User
2017-06-08
Do your homework: Aloft is OK but NOT for business travellers
I 'wrote' this review several times in my head before I finally sat down to share my experience here. I am aware that travelers, including myself certainly, both consult and contribute to the shared experiences hon Trip Advisor and do so because these comments do go beyond marketing and brand messaging. I also am sensitive to--but not so conceited to think that a single voice makes that much of a difference in--a hotel property's actual bottom line,With that caveat in mind, let me start with the good news. This is not a terrible hotel, in spite of my single star. But is is a one-star if you are a business traveler, which I believe is not the case for most of the category of guests here. As the brand itself boasts if you visit their website, and they cannot be blamed for selling something they are not: STAY AND PLAY. I did not choose this hotel, it was chosen by my employer, and I had the no-choice situation of having to stay there 10 consecutive nights.Continuing on the good news information: the rooms are clean--in spite of my self-explanatory photo of shower on the 4th floor--and the beds and pillows are very comfortable. That is not a detail as at the end of the day--literally!--a hotel guest wants and needs a good night's rest. So check that box, and the housekeeping staff--I never saw them but certainly appreciated their work--was absolutely fine.The good news stops there however. And again, the above may be more than enough for even the discerning traveler, so I am not judging, just sharing my honest experience.So my first-hand experience after a rather long couple of flights to get there: non air-conditioned lobby and elevators, the reception looking like a circular bus-booking station a bit further in, and a very loud booming music environment. I am no fuddy-duddy, don't get me wrong, am actually a long-time music lover. But this was a party vibe that I was not seeking right out of my airport cab and several hours of less than lovely travel.Add to that the fact that the reception employee told me my room booking was two beds (she claimed our booker requested this, but I later validated this was not the case) and the 'view' I got is shared in my photos. I might as well have been in any city anywhere, let alone the beautiful destination of Cancun, Mexico.I shamelessly begged for an upgrade to a king, something with a view, she could not, but in her defense, arranged for a room move for my next day. Unexpected but appreciated.The thing is, and this is where I divert from an up and down praise or diss, the upgraded room on their uppermost floor, is the 10th. Just below the rooftop pool--which I literally never even peeked at for a number of reasons, mainly too exhausted after my super-long workdays. So while I was indeed glad and appreciative to get moved to a king, and a better view (lagoon and the neon strip that resembles the tacky strip on the Niagara Falls on the Canada side), how could I complain, they had made an effort to assuage me and I do honestly appreciate that.But make no mistake: even the so-called upgrades are the most basics of the basics: small window, tacky paint job, low pressure shower--yes it is a rain type shower but you have to wait several several seconds, long when you are standing there in the shower lol--to get the temperature you need. The once white towels are grayish, and here is the deal-breaker for me: NO ROOM SERVICE! And the so-called laundry had various stories of failure and success: one of my colleagues staying there received the wrong laundry, no laundry bags to be found anywhere and one colleague tried to iron her silk blouse and the irons were so under-used that the there was a rusty water that poured over her blouse and ruined it. But in their defense, they did reimburse her without argument. Cash.There is no mini-bar, but a mini-fridge and an excellent huge grocery store a few steps away. My first room on the 4th floor had a non-working fridge but the one on the 10th was fine.The free Internet worked pretty well but you have to log on frequently and it occasionally bounces you off but that happened at the Grand Fiesta across the street as well.The breakfast was included in our room rate, and it was good enough. There is a good à la minute egg chef who can prepare omelettes and fried eggs. The croissants are embarrassing imitations of their namesake. But the coffee is good and nothing wrong with this breakfast if you get a room rate that includes it. Please tip the service staff either way!The elevators are not air-conditioned and have that tacky faux-disco beat going on and believe me, when you leave for a day's work at 7AM you do not find that cool at all. Some of my colleagues were there during a weekend where the hotel was in full party mode and suffice it to say, there were distracting and questionable activities going on all around. Again, nothing wrong with that if you are looking for a party hotel. That is my take-away. Good for some, great some might argue. But definitely not one size fits all.