Aloft by Marriott Leawood-Overland Park

All four of us were deeply disappointed. I've traveled often, in the US and internationally, for over 50 years, and this is the worst hotel I've stayed in. We came from different states, including Portland, OR, Seattle, and Missouri, for one night together: two grandmothers and two adult granddaughters who are close friends. We brought snacks and popcorn hoping to watch a movie, but the TV never worked. We were repeatedly told the internet was down and being worked on, and after two hours we gave up and went to see the pool. The chlorine fumes and vapor burned our eyes and noses when we breathed, so we quickly left and went back to the room, where the TV was still out. On Monday at 8am, a jackhammer and construction right below our second-floor window woke us abruptly. For over an hour we listened to the jackhammer, a machine with a bucket on the front lifting debris into a truck, and the loud beeping as the vehicles backed up. The TV still wasn't working, despite the issue supposedly being worked on all night. When we got ready to leave and shop, there was hardly any hot water or pressure. The shower drain was clogged and painfully slow, and by the end of my shower I was standing in dirty, soapy water an inch or two above my ankles. I called to the next person in line that they could take a bath if they wanted. At checkout, management refused to do anything after we described all the problems. The next day, reaching Aloft by phone proved nearly impossible. After hours, I finally got someone who wouldn't connect me to anyone who could help, give me a contact name, or pass along a complaint. Please do yourself a favor and book elsewhere.

Kate at the front desk made a terrific first impression, she was friendly, a delight, and knew her stuff. The clean room smelled great and had a lovely view of the ice skating rink, with Christmas lights adding a nice touch. Parking was easy and free in the garage just north of the hotel, about a two-minute walk. I was wary after reading comments that the property was unkept and needed repairs, but my experience was that it was well kept and well managed. The location is fantastic, with more shops and restaurants within walking distance than you can imagine.

The shower barely worked, the carpet was gross, the TV didn't work, and the room phone was missing pieces. There were stains in the hallways too, and the place felt dingy. On the plus side, they did employ Americans, which was a refreshing change from other hotels and motels I've stayed at in the Kansas City metro. With better cleanliness and maintenance, this could easily be a four- or five-star place for value and quality.

At 12:30am there were mobs of kids in the pool room acting thuggish and throwing pool balls. Evidently some kind of teen sports tournament was going on. Why was that allowed? Take responsibility for making sure all your guests are safe, comfortable, and able to enjoy themselves. I can't rate this hotel low enough.