Portland Oregon - need hotel help
 

Hello, I will need a hotel room for June 25-27 Fri and Sat nights. So far I have a list of 7 hotels, not sure which one to choose. I am a budget traveler, so first of all I looked at the prices. Then, being not good at walking, I chose the ones which, I think, are close to MAX. Also I'd like to have a restaurant in the same building, in case I'm tired and don't want to go far for dinner.

Please tell me if the area is safe, especially at night, is it deserted on weekends? And if any of these hotels are on a hill? I am an older woman travelling alone.

In no particular order:
Four points Sheraton, Morrison @Front
Marriott, Broadway @Washington
Governor, 10th Ave @Alder
Doubletree, Multnomah @9th Ave
La Quinta, Multnomah @ MLK
Cortyard by Marriott, Wasco @MLK
Red Lion, Grand @Holladay

And I want to thank Jimshep for posting this web address: travelportalnd.com, I used it as a base for my search, and it looks I can get good rates for the above hotels ranging $69-$119.

FainaAgain:

Have you considered the lovey and reasonable B&B's in Portland?

Just wondering...

Happy Planning,
Oaktown Traveler

We stayed at the Four Points Sheraton a couple years ago and liked it. It's slightly, just slightly, less central than most other downtown hotels, but he MAX stops right outside and it's really only a couple blocks off center. No safety concerns. Don't remember any hills nearby.

However, I strongly suggest you try Priceline for you hotel in Portland. Last year, we were able to get a 4-star (5th Ave Suites) for $54/night over Memorial Day Weekend. As long as you limit your choices to 4-starts in downtown, you can't go wrong. Check out biddingfortravel.com if you're unfamiliar with Priceline. Good luck.

Oaktown: never stayed at a B&B, so in my mind it's a shared bathroom, and maybe not TV and no phone in the room.

Brian: thank you for Sheraton description! As for Priceline... still hesitant to use as I won't know the location in advance.

The Doubletree, La Quinta, Courtyard by Marriott, and Red Lion are all across the river from the downtown core.

Location-wise, I'd pick the Marriott (Broadway & Wash.) as best. As Brian wrote, MAX runs right by the Four Points, so while it has less character than the Governor, it might work better for you. All three are "safe" with restaurants either in the hotel or within a couple minute's walk.

Topping... my workday is almost over, see you all tomorrow!

Maybe I should be more clear. I would narrow the choice to the Marriott (Broadway & Wash.), Governor, or Four Points Sheraton. The others are all across the river from the downtown core, so, while maybe convenient to MAX, are not convenient to much of anything else.

Of the Marriott, Governor, and Sheraton, the Marriott's location is best; it's close to MAX and in the center of the downtown core. I don't know if it has a restaurant on-site, but there are several good options within a few short city blocks.

The Sheraton is across the street from Waterfront Park, a popular area for after dinner strolls along the river. It's closer to the fringe of the downtown core, so a little longer walk to shopping and dining options. But we're only talking a few blocks.

The Governor is an historic hotel with a lot of character, and the added bonus of a good restaurant on premises. I think you'd like this place best, but you might have to walk a block or two to get to MAX. It's also towards the fringe of the core, but Portland's core is pretty small. The Governor is only 4-5 (100 yard) blocks from the Marriott.

All three are in safe areas, and none are on a hill. At that time of year, it's not dark until almost 10:00pm, and even after that, I think there will be enough activity that you would be comfortable walking the area streets.

FainaAgain, I'd rethink your hesitation of PL. I just used it to get the Benson for $51 a night for 4 nights. Really good location in downtown.

I've stayed at the DoubleTree a few times and didn't care for the area or location without car or cabbing.

I've stayed at the Marriott, the Doubletree and the Courtyard by Marriott, all of which are nice hotels. The Doubletree has a resturant and sandwich/coffee bar and is near to the light rail.

I feel that Portland is relatively safe at night. I've had no problems walking a few blocks to my hotel after leaving the Rose Quarter.

If you're intrested in a hotel that has a resurant, you may be intrested in the Embassy Suites. A full breakfast is included in the room price and includes pancakes, omlets etc.

Thank you, everybody, I'll try to search more during the weekend to see the prices on all of them... Yes, I understand it's better to be in the downtown, but with the price difference of up to $40 a night I need more time to think it all over.

Go look at biddingfortravel.com - all but one of the recent 4-star hits on Priceline as reported on BFT have been for the Benson; none have been over $70. All of the 4-stars listed on BFT as having been hit on PL are on the downtown side of the river; the other places you mentioned (east side) are all 3-stars or below if they've come up on PL at all. Thus if you limit your bidding to 4 stars, you'll probably get something. Any of the downtown 4-stars are well located and in safe, acceptable areas. Some are superb places.

Do this: book a reservation at a place that you can cancel out of. Then give Priceline a try (read up first at BFT on how to be effective.) Start low (in the $40s) and if you don't get anything, you have plenty of time to wait 72 hours before trying again. Do NOT change your bid "down" to a 3-star or below, as that would almost certainly send you across the river right away. If nothing hits, you've still got your booked room. If it does, just cancel and spend the savings on a nice meal or three.

I can certainly understand your reservations re: Priceline due to not knowing exactly where your hotel will be located. Usually, I would not use it myself for this same reason.

However, I made an exception because I was able to identify the location of all the 4-star, downtown hotels that had been participating in Priceline. After mapping each of these, I determined that I would be happy at any of them (there were only about 5 or 6 at that time).

If you're willing to do a little research on Biddingfortravel (where you'll find a historical account of all the 4-stars used) and willing to take a very, very, very small risk that another 4-star just happens to start participating in Priceline, you can have a great hotel room at an unbeatable price.

I can just about promise that you'll be happier and better located at a Priceline 4-star downtown than you will at the Four Points. If you have a car to park, however, it's much cheaper at the Four Points. Budget about $20 a day at the nicer hotels. Good luck.

I agree with the Priceline comments. If you bid on a 4* in their Downtown section, you know reasonably well where you will be located. We also use biddingfortravel.com to figure out (likely) what hotel will be taking our bid and for what price--this site greatly eased our anxieties the first time we used Priceline, as it does help you gauge the likely bidtakers.

Got our room at The Benson this weekend (3/13/04 Saturday night) for $51, but called before arrival and asked for upgrade. Paid $40 more for a King Mini Suite, which ended being a stellar corner room on the 4th floor. GORGEOUS! I needed a rollaway for my son ($10 extra) and they had it set up in the room waiting for us upon arrival. $22 for valet parking.

Superb room, I couldn't get a regular rate off their website (glitchwise) but the suites seem to be going for well over $200 a night in packages and we paid less than $100. We saw lots of the standard rooms being cleaned and they are VERY, VERY, VERY small. If you need or like extra space, and you stay at the Benson, I highly recommend the upgrade. The bathroom was still very tiny, even in the suite (it being an old hotel) but it was well cared for and frankly, we weren't in the bathroom that much...

As for a central location, you can't beat the Benson or any of the 4* in the downtown core. (BTW, we used Priceline last year at this time and got a great room at the 5th Avenue Suites for $46 and got the King Suite upgrade for $40 as well.) Good luck, Portland is a wonderful city, and within your budget you won't go wrong with the great 4*s downtown if you research at biddingfortravel and then use Priceline!!

FA:

Been occupied...

The B& B's have private baths and phone, tv if you want.

We stayed at a lovely place called The Georgian House. They should have a website.

Have fun whatever you do!

Oaktown Traveler