Mo

My sister and I are planning to attend the David Cup tennis tournament held the last weekend in November in Portland. The finals are being played at The Memorial Coliseum. Not knowing much about Portland I was wondering do we need to stay at a hotel near the coliseum (is everything so close do we even need to worry), do we need a rental car etc. Coming from the east coast we also want to take in the sights and not just see tennis. It seems that every magazine I've picked up in the last week, whether travel related or not has had an article about your city. I am now equally excited to see your city as I was about cheering on the US team. It seems like a fantastic place to live. Thanks.

Fodorite018

It is not final that it will be held here just yet. But tickets are to go on sale Oct. 15th. We are anxiously awaiting this also! There are places to stay near the Rose Quarter, but personally, I would stay over in the heart of downtown. You can easily ride Max back and forth from there. You do not need a rental car if your visit is short and you will be concentrating on sites within downtown. Otherwise, yes, rent a car even if it is just for a day to see some outlying areas. If you need hotel info, just post what you would like to spend and what things you are looking for.

Andrew

The last weekend of November is likely to be rainy in Portland. If so, your best scenic choice may be the beautiful Oregon Coast, which is a fairly easy 90 minute drive or less. If you are lucky and get nice weather, take in the Columbia River Gorge area to the east of Portland. So you need a car for these options.

If you don't rent a car: The city itself is pretty cool, and if you do as the locals do and just wander around in the rain, you might get a kick out of it. You can take the MAX train from the airport into downtown or to any of the hotels near the coliseum.

Mo

MMS
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., September 26, 2007 – The USTA today announced that the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore., has been selected as the site for the 2007 Davis Cup Final between the United States and Russia, November 30-December 2. So unless you Portland citizens know something we don't we tennis fans are planning a trip to your fair city. But back to the Coliseum its in whats considered the Rose Quarter? I'm thinking your right in suggesting a downtown location. How far is the coliseum from downtown?

Fodorite018

Mo--Yes, I have seen that release. But the website for the Rose Quarter has a link to the event and it says it is not definite yet. So who knows. Regardless, it is literally just across the river from downtown...literally just over the bridge. Max has a stop there, so that is really easy.

Andrew

The Coliseum is right across the Willamette River from downtown. In Portland, "Downtown" is a tiny area on the west side of the Willamette River. Sometimes hotels will advertise themselves as being "downtown" even though they are in the Convention Center/Rose Quarter area.

Nothing particularly wrong with Convention Center/Rose Quarter area - it's just kind of dull compared to downtown, where there's a lot more going on. If you won't get a car, I'd probably recommend seeing if you can get a place downtown; if you have a car, note that it's probably $20+ per night to park it at a downtown hotel. Might be cheaper at Rose Quarter hotels.

I recommend Priceline.com's "name your own price" service for hotels in Portland. Just stick to zones near Downtown and keep your bids 3-star and above. You can often get a 4-star hotel for $60/night-ish downtown (plus parking and fees). 3-star hotels can often be had for under $50. Try betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com to learn how to use Priceline.

POVA (travelportland.com ) also has hotel discounts sometimes on their website.

Fodorite018

I checked the website again. It has changed since yesterday. They said yesterday that the location was dependent upon the facility being looked at in person. So hopefully that has been done and it's a go! The area will definitely be busy that weekend. There is a Van Halen concert on Sat. and two Trans Siberian Orchestra performances on Sunday. So coupled with the Davis Cup, it will be crowded. We are planning on going on Sunday if all works out!

Mo

Thanks for all your suggestions. I can't believe the USTA would put out a notice that it would be in a certain city and not have it finalized at the arena.After reading about your city I'm going to be peturbed if they change sites. Thanks for the heads up MMS. Of course I hope the US wins but I hope we see some good tennis!

EnricoIV

The Rose Quarter area is considered "Downtown." Any hotel categorized as "downtown" will do you great. MAX is free to the stop past the Rose Quarter, so you can easily stay on the west side of the river, and have free trnasportation to the Coliseum.

