Aloft College Station

The Aloft is a notch above its nearby mid-range competitors in style and panache, and really deserves the “boutique” label. Bright and energetic colors fill the public spaces, including aqua-blue sofas in the lobby, hot-pink art in the bar, and bright orange sun loungers and chairs on the pool deck. The lobby gives off an industrial chic vibe, with exposed pipes and chrome wall art, and a molecule-shaped chandelier that adds an avant-garde touch. Even the porte cochere entrance -- a design afterthought in most hotels -- features a curved roof and bright colors. Despite the hotel’s hip, funky vibe, the atmosphere here is unpretentious. The hotel attracts guests mostly in town to visit Texas A&M on university-related business, for sports events, or to visit a family member at school. All are drawn to the outdoor pool, stylish and cool feel, little extras, and relatively affordable rates. 

The Aloft is located about a three-minute drive off Texas State Highway 6 on bustling University Drive, in an area with other hotels. The Experience Bryan College Station visitor center is across the street, and numerous restaurants are within a short walk or drive. A movie theater multiplex, Post Oak Mall, and the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History are all about five minutes by car, and the center of Bryan, with its dining, shopping, and antiques mall is a 10-minute drive. 

The hotel is well-positioned for access to Texas A&M University, at a little less than a five-minute drive from the north end of campus. Kyle Field football stadium and the center of campus with The Quad, Rudder Plaza, and Albritton Bell Tower is a little less than 10 minutes by car. Reed Arena (basketball) is a 10-minute drive, and the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is a little more than 10 minutes by car. Easterwood Airport is also a 10-minute drive. 

Guest rooms at the Aloft have a contemporary, boutique look, with colorful wall art, graphic-print bedding and carpeting, and some shabby chic elements like faux wood paneling and furniture. The rooms and hallways feature low, dim lighting, which some may find atmospheric, but a few previous guests have complained that it’s too dark. At 285 to 315 square feet in size, all units are fairly spacious, though the smallest are a bit more snug than the standard rooms at many similar-quality hotels in the area. 

The generous amenities package in the 105 rooms includes 42-inch flat-screen TVs, laptop-compatible safes, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, free bottled water, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms don’t have microwaves like many other mid-range hotels in the area, but the hotel’s gourmet pantry has one for guest use. The well-designed bathrooms feature round, raised sinks, stainless steel fixtures, and orange walls. The room’s safes and coffeemakers are located in the bathrooms, which also feature hairdryers and showers with rainfall showerheads. Most bathrooms do not have bathtubs. 

The Aloft features a wide range of property facilities, and in a unique touch gives a name to each: "Splash" for the outdoor pool, "Re:charge" for the fitness center, "Re:fuel" for the gourmet pantry, "W XYZ" for the bar, and "Tactic" for the meeting room. The pool is about 10 meters long and is open all year long and heated when necessary, with a spacious deck that has sun loungers, chairs, and tables. There's also a high-quality fitness center with several cardio machines, free weights, a weight machine, mats, plyometric balls, and wall-mounted flat-screen TV. Unlike at many other hotels in the area, there’s no free breakfast, but the hotel has a good a la carte menu of items like French toast sticks, pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches for purchase. There’s no full-service restaurant, but the gourmet pantry sells snacks, cold and microwaveable meals, and make-your-own cappuccinos. The bar serves light fare and a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in a chic, stylish atmosphere with mood music and occasional live music. A business center, meeting room, coin-op laundry, pool table, and free parking are also on-site, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Up to one pet (dogs only) is allowed per room for no fee, and the hotel offers special beds, bowls, and bags of toys and food treats.