In the past my friends and I have stayed at the Marriotts and in recent years the Marriott Residence Inn near Tom McCall Park. The rates continue to rise so I'm thinking that we might want to consider a less expensive option for next year's blues festival. We'd prefer to spend $150 or less for our rooms but want it to be clean with parking available or further out but near transit.

Any inexpensive options near the park have dwindled; the former Days Inn up on 6th is now some sort of boutique hotel and so is the former Four Points by Sheraton (now the Hotel Fifty). There are a few budget places up near Portland State - an Econolodge, a Travellodge - but they look pretty dumpy to me. Check TripAdvisor for reviews.

To save money, I really think a better bet is staying across the river, in the Convention Center/Rose Quarter area. There are a bunch of hotels over there, from a Motel 6 to a Crowne Plaza and in between. You can take the free MAX train right downtown from this area. It's a little bit of a walk from MAX stops downtown directly to the Blues Festival (south part of the park) but you could also connect to the Portland Streetcar to get you closer.

I ditto what Andrew recommends. I was at Blues Festival this year too- stayed across the river ( but we had a friends condo to stay at) We took the Max from the Double Tree Hotel and it was a piece of cake- we did have to walk a few blocks to the festival entrance but it was not a big deal.

Crowne Plaza is a nice place to stay - not sure about rates at the Double Tree but its not far from the max stop

Our problem is that we don't travel light. They might not like us on the Max with lawn chairs, ice chest, blankets etc.

we had lawn chairs on the max- and there were people on with large baby strollers - so dont think that would be a problem- however I can see carrying it all down to the waterfront could be-

maybe you will just have to downsize.

Given that the Red line MAX takes people with luggage to the airport, I don't think anyone will have a problem with ice chests, lawn chairs, etc. as long as you aren't blocking the aisle. (Don't think of traveling into downtown at rush hour weekdays with that stuff though; people are packed like sardines on the MAX trains then.) If it's too inconvenient to take that stuff on the MAX, just continue to pay a premium for a hotel at the waterfront.

When we rode the max on the way home from the blues festival- there was a family with a huge baby stroller who totally blocked the aisle- people weren't happy about it- but nothing happened except a few ugly stares- so guess its OK -