehydrated after long travels. The blackout curtains were good for getting some shut-eye after all the stress of the day. I also liked the bed, which was comfortable. The bathroom was clean and had towels! My room did have non-smoking and smoke alarm, which is critical.
Room's less good: The fridge was cold, I just wished the scale that I had to weigh myself was less sadistically calibrated. The coffee/tea maker was available.
Food, Glorious Food (or Lack Thereof):
Okay, let's talk grub. Breakfast [buffet] was available at this place, that's a plus. I grabbed some breakfast takeaway service. There's a convenience store on-site, perfect for the midnight snack cravings. I’m a bottomless pit sometimes. I might have snuck a few Oreos from there in the middle of the night.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking:
The restaurant had a bar! Score! I didn't try it on this visit but I would have tried it if this trip lasted more than 3 days.
Things to Do (Besides Staring at the Ceiling):
Swimming pool [outdoor]. I didn’t have time to actually use it. Boo!
Cleanliness & Safety (In a Post-Pandemic World):
Now, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I was pleased to see hand sanitizer everywhere. They have daily disinfection in common areas and even room sanitization opt-out available. I did see staff trained in safety protocol.
For the Kids (Because, Well, Life):
I didn't have any kids with me, but there are family/child friendly rooms and they have babysitting service.
Getting Around (Because You Gotta):
The car park [free of charge] was a lifesaver because I drove a lot.
The Little Annoyances (Because Life Isn't Perfect):
The walls are not good for noise. There was a lot of slamming noises when I was trying to sleep…
I would recommend this place to anyone needing a place to stay in Columbia.
(Okay, I'm exhausted. Time for another nap. And maybe some more Oreos.)
Escape to Fairytale Germany: Hotel Roter Kater Kassel Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this Wingate by Wyndham in Columbia, South Carolina itinerary is about to get REAL. No pristine, perfectly-timed schedules here. This is life, people. Expect chaos, caffeine-fueled brilliance, and the occasional existential crisis.
The Wingate by Wyndham Columbia/Fort Jackson: My SC Pilgrimage (Messy Edition)
Day 1: Arrival and Mild Panic
- 3:00 PM (ish) - Touchdown and Initial Disappointment: Okay, let's be honest. The exit off I-26 looks a lot like every other nondescript exit in America. My inner travel blogger (the one I try to stifle) is already screaming, "WHERE ARE THE QUAINT SHOPS? THE ARTISANAL COFFEE SHOPS?!" Instead, I find…a strip mall. Sigh. But hey, the Wingate's right there. Check-in. It's fine. Standard. The lobby smells suspiciously of chlorine and disappointment. (Maybe that's just me.)
- 3:30 PM - Room Reconnaissance and Minor Breakdown: Opened the door. It's…a room. A beige, vaguely depressing room. The AC is blasting icy air, which is appreciated because I'm already sweating from the drive. First order of business: assess the bed situation. Firm. Good. Now, for the real test. The bathroom. (Pause for dramatic music.) Soap. Check. Shampoo. Check. Conditioner…OH, SWEET MERCY, IT'S ONE OF THOSE ALL-IN-ONE MONSTROSITIES. I’m a conditioner snob!!! Well, clearly, I'm going to look like a brillo pad by tomorrow. I must survive!
- 4:00 PM - Snack Acquisition & Existential Dread: I, a grown adult, have somehow forgotten to pack a snack. Panic sets in. The vending machine. The great equalizer. I wander the corridors, dodging housekeeping carts and contemplating life choices. My choices are a bag of stale chips and a Snickers. Snickers wins. I sit on the bed, staring into the abyss of my existential dread, eating the Snickers, which tastes like sadness. What am I doing with my life? Columbia, SC, you're not off to a good start.
- 5:00 PM - The Quest for Food! (and Salvation): Time to eat. I need sustenance, and maybe a shot of something strong. Google Maps to the rescue…I'm starving. A bunch of chain restaurants. I want real. I want local. After a bit of fruitless online searching, I give up and settle on the same greasy spoons as everyone else, because it's probably fine.
