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The Principal Hotel

3.5 star property
VIP Access

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Photo gallery for The Principal Hotel

Breakfast, dinner and brunch served
Room amenity
Exterior
In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Reception

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning
  • Gym
  • Business services

Explore the area

View in a map
310 S Main St, Columbia, IL, 62236
  • Place, Sylvan Springs County Park
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Jefferson Barracks Historic Park
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Airport, St. Louis, MO (STL-Lambert-St. Louis Intl.)
    ‪39 min drive‬
VIP Access
Curated for quality and service, VIP Access stays consistently receive our highest guest ratings.
  • Expect exceptional service
  • Extra savings and perks for BONUS+ members
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Room options

View all photos for Freshman K

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Freshman K

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
(14 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for ADA Freshman K

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

ADA Freshman K

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(4 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Freshman Honors K

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Freshman Honors K

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Sophomore Honors K

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Sophomore Honors K

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Junior Honors K

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Junior Honors K

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Senior K

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Senior K

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Senior Honors K

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Senior Honors K

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Large Single Sofa Bed

View all photos for Sophomore QQ

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Sophomore QQ

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Large Single Bed

View all photos for Sophomore Honors QQ

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Sophomore Honors QQ

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Large Single Bed

View all photos for ADA Sophomore Honors QQ

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

ADA Sophomore Honors QQ

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Large Single Bed

View all photos for ADA Junior QQ

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

ADA Junior QQ

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Junior Honors QQ

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Junior Honors QQ

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Senior QQ

In-room safe, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Senior QQ

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Junior Q

Junior Q

Junior Q

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

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About this property

The Principal Hotel

This hotel features a restaurant, a fitness center, and a coffee shop/cafe. Self parking is free. Other amenities include coffee/tea in a common area, dry cleaning, and a 24-hour front desk. Housekeeping is available on request.
The Principal Hotel offers 40 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and coffee/tea makers. 40-inch flat-screen televisions come with digital channels and Netflix.

Bathrooms include showers and hair dryers. This Columbia hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is provided on request.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center.
During your stay at The Principal Hotel, you'll be close to Triple Lakes Golf Course. You'll find features like free self parking, plus a restaurant and a gym.
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self parking
  • Options for a bite to eat include a coffee shop and a restaurant
  • Amenities include meeting rooms, a gift shop, and an ATM
  • Onsite recreation includes a gym
  • 8.9 mi (14.3 km) from Missouri Civil War Museum and 11.9 mi (19.2 km) from River City Casino
There's a restaurant on site, as well as a coffee shop/cafe. A fitness center, gift shops/newsstands, and coffee/tea in a common area are also featured at The Principal Hotel. Self parking is free.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 3.5-star Columbia hotel.

Graphite Restaurant - This fine-dining restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
Cafe on the Abbey - This café serves breakfast and lunch. Open select days.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free uncovered self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Restaurants on site

  • Cafe on the Abbey
  • Graphite Restaurant

Things to do

  • Gym
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Luggage storage
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping on request

Business services

  • Meeting rooms

Accessibility

  • Hardwood flooring in room
  • No lift

More

  • Designated smoking areas (fines apply)

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 40-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels
  • Hulu
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival
This property enforces quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per day.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Deposit: USD 100.00 per accommodation, per stay

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per day

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. The credit card used when booking the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo ID. Other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival. At the property, quiet hours are enforced between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.

The Principal Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 197 out of 219 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 219 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 219 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 219 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 219 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.6/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Debra

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Wonderful experience-luxury rooms, great dining, amazing staff! Clean and themed wel!!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steve

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Last week I attended a wedding at “The Principal Hotel” in Columbia, Illinois. I would like to start with the owner and the hotel staff. The way they greeted us made us feel truly welcome. The venue was a converted Catholic Abbey and school. All facets of the wedding from the wedding party dinner, the wedding, the social hour, the catered banquet, and the DJ services went off without one glitch. The on-site restaurant was superb and catered delicious food. The hotel was as detailed as you would expect it to be from a long past era. I believe each large room had previously been a classroom. The main thing I noticed was the true quality of the carpentry done by masters that took exceptional pride in their work. Old class pictures, a trophy case, small chair desks, wall lockers, library books, even the old pull out bleacher facings. Quite a nostalgic trip into my memory. I loved every moment of it. I cannot express my appreciation of The Principal Hotel enough. All I can say is wow! Wow! WOW!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Theodore

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was great: large, clean room - with everything functioning properly - and friendly, helpful staff. While the adjoining restaurant is closed on Mondays, the night I checked in, I ate there the last time I stayed at the Principal Hotel. Exceptional food and reasonably priced. Traveling many miles each year, this is my favorite stop!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I’ve been here 3 or 4 times. Nice local hotel with a great history.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Good staff, easy check in, very comfortable and safe.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Samantha

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Louis

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
All of the above
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very neat theme and use of the original space.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
My only discontent was that I couldn't figure out how to watch regular TV.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

NEELA

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great cozy room. Restaurant was amazing. I ate there 3 days in a row!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Second time staying, disappointed in the fact that it just wasn’t clean. Otherwise, a good stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness
Everything is great. Love this place!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeff

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place. Very nice rooms, new and clean.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Karlin

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel accommodations were great, but we had big trouble with the heating unit not switching over to cool and had to sleep in an 80 degree room
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cheri

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Oren

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Overall stay was just terrible. We booked three rooms based on the high rating this hotel received in the past. When we arrived, my own room had a strong smell of sewage (I had another colleague corroborate this). I immediately asked to change rooms (a thing I have never done in all my years of travel) and was assigned another room. Unfortunately, whereas I booked a room with a kingside bed I now received a room with two queen size beds. No apology was offered at the time for the inconvenience. The new room had a loud screeching sound coming out of the air vent. I recorded it and came back again to reception. I was told that I could not be moved even though I explained that the noise was so loud no one could sleep there. I did stay up awake all night and had the pleasure of loud noises from the plumbing system added to the air vent noise. I recorded those too throughout the night. In the morning when I checked out the person at reception finally apologized and offered a free breakfast. I have never written a negative review of hotels. This is a first but the experience was truly aweful. By the way, after check out a maintenance person was at reception after checking my room and he acknowledged the loud noise.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

D

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Everything was great.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

tony, Ofallon

Place was emacetalent
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeffery

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Loved this place! It was clean, quiet and comfortable. The little touches all around were so charming. Will definitely stay here again if in the area!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ashley

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Extremely quiet rooms. Rooms were spotless. Very unique hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rachel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very comfortable beds and clean rooms
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The history and design of the hotel were cool, the room was spotless, and the beds were comfortable. We also appreciated the friendly staff at check-in, and at the attached restaurant and bar. We'd happily stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shawn

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Such a cute little hotel with great decorative details. The staff was super friendly, the room was very clean. Check in only took a minute or two and they were very accommodating for early check in/late check out. It shares the parking lot with The Abbey where a friend’s wedding took place, so it was so convenient. If I ever find myself in Columbia, IL again, I will have to stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025