A few months ago, I went to the Dallas Metro Area to check out the annual Plano Balloon Festival. The festival was supposed to be one of the best in north Texas so I had to check it out. The Dallas/Fort Worth Metro Area is only a two hour drive from my home in Wichita Falls. This meant I could have driven down and back in the same day. I ultimately decided to stay in Richardson because it would have made for a long day. All of the hotels in Plano were going for crazy prices, so I decided to check out the Aloft Hotel In Richardson.
Booking
The Aloft Hotel brand has quickly become one of my favorite Marriott properties after my stay at the Fort Worth Aloft – Downtown. I booked a Double Queen room at the hotel for $125 per night at the government/military rate. As a Bonvoy Platinum Member, I earned 5,510 total points (3,340 base, 1,670 elite bonus, and 500 welcome points). I used my Marriott Bonvoy Premier credit card which earned me 5X points per $1 spent at Marriott properties.
Arrival
The drive to the Aloft was a little under two hours from Wichita Falls. I passed through Denton, Lewisville, Carrollton, and eventually arriving in Richardson. The hotel was in, what appeared to be, a newly developed area of the city. There was a ton of shops, bars, and restaurants. I parked in the complimentary parking lot behind the hotel. Parking on the street and in the adjacent garage were also available.
Check-in
I approached the circular counter in the middle of the hotel’s lobby. The agent took five minutes or so to come from the back, I assumed they were busy with some work.
This gave me time to check out the business center. The business center was near the main entrance. The entire set up felt contemporary, but small.
Once the agent appeared, I was welcomed back to Marriott properties and thanked for a Bonvoy Platinum Elite. I was asked if I wanted a late checkout, but little else. I was given a small upgrade to a double bed Savvy Suite.
Room
The room was located on the ninth floor so I made my way towards the elevators. Upon exiting the elevators, I made a right and the room was down on the left.
The room was very nice and had more than enough space for me.
The bathroom was to the left. It had a similar layout to other Aloft Hotels. An understated wash area, a vibrant toilet area, and simple shower with complimentary shampoo and body soap dispensers.
There was the open closet in the wash area. It included a safe, storage, and an ice bucket.
Back towards the entrance was a refrigerator.
I was now in the main room. There were two double beds to left. I was surprised at how soft the beds were. It was some of the best sleep I received in a long time.
A swivel television and a desk split the room in half.
On the opposite side of the room was a small sofa and two lounge chairs. The couch was not comfortable, while I fell asleep in one of the weird shaped chairs.
Dining
There were two options to grab a bite to eat in the hotel: 1) Lobby Market, and 2) WXYZ bar.
Lobby Market
The market was available all day for snacks. There were a few hot dishes offered for breakfast. The dishes could be ordered from the window below the menu baord.
WXYZ Bar
The WXYZ Bar opened at 5pm and offered a wide range of cocktails and bar snacks. It was almost the entertainment hub of the hotel. There was a nice seating area surrounding a TV and a pool table. Many of the guests started the night at the bar before going out on the town.
Fitness
The fitness area, with the pool and gym, was located on the second level.
Pool
The pool was located on the terrace. It was a bit on the small side, but I appreciated it being outside. Even though the hotel is set in an entertainment district, I enjoyed the views it offered.
Fitness Center
The fitness center was located just behind the pool. The gym was one big room with more than enough equipment. Views of the pool and the bright Texas sky could be seen from the treadmills.
Final Word
Every time I was the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I fall more in love with it. There are a ton of different places to eat, shop, in this hotel’s case, recharge. I enjoyed my stay at the Aloft Richardson. The staff members were friendly and then everything in their power to ensure guests enjoyed the stay.
If I had one negative to say about the property it would be that it was really noisy at the night went along. Then again, I did not need or want to sleep early on that Friday night. Safe travels.
