Aloft offers style and premium perks in Houston’s Galleria neighborhood without the ritzy price tag.
Location
The Galleria area is home to a massive shopping center, some of the best restaurants in the city, and major businesses. The mall is walkable from the hotel as is Del Frisco’s steakhouse, and Nobu.
Address: 5415 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056
Phone: +1 713-622-7010
Lobby Attitude
Aloft offers something more for those looking to have a little fun during their stay. The brand is “A vision of W hotels” offering similar style elements and a little attitude (in a good way) to liven things up.
Aloft hotels are part of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program. Be sure to read – Everything You Wanted To Know About Marriott Bonvoy.
In addition to lots of communal seating, the XYZ bar (it’s what comes after the “W”, a tongue-in-cheek homage to its parent brand) was never empty during my stay. If guests prefer to enjoy a Texas evening, fire pits and outdoor seating are available as well.
For those who need to print off last-minute documents for a meeting or boarding passes, a business center is available in the lobby as well.
Room
The room has a very unique design. It had the feeling of a suite due to interesting partitions (that were difficult to capture.) Upon entering the suite, a closet, dual vanities, and the bathroom are at the end of a corridor that runs behind the bedroom.
When moving into the bedroom (not separated by a door, but a distinct and somewhat private space), a desk, bed, TV, and windows overlooking the Galleria await.
Desk
I was in town for work so while the desk was smaller than I would usually prefer, it had a few stylish advantages. In addition to an attractive lamp, the cordless phone added a feature from premium hotels to a Select Service property.
Connectivity was also highly considered. A box on the left side of the desk offered any conceivable connection to the TV so that guests can enjoy their own content or even prepare for a presentation. There were also lots of plugs, and while that may not seem important at first, many hotels have overlooked the need for guests to charge their many devices.
Bed
The bedroom was separated from the entrance and the closet and bathroom in a way that added privacy without increasing the size of the room. The decor was modern, the bed was comfortable and small efforts like the hotel’s retro approach to an alarm clock added helps the hotel stand out against more generic rivals.
Bathroom
Upscale design choices in the bathroom and at the vanities added to the feeling of a premium full-service property at a value price point.
The shower was large and for those who are environmentally conscious, the brand has eliminated single-use toiletries in favor of fixed bulk shampoo and body wash.
Marriott Bonvoy’s Service and Benefits
At the time, I was a Titanium member, however, the hotel didn’t have any upgrades to offer at check-in. The hotel was able to offer late checkout and I, of course, earned additional bonus points for my stay. Marriott Bonvoy credit cards provide status just for holding them which makes cardholders eligible for an upgrade to a suite or more advantageous room.
One more stand-out from the Aloft Houston (Galleria) is the room service, offered by the incredible Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Some business hotels might have in-house restaurants of this ilk, and to be sure, Ruth’s Chris is not in the lobby of the hotel, it’s adjacent. However, for a Select Service property such as an Aloft, this is an astounding feature.
There’s a lot that the Marriott Bonvoy program has to offer its members. The ability to use points to access great properties like the Aloft Houston (Galleria) is just one example.
For more information on the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, see this post.
Value
The location of the property in relation to both shopping, area businesses, and restaurants. It delivers excellent value for money and unique features that make it stand out from other properties at similar price points. Cash rates range from $170-200/nt for a standard room. The hotel offers some of the perks and style of the larger hotels in the area for less money than full-service properties that neighbor it.
There are several reward credit cards on the market, read – Why The Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card May Be The Best For Travelers.
For Marriott Bonvoy members, prices start at 40,000/nt for a standard room. This provides a value of 0.4¢ to 0.5¢/point, right at Suites and Lobbies valuation of 0.45¢/point. Bonvoy members should weigh whether they’d prefer to spend points or cash based on their Bonvoy balance or cash position.
What do you think? Have you stayed at the Aloft Houston (Galleria)? How was your experience?
