SERVICE -- Swift checkin under 5m.
$8 self-service uncovered parking.
No tap/electronic payment options.
Staff were consistently courteous & professional.
Phone calls answered promptly.
Automatic robot delivery for towels & things!
Late checkout offered (1hr).
FREE washer (1) & dryer (1) laundry services.
ROOM (walkthrough) -- The room quality & hotel stock vary quite widely: different mattress firmness ranging from a "2" to "perfect"; some rooms don't have curtains; 40" Phillips TV or a 50" Samsung TV; etc
Phones were a uniform failure. The handsets do not charge (despite what the LED indicator says), so you're forced to use the speaker as a workaround.
The Do Not Disturb signs could use a redesign or more consideration. It's a frustrating shape that regularly slides down the handle and lands on the entryway floor.
After crossing the threshold of a well-appointed room, its smooth sailing. Comfortably spacious for 2 with plenty of drawer + shelf space.
The workspace was productive: a huge wood (laminate?) desk & ergonomic desk chair, although the port/outlet availability is lower than the hotel norm.
The window treatment is surprisingly strong:
functional windows that open for fresh air & roller shades that do an excellent job at light control, insulation, & privacy.
BED -- The Beautyrest mattresses aren't from the Black Collection or another notable tier & the soft/firmness level was ultimately a lottery so give it a lie-down test before settling in.
Sheets were cozy, clean, and satisfactory while the Standard/Twin pillows on a king mattress were a comfort killer.
The headboard design is pretty awesome though: a grandiose wooden adjustable panelling.
BATH -- Walk-in shower is quite cramped (I'm 5'11" for reference) & the design of the door is a maintenance nightmare (it was falling off the hinges in our first room & it's obvious why).
Nevertheless it's a solid shower experience: the 4 spray-pattern shower head delivers great water pressure & heats fast. Drybar bath products (meh) are also provided.
The tub is less impressive bc it's not deep enough for an adult bath.
Aloft/Marriott appears to have discontinued the robe amenity in the Bay Area 💔 and, to add insult to injury, towels are on the smaller side.
HVAC wasn't noticeable in here & there's no manual exhaust switch either.
The toilet paper holder fixture is very non-functional (like an airport or Starbucks bathroom), please change this...
2 solid design patterns I did appreciate: chromatic cross handles on the sink & blue accent lighting above the vanity.
TV -- At least 2 configurations that I'm aware of:
Phillips 40"
LG 55"
Standard ~40 channel basic programming + streaming integrations that include Netflix, YouTube, Showtime, & Prime.
Connectivity: Bluetooth, HDMI,
Painful slow UI navigation
The Phillips TV broke down during our stay, but they switched our room & gave us a breakfast voucher for the trouble.
Wi-Fi -- Complimentary unencrypted wifi behind the usual Marriott portal.
--Performance--
Video Streaming: Average
Online Gaming: Poor
Video Chatting: Average
--Nerd Stats--
12-19 Mbps Download
7-25 Mbps Upload
1.2% Packet Loss
17-29 ms Latency
1.65 - 3.74 ms Jitter
FOOD -- Not DoorDash/UberEats friendly, but you can still earn bonus Marriott points... it's just a tad inconvenient.
Room service is available with a menu that includes vegetarian options. It's lacking for other (e.g. wheat)/multiple dietary restrictions.
✅ mini coffee bar
✅ wet bar
❌ minibar
✅ (Frigidaire) microwave
✅ (medium) mini fridge
Remember to bring your own silverware because none are provided (despite all that cabinet space).
NOISE -- Sound dampening/isolation is very good -- no complaints!
VERDICT
Very functional for work.
Attractive as a budget staycation.
Very competitive pricing and much more bang for your buck compared to Aloft Santa Clara.
Despite the flaws, I would stay again and recommend this location to fellow digital nomads.
4/5 ⭐️
@mrstaycation
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