Okay -- I've narrowed it down to a choice between the HEathman Hotel or the Riverplace Hotel for an upcoming business trip to Portland, OR. Both locations are acceptable for this purpose, as well as access to the mass transit lines.

Please advise about the areas for my tag-along sister, who will be on vacation. Partly, I've enjoyed stays at the Heathman in the past, and remember many restaurants, shops, the Art Museum, etc. in the near area. While we don't mind occasionally getting in a cab for dinner after my professional commitments, we prefer to locate where we can walk to dinner, e.g. Higgins.

But Riverplace intrigues me, and gets good ratings. However, I'm concerned that it may be too removed from these other amentities.

Yes, we also plan to get to the Rose Garden.

In advance, thanks Fodorites!

I much prefer the location of the Heathman, especially for what you are looking for. Even though we live here, we stay over in downtown on occassion, and one time was at the Heathman. It was not horrible, but it was definitely not as good as it used to be. We had a suite, which was tiny. The bathroom had a lot of wear and tear and was way overdue for a facelift, much less routine maintenance.

Are these the only 2 places you are considering?

My experience and preferences are the same as mms's. Have you crossed The Monaco off your list? It has a good location and big rooms.

Agree...much prefer the location of the Heathman over the Riverplace, but would choose the Monaco over the Heathman.

Remember, this is the poster who has a conference at the Marriott Waterfront; she originally considered just staying there (my recommendation - based on the location not the place itself). The Monaco is at least a ten minute walk. The Riverplace Hotel is a bit closer. While I imagine the Marriott isn't as nice as the Monaco, I'm sure it's not BAD, and convenience (price presumably about equal) always trumps almost everything else for me...

I've stayed in both hotels, but it was four years ago. The RiverPlace rooms are very pretty, but the service and the restaurant were both awful. So bad, if fact, that the manager refunded my entire stay without me even asking. You aren't all that far from downtown, but it feels very removed from the city. since part of Portland's charm is it's s walkability, this was a negative to me. If you do stay here, try to get a room on the river side, so you aren't looking at the roadway above.

Heathman rooms are somewhat dark and very small. Very traditional city hotel. Service is good, but not super friendly. Location is very good for walking and feeling "in " the city.

After trying nearly all of the hotels in Portland, Monaco is still my first choice.

Fodorites --

Thanks for all the great advice and insights. Upfront: I booked an Executive Room at the HEathman at a good AAA rate that will probably be similar to the rate for my conference, especially as it includes internet access and other nice add-ins. (I still get so ticked off at being charged for that.)

Yes, I posted before about my conference at the Marriott Waterfront, so I'd like it reasonably convenient to that. I don't mind hopping on mass transit for a fairly quick ride. My conference group has been REALLY SLOW this year in posting the registration information, including the hotel reservation rates, so I thought I'd at least commit to the HEathman and have something good in hand.

The MArriott is still an option, but to be honest, the hotels where my conference books can feel ovverrun by the size of our group. The members are all pretty well-behaved, but it's just that feeling when a conference group takes over. I'll apologize now to any guests staying there who are not part of our group, and how a conference can monopolize things.

The issue of dark-ish rooms at the HEathman doesn't phase me much. I enjoy historic hotels and often seek them out, and know that smaller, darker rooms with less-then-perfect bathroom tiling often come with the territory. Also, I grew up in and still visit NYC -- I know about dark, small rooms. And again, I've stayed at the HEathman twice before with the DBH (dear beloved husband,) but it's been about 4-5 years. I wanted to get a sense about whether the area has changed that much.

Thanks for the insights about the Riverplace. Yes, my major concern is that it isn't close enough to stuff for my sister's outings (although I know the transit stop is nearby) and the ease of having a few good nearby options for going out to dinner. Since Riverplace rated #1 in tripadvisor's listings, I thought I'd consider it since it seems not far from the Marriott. ..But I got the feeling that there may not be enough there for our interests, both in the surrounding area and onsite.

The Monaco seems a bit more removed for our purposes right now. I think I also started to have some concerns about street noise from some tripadvisor guests' comments. Still, I should make a point to check it out while I'm there. The DBH is making noises that we should visit Portland sooner rather than later (he has his own commitments during my conference time, or might have come otherwise.)

Again, thanks so much for all your helpful insights.

Now if I can just remember the name of a wonderful Thai place I went to in another neighborhood...it might have been Typhoon? Who knows, but part of my delight in going to Portland is your wonderful restaurants. ...and I'll check out what's happening at the Art Museum. ..and the Pearl District and otehr great neighborhoods? 'Not enough time to do all this for me, but so many good options for the sister. Portland-ites are very fortnunate.

Just to muddy the waters a bit, the Monaco is also my favorite. Location, rooms, staff, everything.

I am used to small rooms, but our suite was not up snuff in the Heathman. The bathroom door looked like someone had kept a small animal in there and might have scratched the heck out of the door wanting out. That is just a start on the room But the location is great, so if you get a room like we had, go ask to be moved.

Yes, Typhoon is great!

Enjoy your time here.

Right, again - Monaco is in a great location but not if you are attending a conference at the other end of downtown at the Marriott Waterfront. The Riverplace hotel is right across the street from the Marriott. The Marriott itself is even closer to the Marriott!

