Aloft Kathmandu Thamel Review: A Suite Upgrade in the Heart of Thamel

11

TL;DR: is Aloft Kathmandu Thamel worth booking? Yes, especially if you want to be in the middle of the action. Its best feature is the location; step outside and you’re in Thamel, with endless restaurants and shops. Elite Bonvoy members may also score a suite upgrade. The gym is excellent and the service is great, but skip the breakfast add-on and eat at Thamel’s cafés instead.

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel: Introduction & Booking

In August, I spent five nights at Aloft by Marriott Kathmandu Thamel. I booked a King Loft Mountain View Guest Room with breakfast included, and the total came to 91,191.69 NPR / $824 CAD ($165 per night).

As a Platinum Elite member, I earned 8,824 Bonvoy points on the stay, which includes the 1,000 bonus points I picked as my welcome gift at check-in. I paid with my company credit card so unfortunately, I missed out on 5x points had I paid with my Marriott Amex.

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel: Arrival & Check-In

The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from Tribhuvan International Airport, the same airport I later flew out of on Thai Airways to Bangkok (read my full review here).

It’s property is located in the Chhaya Center complex, with shops lining the entrance and a giant glowing Aloft sign out front.

I arrived just after 3pm. My cab pulled up to the front entrance and hotel staff opened my door, greeted me and escorted me to the lobby. My luggage was taken care of.

The lobby set the tone for the whole stay. It’s bold, colourful and a little bit extra, kind of like walking into a trendy hangout than a hotel lobby. It’s playful and confident, and it made me excited to be there.

Check-in was quick and seamless and I was lucky enough to be offered an upgrade to a King Breezy Suite.

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel: Location

This is the hotel’s best feature. Aloft sits in the heart of Thamel, Kathmandu’s tourist neighbourhood. It’s the centre of the city’s nightlife. It’s known for its restaurants, cafés and live music, and it’s popular with tourists and locals alike.

Step out of the hotel and you’re right in it. The streets are narrow and packed, lit up with bright signs and shopfronts stacked one after another, and there are people everywhere. Motorbikes squeeze past and something is always happening. It’s chaotic, but it’s the fun kind of chaotic. It’s exciting and one of the best parts is that it’s so safe. I had no problem walking around alone at night.

I went out for dinner four of my five nights without any plan. I’d just wander until something looked good, then go in. It never failed me. Even when I wasn’t hungry, I’d go for a walk anyway. I didn’t want to miss anything.

The shopping is excellent and suits every budget. Some shops are cheap and cheerful. Others are pricier, and that’s where you’ll find better-quality pieces, like cashmere, if you’re willing to spend a bit more.

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel: King Breezy Suite

I was in room 411, and the first thing I did was walk the whole suite just to see how far it went. It kept going. I could have hosted at least 10 people in there, and nobody would have been fighting for a seat.

The living room alone was bigger than many hotel rooms I’ve stayed in. A massive cream sectional wraps around two plush velvet poufs and a coffee table, and it was my favourite spot to relax after a long day.

The views were the suite’s best feature. Floor-to-ceiling windows run the entire length of the living room and kitchen, so wherever I was in the suite, I was looking out over Kathmandu’s rooftops to the mountains.

It struck a really good balance between fancy and practical. It had the velvet, the marble floors and the statement art, but also a kitchen with a coffee machine, a dining table, a desk and plenty of room to spread out. It felt like a luxury apartment.

The bedroom had even more windows and views, and the bed was so comfy. Possibly one of the most comfortable hotel beds I’ve ever slept on. It felt like sleeping on a cloud.

My welcome gift was waiting on the dining table: a little wooden shelf of biscotti, fresh fruit and treats, with a handwritten note welcoming me by name.

The entire suite was amazing. It was a good reminder of why I chase the status.

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel: Atmosphere & Service

The best word I have for Aloft is funky. It’s cool and a little swanky.

The W XYZ bar, just off the lobby, is the best example. It’s full of bright velvet armchairs, with a pool table, neon signs and big windows over the neighbourhood. I had a business meeting there. The drinks were great, and so was the service.

That was true everywhere. The staff were always friendly, polite and accommodating, and they made sure I had everything I needed.

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel: Gym

The gym is incredible. It has three separate rooms. The weights room has rows of dumbbells, squat racks and cable machines. The cardio room has a line of treadmills, stair climbers and bikes. The third room is for yoga and other activities.

It was never crowded, and it was always perfectly clean. If working out on the road matters to you, this alone is worth booking for.

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel: Food

On my one night in, I ordered butter chicken from in-room dining, served with rice and papadum. It was very good.

Breakfast was my one real complaint. Seating was limited, and I usually had to wait for a table. There also weren’t many food options, so once I’d snagged a seat, there wasn’t much to get excited about.

On my last morning, I gave up on the breakfast buffet and ordered eggs Benedict to the room. They were fine. Typical eggs Benedict, like most places.

Next time, I would skip the hotel breakfast and head down the street. There are tons of cafés right by the hotel, and every morning I was eating a so-so buffet while a whole neighbourhood of better options sat steps away.

Takeaway

Aloft Kathmandu Thamel’s best feature is its location. Thamel was right outside my door, and it made the whole trip. The suite upgrade, the gym, the funky vibe and the excellent service made it even better.

If you’re visiting Kathmandu and want to be right in the middle of the action, I’d 100% stay here. Just skip the breakfast add-on and eat your way through Thamel’s cafés and restaurants instead. That’s what I’d do differently next time.