Visiting PDX for Questionland Seattle

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Visiting PDX

I live in Seattle and want to go hang out in Portland a few weekends from now. What hotels should I consider? The plan is just to go to bars at night and wander around during the day. Aside from the Ace, I haven't really heard much about hotels there, and google isn't being all that helpful.

Callie Bishop asked in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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e.strange

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I used to live in PDX, so I've never stayed in a hotel there, but I have heard a few things. The Jupiter is supposed to be pretty cool. It's attached to the Doug Fir, which is a great music venue, and it's centrally located on SE Burnside, which is one of the main arterials running through the city. The neighborhood it's in has been experiencing a bit of a revival, and I hear there's quite a bit to do in that area these days (not so much when I lived there). It's also very close to the river, and therefore the west side/downtown. I have no clue as to the pricing, but it doesn't seem super cheap.

There's also the Kennedy School , which is a McMenamin's establishment. I don't know if you're familiar with the whole McMenamin's schtick, but they tend to take old buildings and repurpose them for drinking fun. The Kennedy School is actually an old elementary school which has been converted into a hotel with several on-site bars and restaurants, as well as a movie theater and a "soaking pool" (which is just a very large hot tub). It's not as centrally located as the Jupiter - it's in NE, in a residential neighborhood. But it's close to the Alberta Arts district, which is a vibrant neighborhood of shops, galleries and restaurants. Even if you're not going to stay there, it can be a fun place to visit.

Have fun! And if you need any other recommendations for restaurants, bars, music, etc. while you're there, let me know. I'm happy to help.

e.strange answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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The Modera was pretty nice -- it's an old 60s motel that's been turned into a pretty stylish modern hotel. The best thing about it was the courtyard, which has fire pits and a garden. You can get a bottle of wine from the desk and have a nice hour out there before going out. It's kind of far from anything else, though -- it's downtown, but the wrong (9 to 5 office tower) end. Not far from the light rail, though.

Fnarf answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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I went down last summer and stayed at the Jupiter, it was nice and had a good restaurant bar attached to it called The Dug Fir. The hotel and bar partied till 1 or 2ish but after that the place quieted down pretty good. The rooms weren't big or anything impressive but it was a nice place. I also got a discount (I think 10 or 15%) via twitter.
When I was there I spent most of my time on the other side of the burnside bridge but it wouldn't be an expensive cab ride or terribly long walk to get across.
Have a fun trip Callie.

Little Red Ryan Hood answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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I like hotel 50. It has a nice view of the River, is close to everything and has lots of self parking.

Kip Waddle answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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Hotel deluxe, hotel monaco, hotel lucia...

But why not B&B or hostel?

NW Portland International Hostel (not to be confused with NWPI Guesthouse), Heron Haus B&B, Riverview Guesthouse?

Have fun!

Rev.Enant answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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McMenamin's White Eagle:

http://www.mcmenamins.com/452-white-eagle-home

It's haunted...but in a good way.

malamute answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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I had a decent experience with the Mark Spencer hotel:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mark-spencer-hotel-portland-2

It's very close to Powell's, Reading Frenzy, and other good places. One downside is that one side of it faces a street that has (or had?) lots of loud club type places. But you may not mind that, or you may be able to get a quieter room. Mine was fine. The rooms are a bit small, but they have a kitchenette (and Whole Foods is only a block or so away). I even got a super cheap gov't rate discount even though the gov't person who was going to stay there with me didn't come along; they still honored that rate.

Another possible downside is that you're in the middle of downtown and not further out in the "cool" neighborhoods. I didn't mind this at all as it was great waking up in a downtown that is unlike Seattle.

stinkbug answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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Inn at Northrup Station - Cutest hotel ever, in the fun Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, on the streetcar route to the yuppie Pearl District and downtown. Good neighborhood to wander around. http://northrupstation.com/

Kennedy School - e.strange has a good description. Alberta is maybe the awesomest neighborhood in Portland, but it's also about as isolated from the rest of the city as Georgetown (but Portland's bus service is better).

There are lots of cute-ish boutique hotels downtown, but Ace is probably the best out of those.

I haven't stayed at the Jupiter Hotel and probably won't... it's theoretically pretty central but it's on an Aurora-like strip which is kind of depressing to me.

Yelp is probably the best place to find more info on hotels...

kibbies answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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I had a fantastic stay at Hotel Vintage Park in the Townhouse Suite (they call it the Bonnie Raitt suite, because it's where she always stays when she's in town). Their Starlight rooms are also very very nice, and their wine tastings in the evenings are excellent. You can walk to nearly everything - OMSI, the riverfront trail, downtown, Powell's mothership, the street food vendors - we had a great time. Parking's expensive, but it's not difficult to take the train there, and the parking fee is half-price if you have a hybrid.

Geni answered in Trips & Travel over 2 years ago | Report

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