Day 2: Fort Jackson and…Emotional Unraveling (and Fried Chicken)
- 7:00 AM - Breakfast: The Hotel Meal: Free breakfast, woohoo! I wander down in the elevator, hoping for waffles, but I'm met with… the usual. Dry scrambled eggs, pre-cooked sausage, and the suspicion that the orange juice is actually orange-flavored tap water. I grab a waffle, top it with way too much syrup, and try to shove down the existential dread. This is what it means to be an adult…right?
- 9:00 AM - Fort Jackson: Immersion and Awe (and Slight Crying): This is why I'm here. I've got a friend, a real soldier, at Fort Jackson, who's willing to show me around. Seeing the vastness, the discipline, the sheer scale of this place, is breathtaking. It's humbling. I see the recruits, fresh-faced and determined. Suddenly, that bland hotel room feels…important. These people are giving up everything for something bigger. I fight back tears. (Don't judge me! I'm a softie.)
- 12:00 PM - Fort Jackson: The Mess Hall and the Deepest Appreciation: Lunch at the mess hall. I feel like I'm on another planet. The efficiency! The massive portions! I actually meet some basic trainees after lunch, and get to hear a bit about how they're feeling, which is awe and confusion combined.
- 1:00 PM - Post-Fort-Jackson Blues and Fried Chicken Therapy: We left Fort Jackson and I felt like crying, as I did last time, seeing how hard these people work. Luckily, my friend took me out for fried chicken. That fried chicken saved me, even considering the small size and high price..
- 3:00 PM - Re-Entry and Mild Panic: Back at the hotel. The room feels less depressing now. Maybe the fried chicken endorphins are kicking in. Or maybe I'm just numb. Honestly, probably a bit of both.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner, Round Two: After a long day, I had to get out. I wanted to go fancy but the energy that felt like it cost to do it was no go. So, I just ordered something from the same place as last night. This time, I tried a different sauce.
- 9:00 PM - The Great Internet Scroll and Early Night: I'm too tired to be social. Scroll, scroll, scroll. Netflix. Sleep.
Day 3: Departure, Slightly Less Depressed, and a Hint of Hope
- 7:00 AM - Another Breakfast, Another Small Existential Crisis: Repeat of Day 2's breakfast. The waffle is again the only solace. My face is permanently creased. Am I a waffle person now?
- 8:00 AM - Final Room Inventory and Departure: Packing up, checking out. The room still smells vaguely of chlorine and despair. But…I feel a little better. Maybe it's the fried chicken. Maybe it's the profound experience at Fort Jackson that I can't quite articulate yet. Maybe it's just the fact that I'm leaving.
- 9:00 AM - Coffee and a Random Stop: I need coffee. Desperately. Found a local coffee shop (finally!) on the way to the highway. The barista is friendly, the coffee is good. I can almost taste the hope.
- 10:00 AM - Hit the road: Bye-bye, Columbia, SC. It wasn't love at first sight, but…I might be back.
There you have it. My messy, imperfect, utterly human experience at the Wingate by Wyndham in Columbia, South Carolina. It wasn't a perfect trip. It wasn't always fun. But it was mine. And that's what matters, right? (Now, where's the rest of that Snickers bar…?)
Scottsdale's Hidden Gem: Hotel Adeline's Unbelievable Luxury!
So, like, what *is* this whole FAQ thing anyway? And why are we even doing it?
Ugh, great question. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. Someone probably told me to do it. Probably "they" thought it would be a good idea. Maybe search engine optimization? Or, who knows, a way to make sense of the absolute chaotic mess that is... well, life.
Okay, okay, but what *specifically* are we talking about? Like, what's the main topic here? My goldfish died and I need to know if this is about replacing him. (RIP Bubbles, by the way.)