There are several hotels in the Rose Quarter area, but they tend to be pretty pedestrian - downtown hotels are much nicer. Better access to restauraunts, shopping, etc., too.

If you want to get out of the city, you might rent a car for just that day. Or look at taking a tour.

OneLifeToLive

I would recommend staying in downtown. Your arrival of the last weekend in November is the best time of the year to cheer on the Christmas holiday. Downtown portland will be very decorative for Christmas. Plenty of great shopping at Pioneer Square, ie. Tiffany, Saks 5th Avenue, Nordstrom, Macys..etc. You can take free bus transporation within the downtown area or even up to NW 23rd Ave, and the Pearl district.

Staying in downtown you definitely will feel the holiday spirit.

Andrew

EnricoIV: The Rose Quarter area is considered "Downtown." Any hotel categorized as "downtown" will do you great. MAX is free to the stop past the Rose Quarter, so you can easily stay on the west side of the river, and have free trnasportation to the Coliseum.

Actually, the Rose Quarter is not considered "downtown" in Portland, except to the hoteliers hoping to spruce up their descriptions. But you're right, any hotel near MAX (and not in the suburbs) is convenient to getting between downtown and the Rose Quarter. MAX and a narrow strip of buses on NE Multnomah Blvd. are free in an extension of "fareless square" all the way to Lloyd Center, two stops past the Convention Center.

bggirl

Andrew, thanks for speaking up about Rose Quarter/Lloyd Center not being downtown! It's like nails on a chalkboard to me when people describe that area as downtown, ture Portlanders know that downtown is on the west side of the river.

Anyway, Mo, yes any hotel truely in the heart of downtown Portland should be within walking distance to MAX. You may also want to consider the DoubleTree at Lloyd Center, it may be a little cheaper than a hotel downtown and is close to the MAX line (only about 3 stops from Rose Quarter).

Mo

Thanks everyone with your help. We've got our Davis Cup tix and we've chosen to stay Downtown at the Westin. OneLifetoLive, I had totally forgotten how Portland will be in its Christmas mode at that time I was so focused on tennis. I love going to different cities during that time to see how they get into the festive season. WHo knows maybe I can do all my xmas shopping there. Again thanks for everyones help. Oregon was never on my list of Go SEE places but I'm really looking forward to seeing Portland;I only wish I had more time to explore more of your state.

Andrew

Well, Oregon has no sales tax so it might be a nice place to do your Christmas shopping. Just bring an umbrella - could be raining quite a bit by the time you arrive.

Scarlett

In late November, in the Pearl, the wrap all the trees on the streets with little lights. I loved that time of year in Portland!
The Westin is very nice..have a grea time..I don't think you need a car for just that one night..public transport is easy and you can always take a taxi-cheap and easy too. The hotel will help you with everything.
Aahhh tax free shopping too

EnricoIV

Actually, the Rose Quarter is not considered "downtown" in Portland, except to the hoteliers hoping to spruce up their descriptions.

Thanks for offering your opinion, but my family's been in Portland for three generations. And I've lived here all my life, and now live on the disrespected inner east side. And while we all may be mired in the past, the city does evolve and change. And I'm sorry ... when I tell someone where I live, I say downtown. You may not consider it so, but it is. And particularaly in tourism issues, the Rose Quarter area is a part of downtown.

"Downtown" can be a very particular area of town that does not include the Rose Quarter area, Old Town, the Pearl, NW. But they can all be called part of the downtown area.

I will now descend from my high horse.

Scarlett

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Portland
When we were considering moving to Portland, when we moved to Portland and while we lived in Portland, I never heard of the East Side of the River being called Downtown.

We only lived there a too short amount of time for any bragging rights but I think someone should talk to the people who advertise/promote/and govern Portland about this...

It is a very nice high horse Enrico