Aloft Orlando Downtown

Aloft Orlando Downtown is an upper-middle-range boutique hotel housed in a former eight-story office building that was converted into a hotel in 2013. The lobby  is colorful and bright, with modern decor finishes typical of Aloft properties across the country, including a semi-circular front desk at the center with a colorful jungle design at its base. The hotel's snack bar sits off to one side, and there's a small computer station in the corner with free printing. A flight of stairs leads down to a lower level area where the hotel's conference facilities are housed. The hallway is occupied by the Aloft's own art gallery, featuring a changing selection of paintings from local artists. The hotel attracts a variety of travelers, but certainly gets more business visitors than some of the more tourist-oriented hotels located closer to Orlando's major theme parks. 

This hotel is located right in downtown Orlando, across the street from the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts. Its location is good for those wanting easy access to city center attractions and a selection of upscale restaurants, but it's a bit far from the theme parks and there's no shuttle service available. Travelers should factor in at least a half-hour for the Universal Studios theme parks and about 40 minutes to get to Disney World, traffic permitting. Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets and Orlando International Airport are also around a half-hour from the hotel by car. 

This hotel offers a wide range of room types from 374-square-foot (35-square-meter) Aloft Double Queen Rooms up to spacious Aloft Savvy Suites and Corner Suites, the largest of which measure 660 square feet (35 square meters). Though layout varies quite a bit, with separate semi-divided sleeping areas in some of the larger units, decor is more or less consistent. Expect dark blue-and-gray carpets and colorful wall art, plus wood-finish wall paneling and tan-hued accent walls. Standard amenities include mini-fridges, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and large flat-screen TVs (starting at 42 inches). All rooms have desks and free Wi-Fi. Large windows let in lots of light, and some rooms have great city views.Bathrooms are consistent across room categories, and they come with Bliss toiletries, wall-mounted hairdryers, and walk-in showers. Adjoining rooms and rollaway beds are available for families. Groups might consider requesting rooms on the second floor, which has 16 rooms and an open plan hallway configuration with some seating areas, making it suitable for impromptu hangouts.

This hotel offers features focused on business and leisure travelers. The highlight is the outdoor pool that's just large enough to swim laps. The deck is set with a few lounge chairs and mod day beds. For working out, the gym is open 24 hours a day and offers LifeFitness treadmills and other cardio machines along with a rack of free weights. While there isn't a full restaurant, there's a 24-hour grab-and-go station -- Re:fuel -- featuring drinks and light meal items. The w xyz bar has regular live entertainment and the adjacent Re:mix lounge features a pool table and sofa seating, and there's more seating on the hotel's patio. Business facilities include a couple of ballrooms in the basement plus conference rooms for rent on each floor. Valet parking is available for a fee, and there's metered street parking right in front of the hotel. Wi-Fi is fast and free throughout. Note that dogs are welcome free of charge (though a waiver is required for those weighing over 40 pounds) and the hotel offers dog beds, water bowls, and toys along with free dog treats.