Aloft by Marriott Tucson University

There are plenty of restaurants nearby, public transportation is convenient, and the hotel is well placed near the University of Arizona. But there's a security concern: people can walk in from the street and take the elevators up to the guest rooms. That needs to be addressed so guests can feel safe during their stay.

The hallways were dim, the carpet in our room was stained, and the wallpaper was coming off. The walls are thin enough that you hear everything. I also can't understand why anyone would put a light switch in the door frame. I booked online and was glad we only stayed one night. As other reviews mention, anyone can get from the garage to the room floors using the elevators. As a platinum member, I found this place horrible.

The one thing going for Aloft was its convenient location, just three minutes from The University of Arizona. The stay itself was a complete waste of money. Staff weren't very friendly or knowledgeable. Nobody made it clear that parking wasn't included, and we ended up with a lot full of tickets. Towels were rough and scarce. The sink drained poorly and smelled foul, making the whole room unpleasant. Our TV was outdated and didn't work. Telling staff about problems seemed pointless because they ignored our requests and feedback. Management needs to do a better job training the team. And don't count on swimming: the pool was filthy.

When a fire displaced my family, everything felt chaotic and uncertain. Embassy went out of her way to help us, fought for us when she didn't have to, and showed such kindness and compassion. I'll always be grateful and won't forget what she did. The whole staff was wonderful, so nice and friendly, and made a difficult time much easier. I'd definitely recommend aloft.