Originally Posted by
gozetta
I saw no general thread for aloft, nor the aloft Rogers, AR, so I created this one. I just finished my first stay at the Rogers, Arkansas aLoft Hotel and have tons of questions:
* Full priced room (nearly $200 in Arkansas) and only 250 Platinum Bonus points, compared to the normal 500?
* No breakfast, only grab and go continental?
* No restaurant on-site, no room service?
* Super-small rooms (under 300s/f)?
* 1 lonely suite, not upgradeable?
* No heavenly shower (just a very wide spray with little pressure)?
* No valet?
* No spa or on-site massage?
* No down pillows?
* "community" squirt bottles of shampoo/condition affixed to the shower? Kind of creepy.
Actually most of these aren't questions as much as they are part of a larger question, "who would want to pay top dollar for this?" I think these are called "hostels" everywhere else in the world. Aside from the pretty colors, nice fabrics, and free wifi, this hotel should be 1/2 to 1/3 the price of everything else in the region.
I've stayed at both the PHL and Dulles alofts, and have to disagree. I like the fact that they're new, clean and well designed, and (generally) close to the airport.
Consistent high-speed internet is a big factor for me, and aloft is great for that. For example, the Sheraton Newark Airport limits upload speed to 32k/sec. This kills me. I also appreciate the real HDTV, not just a flat screen with crappy SD programming.
I do miss the breakfast, and I will say that this concept is very similar to Hyatt Place, and I think they pull it off a little better.