Aloft by Marriott Hillsboro-Beaverton

This was my third stay at an aloft brand hotel, and I keep coming back because they’re modern and clean. The rooms are laid out well and have what you need. This one is conveniently between Hillsboro and Beaverton, with a park right across the street. I’ll stay again.

The only real frustration was the extra dog fee. We first booked two nights, then added one more and used Marriott points for it. Since it was one continuous stay in the same room, being charged the dog fee twice felt unfair. The front desk staff were friendly, but didn’t do much to resolve it. It wasn’t a huge amount, just an unnecessary charge. Aside from that, my husband, our dog, and I had a wonderful Labour Day long weekend at Aloft. We stayed three nights, and the room was comfortable, clean, and quiet. The hotel had a pleasant atmosphere.

We gave up and left before even seeing the room, and still paid for one we never used. Check-in was such a hassle that driving home seemed easier. We’re regular Marriott customers, but I was so annoyed by the experience that I’ll never stay at an A--loft (Aloft?) property again. First, we drove around looking for the guest entrance and front desk, ended up in the underground garage, and found locked doors. I tried calling for access, but nobody answered. After another drive around the property, we spotted a sign saying "Check In" or something like that. I don’t remember the exact wording, and it isn’t visible on Google Street View, so I suspect it was a new sign. Without it, the entrance was very hard to find. There was no check-in parking by the guest entrance. I had to make a U-turn on a busy avenue and parallel park on the nearby side street. I’ve never stayed at a suburban hotel without a drive-up entrance to the front desk. Here, you’re apparently expected to park on the street if there’s a spot, walk up stairs into a poorly marked building, and hope you find check-in. Then, after we finally got there, we were sent to scan a QR code and pay $10 to park. Why make every part of checking in an obstacle for tired guests? I was also irritated to hear that breakfast was available for a fee. McDonald’s and plenty of other places offer breakfast for a fee too. The public restrooms were about 100 yards from the front door, nowhere near the desk, and I had to hunt one down when I needed it. This was the worst hotel check-in I’ve ever had. Never again.

Check-in was quick and easy, and the bar was really good. We enjoyed the live music and felt welcome. The rooms were good, and the location worked perfectly for us, with restaurants nearby and my family close by. I had a minor issue, but management fixed it. I’d recommend this place.