Help me! We have just been given tickets for the Masters on Sunday. My husband and young son are attending while my 5 yr old and I sightsee. I need your help for a hotel! Many are booked (I'm not surprised). We can pay up to $200 a night and willing to travel (ie Columbia is a possibility.) Any ideas/tips. Thanks everyone!

Columbia may indeed be your best option if you are driving down from VA. Have you considered Aiken?

You might try Athens, and I would check the yellow pages for hotels anywhere NEAR the area, you can do that online.

Also Athens, might be a good suggestion, there are more hotels in the area, it is a bit of a drive, but you would also have more to see, Athens is a bigger city.

I's also take a shot at www.hotels.com

Good luck!!

First CONGRATULATIONS!!! Second - good luck finding a reasonably priced hotel room!!! Columbia may well be your best bet. I would guess you are not taking 2 cars? At least if you stay in Columbia you could take your 5 yr old to the Zoo. There are some hotels that are fairly close to the Zoo(www.riverbanks.org) - you could walk there from hotels along Greystone Blvd. I know there is an Embassy Suites - w/ indoor pool I think?? But check out ones w/ Greystone Blvd address.

Thanks everyone. We've made reservations at the Embassy Suites (the zoo is adjacent.) I'll also check the Athens area. I couldn't believe that I found one hotel in Augusta with rooms available. Hampton Inn $400 a night! I'll stay elsewhere. Thanks again for the suggestions! They were very helpful!

I'm renting my cabin out next Masters. Do you know what they get for a HOUSE during Masters week!?

Oh man I am so jealous!! have a great time!

We had a great time! Masters as most of you saw was awesome. For those of you interested in the Columbia, SC area. It's a very pretty town. It's on three rivers, the flowers were in bloom, people were nice and the town was easily to get around. The Embassy Suites is a great hotel. Employees were nice, cold refrigerators in the rooms, nice view of the river, breafast in the atrium. Check out the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens while you're there. Blue Marlin restaurant was delicious. Busy though we were seated quickly because we had no smoking preferance. Good eats. Unfortunately on Sunday night (we didn't go to dinner until after the Masters was over-8pm) and most restaurants that were recommended were closed. I guess they close shop on Sundays. Went back to the hotel for dinner. Service was terrible but the food was very good. Thanks to all Fodorites for the recommendations. I appreciate it. If you get a chance, check out the area. (Be careful driving on I-20. The average speed is about 90!)

Virginia Girl - Thanks for the trip report! It's always nice to "hear" how things work out. Glad to hear Blue Marlin was good. It was one of my favorites when I lived there and the first one I ate at when I moved to town. Will always remember getting served cooked greens as a complimentary appetizer - "What is it??".