Aloft by Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront ME

This hotel was not our cup of tea. The rooms were decorated in a very quirky, Marvel-themed style that felt more geared toward children than adults. The first room they put us in the blinds didn’t operate then the second room the air conditioner was slow to cool the room down even with the blinds closed. Overall, the rooms seemed outdated, somewhat dingy, and not reflective of the premium price. While the hotel was centrally located, the water view was industrial and not directly on the waterfront as we had expected from the description. One of our biggest disappointments was the airport shuttle service. We specifically needed transportation to the airport and were surprised to learn that the shuttle did not begin operating until 9:00 a.m. Most airport hotels offer shuttle service much earlier, often starting around 5:00 a.m., to accommodate early flights. For nearly $700 per night, we expected a much higher-quality experience. Unfortunately, we found the hotel to be very underwhelming and would not choose to stay here again.

Location

Excellent location , clean, and overall enjoyable location

Bartender was excellent with providing drinks.

Very nice room, very comfortable beds. We got in really late but the guys checking us in made us feel so welcome and helped us find parking. It was in a good location and there was a shuttle to take you around the city which was nice.

All was good.

Modern design, a cool lobby with a bar, and the option to order cappuccinos and coffee, as well as a simple breakfast in the morning was great. However, I felt the front desk staff was discomfabulated, which is not a great first impression. The shuttle service was a great resource, especially during the rainy weather. Driver was really friendly and attentive. Portland is very walkable, so you can’t go wrong with any location.

From the first welcome at the Reception Desk, to my final shuttle service to the Transportation Center, the Aloft was a great experience overall. The bar WXYZ is amazing -- Chris was a phenomenal bartender -- with the rare ability to remember who you were all week, so affable and introduced other clients to each other: so there was always great conversation and comity. Ask him for his Portland List of Best Places to eat -- fantastic. Seth too, so welcoming in all ways. The location is perfect -- walkable or very easy rides to all points of interest. Just a ten minute walk to the island ferries. Great selection of restaurants in the area and a wide choice of fare. There is something for everyone; family town, but a great location for singles, couples, of all stripes. Mark, the driver of the Shuttle service was so kind, and informative. The staff was always ready with any questions. A very positive trip for me. Saw old friends and made new ones. I will be back.

The room was comfortable and clean, but the water pressure is quite low (I guess they are conserving, so that's a good thing). Room service was only every other day, but that was fine. My bathroom sockets weren't working, but there were outlets in the main room for hairdryer, steamer, etc. I wish they had some firmer pillows! But I slept well. Very quiet. The Re:Fuel Breakfast and Food court is a bit pricey. A good selection. Hotels now do a scan and select service. Best to order your meals or snacks and then pick them up. Parking is very problematic apparently (from other guests I talked to), and its all self-parking.