aLoft Montreal Airport, YUL [Master Thread]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
aLoft Montreal Airport, YUL [Master Thread]
...just completed a stay...overall just an OK...really not that special.
Bed was good but its only a few weeks old. The hub to plug any device into the 42 plasma was great...and I dug the retro clock.
Not so great was the ceiling (just exposed concrete) the toiletries (no conditioner...just 2 in 1)...only 250 pts plat amenity...and the piped in music was really loud everywhere.
So over all no vibe like a W, just sort of a wannabe.
It was OK and is nicer than the 4 Pt.s down the street but overall just a 5 out of 10 from me.
Bed was good but its only a few weeks old. The hub to plug any device into the 42 plasma was great...and I dug the retro clock.
Not so great was the ceiling (just exposed concrete) the toiletries (no conditioner...just 2 in 1)...only 250 pts plat amenity...and the piped in music was really loud everywhere.
So over all no vibe like a W, just sort of a wannabe.
It was OK and is nicer than the 4 Pt.s down the street but overall just a 5 out of 10 from me.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bogota, Colombia
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hyatt DIA, *W/IC Plat, HH Gold, A3 *G, Sixt Plat
Posts: 1,218
We're going to be driving up from Burlington, VT, so would it make sense to stay at the aLoft on the last night before we leave, is it on the way back to the US border?
#5
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,101
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,785
Choose the aloft only if it's in your price range, if you don't mind staying way out by the airport (ugh), or if you're super-curious about the new brand. However, keep your expectations in line: the two brands are intended to compete in very different market segments -- hence a stay on 1 July costs $299 at the W, $139 at aloft. For $139, can you really expect something to be all that special?
BTW, Smith Travel Research classifies Starwood brands into these hotel market segments:
* Luxury [Luxury Collection, St. Regis, W]
* Upper Upscale Chains [Le Meridien, Sheraton, Westin]
* Upscale Chains [aloft, element, Four Points]
Other "upscale chain" offerings include Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Radisson, Residence Inn, and Wyndham.
Starwood has no presence in the lower tiers:
* Midscale Chains with F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Holiday Inn]
* Midscale Chains without F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Hampton Inn]
* Economy Chains [e.g., Red Roof Inn]
* Independents
BTW, Smith Travel Research classifies Starwood brands into these hotel market segments:
* Luxury [Luxury Collection, St. Regis, W]
* Upper Upscale Chains [Le Meridien, Sheraton, Westin]
* Upscale Chains [aloft, element, Four Points]
Other "upscale chain" offerings include Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Radisson, Residence Inn, and Wyndham.
Starwood has no presence in the lower tiers:
* Midscale Chains with F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Holiday Inn]
* Midscale Chains without F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Hampton Inn]
* Economy Chains [e.g., Red Roof Inn]
* Independents
Last edited by paytonc; Jun 25, 2008 at 11:36 pm Reason: add info
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
There is nothing to see around the aloft YUL.
It really would not be my choice of starwood lodging in Montreal.
There are four SPG in the city itself for mattress runs-but if it will be a late in early out it might be ok-again not my first choice.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Toronto
Programs: SPG LT Plat, Hilton G,Priorty Club G, AC E
Posts: 2,979
W no question...BUT...
...for the next month it is 8X the points for staying at the ALOFT property at YUL.
By the way the postal code is so new it may not load into your GPS (mine didnt) but its right on the road into the airport...right beside the Hilton.
By the way the postal code is so new it may not load into your GPS (mine didnt) but its right on the road into the airport...right beside the Hilton.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,648
Any pics of the property (especially the rooms) from one of you that has stayed there? Only aloft pics I have seen so far were taken of the prototype property at the recent invitation only party. It would be nice to see pics of an actual property that guests can stay at.
#10
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United MM
Posts: 255
Stay away from this property! I am writing this post from this aLoft right now.
I paid more than the Sheraton Le Centre rate to stay here - just to check it out. And I was shocked to find out that there is no Restaurant here. No restaurants near by. No club level, no free breakfast, no welcome amenity. No Platinum benefits. No upgraded rooms on the property.
Rooms are nice - much better than the Sheraton Le Centre, but that's the only thing going for this place.
I'll never be staying at this or any other aLoft again.
I paid more than the Sheraton Le Centre rate to stay here - just to check it out. And I was shocked to find out that there is no Restaurant here. No restaurants near by. No club level, no free breakfast, no welcome amenity. No Platinum benefits. No upgraded rooms on the property.
Rooms are nice - much better than the Sheraton Le Centre, but that's the only thing going for this place.
I'll never be staying at this or any other aLoft again.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Beautiful Atlantic Canada
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum & LFT Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Silver, Airmiles Onyx, Aeroplan, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,202
Is it me or are people expecting way too much out of these alofts? Aren't these places supposed to compete with HGIs and CYs? Then why are people expecting W and Westin level properties?
#12
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United MM
Posts: 255
On this one *wood really got it all wrong. And by the way, in another thread there was some discussion of the laminate furnishings and how they would chip off. My room already has this problem - and the hotel has been open barely 3 weeks!!
#14
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Beautiful Atlantic Canada
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum & LFT Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Silver, Airmiles Onyx, Aeroplan, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,202
I agree that the furnishings should not be so cheap and a "budget" property should not be 169$; that's outrageous indeed. Since this is a new brand they will have alot of things to "tune up" in the coming months... even a couple of years maybe.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bogota, Colombia
Programs: AA EXP, UA *S, Hyatt DIA, *W/IC Plat, HH Gold, A3 *G, Sixt Plat
Posts: 1,218
Choose the aloft only if it's in your price range, if you don't mind staying way out by the airport (ugh), or if you're super-curious about the new brand. However, keep your expectations in line: the two brands are intended to compete in very different market segments -- hence a stay on 1 July costs $299 at the W, $139 at aloft. For $139, can you really expect something to be all that special?
BTW, Smith Travel Research classifies Starwood brands into these hotel market segments:
* Luxury [Luxury Collection, St. Regis, W]
* Upper Upscale Chains [Le Meridien, Sheraton, Westin]
* Upscale Chains [aloft, element, Four Points]
Other "upscale chain" offerings include Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Radisson, Residence Inn, and Wyndham.
Starwood has no presence in the lower tiers:
* Midscale Chains with F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Holiday Inn]
* Midscale Chains without F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Hampton Inn]
* Economy Chains [e.g., Red Roof Inn]
* Independents
BTW, Smith Travel Research classifies Starwood brands into these hotel market segments:
* Luxury [Luxury Collection, St. Regis, W]
* Upper Upscale Chains [Le Meridien, Sheraton, Westin]
* Upscale Chains [aloft, element, Four Points]
Other "upscale chain" offerings include Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Radisson, Residence Inn, and Wyndham.
Starwood has no presence in the lower tiers:
* Midscale Chains with F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Holiday Inn]
* Midscale Chains without F & B (Food & Beverage) [e.g., Hampton Inn]
* Economy Chains [e.g., Red Roof Inn]
* Independents