Aloft by Marriott Richardson

We had a whole group here, and the hotel was very accommodating. The area is terrific for walking, with restaurants nearby, and it was easy to reach. The front desk staff were so nice and apologized repeatedly, even though the water problem wasn't their fault. The water was extremely unpredictable, swinging between very hot and cold, so I had to go the whole trip without washing my hair. We're Marriott loyalists and love the brand, and hope they get this known issue fixed.

The hotel's location was great, but every day I ran into the same problem: no hot water for showers or even washing my hands. I told them about it and was only told maintenance would be on site. Having maintenance there every day and still never getting hot water was ridiculous.

The room was small and got stuffy quickly, and I couldn't control its temperature properly. The thermostat wouldn't let me set it above 65 degrees, and after that I was at the mercy of the HVAC, which blew either hot or cold air. I was up and down all night because I don't like hot air blowing on me while I sleep. If you're warm natured, keep that in mind. The pillows were very thin and unsupportive, though the mattress firmness was acceptable. Also, the toilet often needed at least three flushes for normal waste. Marriott says it's conserving water, but this is the fourth Marriott owned hotel I've recently stayed in with that problem. I've had similar issues at the AC Marriott in Washington DC and the Marriott in Grand Cayman. The desk clerk at checkout was kind. When I said I couldn't wait to get home for a hot shower, she said many rooms had this problem and asked if I wanted to be added to the compensation list. I said yes, and we'll see what Marriott offers. There's a Drury Inn nearby I'll try next time. I'd rather stick with Hyatt and Hilton if possible, even though Marriott has some beautiful properties, because decor doesn't count for much if you can't sleep or take a hot shower. The hotel itself was clean and modern, though a bit too modern for my taste. Parking was free, easy, and convenient, and the location was good, close to lots of things. But the showers had no hot water, lukewarm at best, and very little pressure. Past reviews suggest it's an ongoing problem. Marriott also seems to put limits on the thermostats.

The one odd thing I noticed was that the shower handle had been put on upside down. Apart from that, I had a good stay at the Aloft in Richardson. It was clean, the rooms were comfortable, and the shower worked well. The place has a modern, upbeat feel, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. I'd stay again.