Scotiabank Gold American Express® CardScotiabank Gold American Express® CardEarn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points + no annual fee in your first year

Review : Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO | Marriott Bonvoy

Review : Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO | Marriott Bonvoy

Note8.2/10

Hotel
Aloft San Francisco Airport
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Room Type
Standard
Loyalty Program Status
None
Share

On a recent trip to San Francisco, we stayed one night at the Aloft San Francisco Airport Hotel, located right next to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Here is our opinion with many pictures.

A convenient hotel, close to SFO

Aloft San Francisco Airport is part of the Marriott Bonvoy program.

While we were there, the paying rate was low (about CA$140 including taxes): so we paid for our room, the use of points being not very advantageous here.

aloft san francisco rates
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Rates

Location

This hotel is located less than 2 kilometers from the airport and is served by an airport shuttle. It takes 5-10 minutes to make the trip.

aloft san francisco location
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Location

Our flight was at 7am the next day, so we returned our rental car to the airport agency and took the shuttle to the hotel. This avoids us to pay more time for our car + the parking of the hotel.

Lobby of the Aloft San Francisco Airport hotel

The « Aloft » brand is a « vision » of the W Hotels. It is therefore a brand for a young audience.

aloft san francisco airport spg 25
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby

This can be felt as soon as you arrive in the lobby with « energetic » music.

aloft san francisco airport spg 26
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby
aloft san francisco airport spg 24
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby

We appreciate a lobby with several different relaxation areas: there are board games, a pool table, many screens.

aloft san francisco airport spg 23
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby
aloft san francisco airport spg 22
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby
aloft san francisco airport spg 21
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby
aloft san francisco airport spg 20
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby

We can see the industrial style wanted by the brand Aloft:

aloft san francisco airport spg 19
Aloft San Francisco Airport – SFO – Lobby

There are also nice outdoor areas, even in the evening, with heated umbrellas and outdoor fireplaces.

aloft san francisco airport spg 17
Exterior

The indoor pool and gym

The Aloft San Francisco Airport hotel has an indoor pool

aloft san francisco airport spg 16
Pool

and a gym:

aloft san francisco airport spg 15
Gym
aloft san francisco airport spg 14
Gym

Small reminders GSP

Before reaching our room, the elevator signs serve as a reminder:

aloft san francisco airport spg 18
Lobby
aloft san francisco airport spg 13
Elevator

The room

After a corridor that we will also qualify as « industrial colored » …

aloft san francisco airport spg 12
Room access

… we arrived in our room which has 2 Queen size beds.

aloft san francisco airport spg 01
Beds

A long surface is used as a desk or to put a luggage. A lower chair can also play this role. We are well and truly in « functional ».

aloft san francisco airport spg 03
Office

A little retro touch in this room: the alarm clock! Also note the USB wall plugs, which are thankfully starting to become the norm.

aloft san francisco airport spg 02
Bedside table

On the side of the entrance is the bathroom (finally shower), in which we find… « functional »!

aloft san francisco airport spg 04
Shower room

A safe is available with a small coffee machine and a mini fridge (under the sink).

aloft san francisco airport spg 06
Trunk
aloft san francisco airport spg 11
Coffee corner
aloft san francisco airport spg 05
Washbasin
aloft san francisco airport spg 10
Washbasin

Behind the curtain, a small closet.

aloft san francisco airport spg 07
Cabinet

Then the shower of a good size. It must be said that we prefer a nice shower, rather than a bathtub-shower.

aloft san francisco airport spg 08
Shower

No small individual bottles (which are, admittedly, not very environmentally friendly). Large fixed distributors:

aloft san francisco airport spg 09
Shower

Self-service

In keeping with the Aloft concept, there is an entire self-service area next to the Reception area. You will be able to find, at any time, something to eat (or products that could be useful to you).

aloft san francisco airport spg 30
Lobby
aloft san francisco airport spg 29
Lobby

With a large table that is meant to be convivial:

aloft san francisco airport spg 28
Lobby

It’s a bit like « l’Auberge Espagnole » 🙂

aloft san francisco airport spg 27
Lobby

Bottom Line

The Aloft San Francisco Airport fulfills its role as an airport hotel: without being high-end, you’ll find a functional hotel:

  • an airport shuttle
  • a very functional and well soundproofed room
  • a pleasant atmosphere in the lobby
  • … and an indoor swimming pool for a last nice evening before taking the plane!

In short, if you need to stay one night before flying back to Canada (or to Asia / Hawaii), this is a hotel we recommend!

Go further with Marriott Bonvoy

To maximize your stays and points earning, check our complete Marriott Bonvoy program guide and our best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards ranking. For personal use, see the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. For business expenses, the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card earns points on every business purchase. And if a points purchase promotion is running, take advantage via our Marriott Bonvoy points purchase guide.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.