Drift Nashville, a Member of Design Hotels

The atmosphere is good thanks to the staff, even with most guests displaced by the ice storms and under stress. The front desk attendant was patient and knew what she was doing, and the bartender was amazing. Try the Hot Cider Cocktail. I was so disoriented after four days without power that I forgot their names. Marriott members should know this hotel has its own rules, so come with an open mind and enjoy yourself. It's not the Ritz, but it's a great hotel with fantastic renovations, a vibey place with good staff.

The design is probably the best part of The Drift Hotel Nashville. They’ve made the old motel feel clean and modern, and my room was neat, though the sink being beside the bed instead of in the bathroom took a little adjustment. The lobby café had good coffee and food, but with people working there it felt more like a WeWork than a hotel lounge. A few things made me unlikely to return. I asked for extra pillows and was told there were no clean pillowcases, so I should check again the next day. The microwave I requested didn’t work at first, and maintenance had to bring another one. In the gym there was just one spray bottle and no wipes, so I borrowed some from a nearby bathroom to clean the equipment. The hotel is near the highway on the edge of downtown, so it’s not the walkable Nashville stay you might expect. It also doesn’t participate in Marriott Bonvoy, which matters if you collect points or status. It’s a decent budget option if you’re passing through, but for me it was a one-time stay.

Miles is the reason I’m writing this. Our TV wasn’t working when we arrived, and he came to sort it out quickly. He was kind and seemed able to handle anything. I hope the hotel appreciates him. The room met our expectations, and coffee in the room was a nice bonus. Check-in and everything else are done electronically, which worked fine for us, though I’m glad my parents weren’t traveling with us. Staff replied by text when we reported the TV issue. Parking costs $34 a night, which seemed wildly expensive to me, especially since I don’t know the area well. There was a TV in the lounge, but not in the bedroom. Still, we had a pleasant stay.

The hotel looks cute and fun, and the location was good with reasonably priced parking. But the rooms felt like concrete boxes, with concrete walls, floors, and ceilings. The floor was damp by the window and HVAC unit while the heat was on, and that unit was so loud it sounded like a motorcycle or generator. Between the noise and the room, sleeping was difficult. We left after one night instead of staying the whole weekend, and didn’t get a refund. I wouldn’t come back.