There's no direct mass transit from the Heathman to the Marriott, so I assume, madameX, that you're going to walk. The Streetcar may take you half the distance but it will just be quicker to walk, once you factor in waiting. With the Monaco you can take the MAX train part of the way up 5th/down 6th but you're still going to wind up walking about half the way and may find with the wait it's just easier to walk the ten minutes without the train.

Even the Riverplace Hotel is not directly at a streetcar stop; look on a map, it's a few blocks away, while the Marriott is right across the street from the Riverplace Hotel.

Portland is a friendly walking town and even a walk from the Monaco isn't awful - I'd do it, but I'm used to walking everywhere. Just keep in mind that it could be rainy, this being Portland, so it might not be a pleasant walk! But it could be beautiful out...

I'm surprised to hear about street noise being a problem at the Monaco. I've stayed there at least a half a dozen times and have had rooms on different floors and facing both Washington St and Fifth Avenue, and the only time I had a noise issue was when there was construction nearby. So I really wouldn't stress about that being a problem. And I find the location very convenient--it's only a few blocks from the Heathman.

Meant to add: I'm sensitive to street noise so it's definitely something I would notice. The worst street noise issue I can remember having in Portland was at the Heathman on a Saturday night a number of years ago--didn't realize Broadway would be such a popular car cruising street! So you definitely want to ask for a room on the back--you may already know that.

One more thought about the Monaco and then I'll be quiet, LOL...

Since you're traveling with your sister, a suite there with 2 double beds might work really well for you, since you have the sitting room that you can close off from the bedroom area if one of you wants to go to bed early and one of you wants to stay up and read or watch TV. Most rooms at the Monaco are suites, so the rates are usually very reasonable.

I should do a follow-up:

We stayed at the Heathman, Room 1009, and had a great time. The room faced the back of the hotel, so this may have had something to do with the lack of noise -- it was a very quiet room. This room has 2 beds, and was like an executive (or some other step-above) level room.

Briefly, the room was wonderful: spacious, coffee press, comfy beds, very quiet. Spacious sink and counter area, but the separate tub/toilet area was very cramped. This I can tolerate in renovated historic hotels when everything else was a great stay. Excellent housekeeping. L'Occitane toiletries, robes, etc.

Friendly, professional, helpful staff throughout. 'Loved the wine on some weekdays, and the library offerings. Free internet access in the room, but the free terminals (and printer!) in the lounge did jsut fine -- don't you WISH that some other high-priced hotels that charge extra got a clue about internet charges?

Wonderful on-site restaurant and bar. Sort of pricey, but very good value compared to restaurants in NYC, San Francisco, etc. Try the salmon hash at breakfast. Excellent room service from the restaurant -- my sister arrived later in the evening, and ordered in the room. Convivial bar has very good wine list and interesting cocktails, excellent small plates, and a half-priced burger at happy hour and after 9.

Very close walk to other well-priced restaurants, e.g. Southpark Grill and Typhoon. Also close to art museums, university campus; Wednesday and Saturday farmers' markets; close to Nordstroms and the transit options at Pioneer Square. For a less pricey breakfast for an excellent assortment of coffee, bakery, oatmeal, other hot items, and soup/salad/sandwich for lunch, the Flying Elephant is nearby.

Again, my sister accompanied me while I was at a conference at a different hotel (about a 10-minute walk to teh Marriott Waterfront.) She verified that she was much happier in this location than she would have been at the Marriott, i.e. more central, more interesting neighborhood, more interesting hotel, not in the fray of a major conference. She also went on a foodie's walking tour that began at the Heathman, which seems to be a metting place for many of the walking tours of downtown.

So: I'd be happy to try some of the other boutique hotels that Fodortites mentioned, now that I recall various distances and neighborhoods. The Marriott seemed like a nice hotel and did well for my conference, but I'd go back tot he Heathman in a minute.

Thanks for the follow up report on the Heathman, glad to hear you had a nice stay and that you got a room on the back!

I did that Epicurean Excursion food tour on my most recent visit to Portland in February and thought it was great. Did you have any of the hot chocolate from Cacao in the Heathman? Outstanding!

'Did not do the hot chocolate at Cacao -- I'm one of those aliens who does not really go in for chocolate (fresh fruit and cream desserts are my thing; unique ice creams, etc.) However, it's right there at the Heathman, as with so many other features to love this place.

'Must admit that I might try the Monaco sometime in the future, in part because of so many positive recommendations. However, the Heathman set a good standard.

FYO: I did not find the walk to the Marriott at all a problem -- maybe 10-15 minutes, through decent neighborhoods. I enjoyed the air, having to be in meetings all day. And again, there was so much more going on around the Heathman that I'm glad we stayed there rather than the Marriott.

Recomendations: on the next block to the Heathman is a milliner (custom and ready-made hat shop) and a men's clothier that still calls itself a haberdasher. These are things that remind me of being in a real city with unique businesses. ..and of course the farmer's markets... The crafts fair down by te river (I forget the name) is was it is -- some things are interesting, but there are many fine artisans in this country. Still, it was worth seeing to enjoy some time by the river, and the many wonderful food stands.

Thanks for the report.