Justin H.
Google
Aloft Phoenix Airport – Accessible Stay with One Major Gap
I’m a longtime Marriott guest (Gold-elite) and recently stayed at Aloft Phoenix Airport as a wheelchair user traveling with a trained service dog. Overall, this was a genuinely good stay, with one accessibility miss that mattered more than it should have.
The positives first, because they matter.
I was allowed to check in early, which was a huge relief after a long travel day. The hotel itself is fully accessible, not just technically but practically. The accessible room was thoughtfully set up, properly stocked, and easy to move through in a wheelchair. No awkward layouts, no improvised “ADA” fixes. My service dog was welcomed without fuss, which I deeply appreciated. The staff overall were kind and professional.
The downside, and it’s a meaningful one.
The airport shuttle does not accommodate wheelchair users. When I asked about getting to the hotel, the suggestion from the front desk was to take the PHX Sky Train and then “walk across the street.” I had already explained that I was in a wheelchair, with luggage, and a service dog. That reality didn’t seem to land.
The result was simple but painful, I had to pay out of pocket for accessible transportation while able-bodied guests were able to come and go for free on the shuttle. That sends an unintended message, that accessibility is optional, or secondary, or someone else’s problem.
I don’t believe this came from malice. It felt more like a blind spot than a value statement. Still, impact matters. For disabled travelers, transportation is not a small detail, it’s the difference between dignity and exhaustion.
Bottom line.
Aloft Phoenix Airport gets so much right when it comes to in-hotel accessibility and comfort. I would happily stay here again if the transportation gap were addressed, or at least handled with clearer, more disability-aware communication and support.
This isn’t anger, it’s disappointment, paired with hope that Marriott continues to grow into the inclusive brand it often claims to be. Accessibility isn’t just ramps and rooms, it’s the whole journey.