Aloft by Marriott Las Colinas

The staff were exceptionally kind, and this is a nice place to relax. Food and entertainment are within a mile or less, and for Las Colinas the price felt more than fair. My one practical suggestion is another ice machine, maybe on the first floor. Lobby food and drinks are pricey though: $10 for a small popcorn and $5 for a little Red Bull. I paid, but didn’t enjoy the cost. Still, it’s a nice boutique hotel and gets my approval.

The location and value were good, but the room could use work. We found someone else’s socks right after arriving, so it clearly hadn’t been cleaned thoroughly. The shower had caulking left all over it, and there wasn’t much storage for our things. There was also nowhere suitable to hang wet towels, since the only hook was beside the toilet. I didn’t like the fridge tucked under the bathroom sink either. There are outlets by the bed, and hotel fridges rarely leak, so it could be placed on the carpet there. Cleanliness and layout need improvement.

For a weekend Cowboys game, this is a solid budget hotel. Las Colinas sits centrally near the airport and between Dallas and Ft Worth. It’s small, but had what we needed, including good breakfast choices. The place is clean and updated, with a stylish feel and a warm, friendly front desk. I do wish there were a hot tub.

I’ve had one night’s sleep so far, and the room is uncomfortable. The A/C gets very loud when it kicks in, and there’s no handy place for a hand towel, so it has to stay on the counter by the sink. The place feels more like a hostel aimed at people in their twenties than somewhere I’d choose for a relaxing business trip. The room is sparse and cold, with some areas seemingly remodeled and others looking like they just got a coat of paint. The open closet shares the sink and bathroom area, screened only by a curtain, and there isn’t even a clock. Hallway sounds come through clearly while I’m in bed with the TV on, and I could make out the next room’s conversations. I booked on my employer’s recommendation and disliked the experience right away as a woman in my mid-thirties traveling alone. The front desk clerk left out key information, including that my room apparently wouldn’t be serviced daily. On returning for the second night, my trash was still full and the room smelled like the dinner I’d ordered the night before. There’s no restaurant on site, and after traveling I had to order delivery. There’s no microwave in the room for leftovers, and the microwave is too close to the toilet for my comfort. They provide an ice bucket, but ice is apparently only available on the fifth floor, another thing no one told me at check-in. Breakfast seems varied, but if you’re in a hurry there are only a few grab-and-go choices. A parfait and small cold Starbucks drink cost more than $13, which felt steep for such limited options. The shuttle goes to nearby businesses, but apparently stops at 3 pm, so it won’t help at the end of the workday. I wish I could have left for another hotel as soon as I saw the room.