Aloft by Marriott Santa Clara

It’s a mixed bag and just an okay place to stay, so keep expectations low. The facility is clean, with a sharp modern design, and the location is convenient for tech companies and the stadium. But there’s no included breakfast like at most hotels in the brand family. Parking requires a separate app, can’t be added to the bill, and you have to go out into the middle of the lot to set it up with your license plate. Your parking time might even run out before you can check the next day. This is the only Marriott property I’ve visited without a non-dairy coffee option. Every staff member I interacted with seemed like they didn’t want to be there. They grunted out answers and were disengaged or rude. They didn’t acknowledge my Gold status, though I was willing to overlook that. Overall, it falls short of the standards for Marriott brands.

For work stays, the rooms are clean and laid out well for a week. There’s live music in the lobby bar some days, which is a nice touch. The gym is small but useful, with a few free weights and two treadmills. I’ve never used or seen the pool, though I know it’s there. My main gripe is the weak shower pressure. Parking in the lot attached to the property or on the street side closest to the hotel costs money, but the other side of the street is free.

I booked after a man on the phone said there were rooms available and told me to come in. I arrived within 15 minutes, but the worker changed the story, saying there were no rooms, or that the available ones were dirty. I was left to sleep outside. My work time was coming up, and I only really needed the gym and a shower, not even a bed. I’m an educator in the area trying to prepare for work and take care of medical needs, but had to endure the outside environment. They offered no accommodation. A terrible experience.

The staff were great, responsive, and helpful, but several things fell short enough that I chose another hotel. There are nice blackout blinds, although a smoke detector flashes brightly in the room. The bartender was attentive, but the food was just okay. The hotel also gives easy access to nearby hiking trails and to 237. The Wi-Fi was terrible and very slow. It kept showing a splash screen to reconnect, but the page wouldn’t load, and there was no option to pay for a faster version. This was the first Marriott property I’d stayed at in quite a while without Netflix, Prime, or similar. A freight train passes several times a day and shakes the whole hotel. Parking wasn’t free, which felt odd for the hotel and location.