My primary reason for booking the Aloft Hotel at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport was because I needed something cheap with easy access to the airport. There are a lot of airport hotels around PHX, and since I don’t have any status with any of them, I thought it would be fun to try it for myself.
Thoughts on my 1 night stay at the Aloft Hotel (Phoenix Airport)
I knew what I was getting into before I arrived. Aloft hotels are not known for being luxurious – their premise is high style and comfort at a good price, without over the top service. However, I was a bit skeptical – it seems to be a chain targeted towards a younger “hip” crowd, and this middle age guy was worried that he’d stick out like a sore thumb in a place like that. Worries be damned, I was still looking forward to giving it a try.
Walking in the front door, I was instantly impressed. The place is really well designed. The check in counter was a small circular desk off to the left, with a bar and lounge taking up most of the space on the right. Behind the checkin desk was a small self-serve cafeteria with an assortment of salads and sandwiches, along with a variety of beverages.
Lounge area near the lobby the Aloft PHX. Which just so happens to look identical to the lobby of the Aloft PDX. Just sayin’.
I should also mention that I was happy to see that I was not the oldest person there – the guests were a varied lot, and no different than you’d see at any other airport hotel in America. Checkin went perfectly smoothly, and I had my room key in a matter of minutes.
Hallway leading to my room on the third floor (which is eerily similar to the guest room hallways in the Aloft at SFO).
My room: 325
The bed in the Aloft hotel, Phoenix. It needs a piñata I think (just like the one that was in my room at the Moxy / Vienna Airport.
View of the bed looking the other way. The bed was comfortable, but the pillows were not. Much too big!
Looks like a college dorm room, right? This is the view looking the other way
Bathroom sink and vanity
Toilet and shower
This is the view looking out of the window towards PHX. It’s a bit too far to do any meaningful plane spotting or photography.
Final thoughts
Overall, I thought that the place had a “college dorm” type feel to it because of the basic rooms and thin walls. How thin? The person in the next room was watching TV at a normal volume and it was highly distracting to me. However, that’s not to say that I had a bad experience here. The hotel was clean, very well maintained, and quite comfortable. And thankfully the TV was turned off at a decent hour…
So – did I feel out of place while staying at the Aloft / PHX? Hardly. While they strive to be hip and stylish, they do offer a comfortable atmosphere (which the most important thing for any hotel). It was a very pleasant stay with friendly and efficient staff, and I’d stay here again without thinking twice.