Alright, first of all, I'm sorry about Bubbles. It’s a tough loss. Replacing a goldfish, though? That’s not it. If I HAD to assign a topic (and I'm resisting urge to throw my hands and saying "I'm going to replace myself" because that's what happens when you get too specific with categories, and it feels… reductive), I guess we're talking about… existing. Just, you know, the day-to-day, the existential, the "why am I eating cold pizza for breakfast" kind of stuff.
Why is everything so hard? Like, why does folding fitted sheets feel like a personal attack?
Oh. My. God. Fitted sheets. They are the bane of my existence. It's like they're designed specifically to frustrate and humiliate us. I have spent, seriously, HOURS – weeks, probably, if you add it all up – battling these devil spawn of fabric. And you know what? I *still* can't fold them properly. I've watched YouTube tutorials, I've tried the "pocket in pocket" method, I’ve even considered consulting a therapist specializing in fitted sheet angst. The answer is usually… it’s just hard. And everything else is hard too! We're programmed to feel the difficulty of daily life. We are humans, not some super robot that can do everything quickly. It’s a testament to the human spirit, that we keep going. Seriously, don't feel bad.
What's your favorite thing to eat? I need food motivation.
Oh, food. Now we're talking! Right now? A truly perfect bowl of pasta. Like, the kind where the sauce clings to the noodles just so. And… bread. Always bread. I'm basically a carb-loading machine. My biggest regret is that I've never been really good at cooking. I have one of those "nice" grills that needs to be assembled, and I just, can seem to get to that… It's been a while. This reminds of that time I tried to make a cake from scratch. It was a disaster. Burnt edges, raw in the middle, the frosting looked like someone had just… well, let's just say it wasn't pretty. But you know what? I still ate it. Because carbs.
What’s the most surprising thing you've ever learned?
Honestly, the most surprising thing? How often I'm wrong. Seriously! I used to think I was pretty much ALWAYS right. (Don't judge; we've all been there.) Then you start paying attention, and it's like, "Huh, maybe I was completely off base." And you know what? It's kind of… liberating? To be wrong. It means there's still room to learn, to grow, to, you know, *not* be a complete idiot. It’s a constant journey of realizing how little you know which is… actually very little! I still have lots to learn, I’m kind of excited about that… it’s a weird feeling.
Tell me about a time you completely failed. And don't sugarcoat it.
Okay, here's a doozy. Remember that "nice" grill? I decided I was going to host a BBQ. I was so sure it would go well… I am so bad at that. I was a wreck, and then I tried to grill. I was trying to impress a date. The meat was either charcoal-ified or still practically mooing. The salad? Soggy mess. The drinks? Slightly warm beer. The whole thing was a disaster. And you know what? The date... never called back. But you learn from these experiences. At least I won't try grilling on a date again.
What's your biggest fear?
My biggest fear? Probably the slow, creeping realization that I'm wasting my life. That I'm just… drifting. I imagine I’ll wake up one day, older and less relevant, and think: "Huh, that was it?" Which can be hard to think about. But then again I'm not the biggest fan of the phrase "living life to the fullest" because it sounds exhausting. So, maybe I'll just be fine.
Okay, real talk: What makes you happy?
Sunshine. Seriously. A good book. A phone call that isn't spam. A perfectly brewed cup of coffee. A dog's excited tail wag. But most of all? The people I love. That's pretty much it. It's the little things. It's all the small things. (I think that's a song? Probably from a band I've never heard of.) It really is.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? And try to be original.
Okay, I've thought about this. Teleportation is tempting, but you'd get tired of it. Flight? Overrated. I’d want the ability to instantly clean any mess, including the emotional ones. Hear me out! Imagine: spilled coffee? Poof! Gone. Messy kitchen? Clean. Bad memories, awkward social situations? Vaporized! Everything would be so organized, beautiful, and perfectly tidy. And, you know, less depressing. Actually, I'd use it to clean my apartment.
What’s the single most important piece of advice you’d give someone?
This is hard… and I’m not sure I’m qualified to give advice, but I’ll try.Hotel For Travelers

