Family Fun Stay at the Aloft San Francisco Airport

February 6, 2018February 17, 2021 Margalit Sturm Francus

Recently we had the pleasure of staying at the funky, and upbeat Aloft San Francisco Airport hotel. Located at 401 E Millbrae Ave, Millbrae, CA the property is close to San Francisco’s Bayfront Park with secluded have walking paths and unobstructed views of planes landing and taking off. Furthermore, the family fun hotel with its 253 spacious rooms is centrally close to the airport as well the train and BART stations.

What Works for Families

- We loved how big and spacious the rooms are.
- Price, the price at the Aloft San Francisco is very affordable.
- They offer free Wi-Fi and complimentary transportation to the airport as well as nearby Millbrae train station.
- The staff was attentive and accommodating which we appreciated since my daughter was recuperating from her surgery.

What Doesn’t Work for Families

Our room only had two queen size beds. Having two beds for us was okay but may be difficult for larger families.
No restaurant on premise They do have the W XYZ® Bar, which is okay for nightcaps, and live music.
Onsite parking seems a bit steep in price. Valet parking is $40 a day, and self-parking is $30 a day.

Special accommodations we asked for

Before I reserved our room, I called ahead and spoke to a front desk receptionist that considered all my needs. First, due to my allergies, I asked for a feather free room, and secondly, we needed a quieter room since we are both light sleepers. I am pleased to say, that both our requests were taken care of before we arrived.

Our welcome

We UBER’d straight here from the hospital and let me say our check in was super quick. The staff was very attentive and even helped us with our luggage. Typically, the Aloft is a do-it-yourself hotel when it comes to dealing with baggage. They even supply easy to use luggage carts by the front entrance.

Décor

Let me say, that I was impressed with the design. The décor here has a fun hippie chic feel to it. With bright colors and varied textures, this property would appeal to most age groups, especially kids and millennials.

The Lobby featured many WOW items. From the traditional arcade tables, pool table to the rockers and unique chandeliers the atmosphere .encourages people to relax and mingle.

Fellow travelers

At the Aloft San Francisco, you can expect to see guests from all walk of life -from the younger business folk to multigeneration families seeking affordable lodging.

Our Room

As mentioned before the Aloft San Francisco airport isn’t your typical cookie cutter hotel. The fun atmosphere is noticeable in decor everywhere. The elevators had pink, purple gel mats while the corridors boasted colorful ceiling lamps highlighting the dark spaces.

Our room was on the large size adorned in light woods with orange, purple-gray and blue touches. The carpeting was dark aqua while the walls were cork tan above the beds and gray carpet next to the table/desk.

On the right side, it had two queen size beds and a spacious nightstand in the middle. Above the bed was a beautiful picture of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. The headboards provided both beds with plenty of light, which helps when I had to check the bandages on my daughter.

Across from the beds, there was a leatherette bench, and a long table that doubled up as a desk with a flat-screen TV hung above it. Adding to the modern and functional vibe of the room were dark window shades on rollers, which allowed in the perfect amount of light or darkness. Under the windows there was a large air conditioning wall unit that was surprisingly quiet. As one would expect in a contemporary hotel, the room had many electrical sockets to plug in our devices.

The room closet was next to the bathroom vanity. It offered plenty of storage space and a curtain to protect belongings. Alongside there was a small utility area with a coffee maker, safe and mini-fridge.

The Bathroom

The décor in the bathroom in varied shades of gray echoed the room in its functional feel. The tile flooring looked like dark wood and added to the posh look. It was divided into two separate sections-the vanity sink and the shower area.

The vanity had a raised sink which looked sharp but wasn’t that convenient to use. In fact, I could see younger kids making a watery mess when washing their hands.

The second area housed the commode and shower. Surprisingly, the door didn’t have a lock which might be an issue for parents wanting privacy. The actual shower ( sorry, no tub ) had a glass enclosure and tan tiled flooring. Though the hotel is more of a no frills type of place they do offer Bliss shampoo, conditioner, and lotion for their toiletries kit.

Dining Options

On the side of the lobby in the reception area, there is a small area where you can special order breakfast items, like a breakfast sandwich. I found the average breakfast sandwich to be approximately $7, which is comparable to other hotel eateries.

There is an expansive marketplace stacked with snacks salads and microwaveable dishes for those who wish to grab something while on the go.

In addition, there is the XYZ bar that is open from 5 PM- 11 PM. I found this nice to grab a snack, but for bigger dinners, you will have to leave the building.

Amenities

Guests can use the 24-hour gym as well as the indoor pool at the sister property the Westin hotel next door. There is also a quaint outdoor area with a fireplace for patrons who wish to relax outside. The hotel also offers special bedding and snacks for young kids.

Cost

The Aloft San Francisco is very affordable for the area.Of course, prices vary depending on the time of year. We paid 132$ for our Aloft double queen room during our January 2018 stay.

Service

I cannot say enough, how pleased we were with the staff. They were very attentive and even called to check in on myself and my daughter, which made us feel welcomed. When I needed extra towels, they provided them quickly and made sure we had enough. If I had questions, they answered them all thoroughly.

Overall, we had a very relaxing stay here at the Aloft San Francisco. I can not wait to go back under different circumstances and enjoy their funky, hip atmosphere.

Autism Travel Tips

If your kid is noise sensitive, be sure to mention that at booking. Ask for a room that doesn’t face the runways.
The indoor pool does not have lifeguards, so parents need to watch their kids while in the water.
Bring an anti-slip mat for the shower area since the floor does get slippery when wet.