MY 100th REVIEW! Woo.
I've stayed here a good three weeks so I have the license to preach about this place.
The Aloft is supposed to be a 3-star version (or excuse me, I mean "vision") of the W Hotels, meaning that it encompasses the functional-modern aesthetic without all the bells and whistles. And trust me, they've taken out the bells and whistles...
The decor of the hotel is definitely modern, albeit cheap. You'll see an abundance of tacky decorations and plastic-y items riddled everywhere. The bed is not nearly as comfortable as its Starwood-luxe counterparts and you'll find that the room contains the bare-minimums. That said, I've always found the hotel to be clean, friendly, and very welcoming.
While the entrance of the hotel leaves much to be desired, the lobby+bar region is actually decent. There's a cool w-xyz bar with affordable drinks during happy hour and a full-size pool table. Can't say no to that.
The amenities are kept to a minimum: you'll find a re:fuel station in the lobby (surprisingly useful), a small-medium gym with new LifeFitness machines, and a small swimming pool/outdoor patio which is never used.
The location is far from the business centers (boo) but close to the ASU bars (yay) and an In-N-Out Burger (yay). However, you might find a giant red neon sign outside your window and an ever-so-subtle smell of fries in the parking lot. Make of that what you will.
Out of all the 3-star hotels in the region, the Aloft is certainly my top pick.
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Distinguishing factor: The Aloft is glory of the W, without the hefty price tag.