Finding a Hotel in Portland
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Portland, OR, Oregon.
Eclectic, charming and cultured—those are just a few of the words travelers consistently use to describe Portland. Situated just south of the Oregon-Washington border on both sides of the Willamette River, this friendly city—dubbed the City of Roses—offers a unique balance between outdoor adventures and big-city culture. Diverse neighborhoods give rise to plenty of local shops, restaurants, bars and attractions, making Portland a popular place among visitors from around the globe and its visitors have several accommodation options.
As with all cities, travelers to Portland must decide if they’d prefer to stay in the center of the action in the heart of the city or venture out into the neighborhoods and suburbs where there might not be as much going on but the experience is more authentic and less touristy. Luckily, hotels and motels abound in all areas of this charismatic city.
DOWNTOWN
Portland’s downtown core is located on the west side of the Willamette River and south of Burnside Street. Downtown is a hub for all the things in Portland that visitors seek—cultural attractions, historical sites, shopping, nightlife and restaurants. And at the center of this tourism hub is the on Broadway and Morrison streets. Known as both Portland’s town square and its living room, this popular event spot attracts around 26,000 visitors a day so it is not surprising that so many people choose stay near here.
Luckily, tourists will have no trouble finding a hotel nearby. And those who are into the charm and grandeur of historic sites are especially fortunate—the Governor Hotel is a grand heritage hotel located only a few blocks away. The Hotel Vintage Plaza, also close, first opened in 1894 and now operates as a restored boutique hotel. Also nearby is the Hotel Monaco, which was built in 1912 as a department store and now offers lush and modern accommodations.
Of course, such grandeur often comes at a price. For those who want to stay near the square and heart of things but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it, the Ace Hotel on Southwest Stark Street is a budget-friendly option that still offers modern accommodations. Still, there’s more to downtown than the Courthouse Square. Heading south along Broadway will take visitors to the cultural hub of Portland, where galleries and museums line the streets, and farther west towards the river is where tourists will find a room with a view, near the stunning Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
PEARL DISTRICT
The Pearl District is located north of downtown near the waterfront and includes Portland’s Chinatown. Supposedly named because its artistic-yet-grungy presence represents a gleaming pearl within a brittle shell, the area is considered a true gem among Portland’s neighborhoods. Dubbed Portland’s arts district, it’s known for trendy shopping, eclectic brewpubs and exciting nightlife as well as for the world-famous Portland Classical Chinese Garden.
With its great features and close proximity to the rest of the city, the Pearl District is a great place to stay. Nearby hotels include the Benson Hotel, a grand and lavish landmark that opened in 1913, and the Mark Spencer, an arty and elegant 1904 hotel in the heart of the theater district.
NORTH PORTLAND
Visitors looking for something less hectic but just as interesting can consider areas like Northwest Portland and Nob Hill, which are known for being fashionable and trendy, and where fancy wine bars and boutiques are scattered between grand Victorian houses on windy streets. Nature dominates the area too—North Portland is covered in greenspace like the Washington Garden, the Japanese Garden and the International Rose Garden.
There are also plenty of accommodation options here. Of particular interest is the Inn at Northrup Station, a colorful and energetic remodeled 1970s property that tries to capture the trendy energy of the neighborhood. Farther south is Hotel deLuxe, a historic continental-style boutique hotel that is a favorite among travelers.
EAST PORTLAND
Obviously there is more to Portland than what’s west of the river. East Portland, on the other side of the Willamette, offers a more diverse and laid-back culture with a distinctly hip vibe. The Irvington area in particular has an alternative feel to it, while Hawthorne Boulevard is the hub of university culture with one-of-a-kind music shops, clothing stores and pubs. South is the Sellwood Antiques District, which is a great place to find a good deal on a piece of history. A variety of chain hotels and motels can be found in East Portland, but for those looking for a unique place to stay in the middle of the action, the trendy and minimalist Jupiter Hotel is an affordable and popular place to rest up.
Northeast Portland is home to an area known as the Rose Quarter, which lies along the river and is known for its bumping nightlife and regular sporting events. Big-name chain hotels dominate the landscape here, making it an economical place to stay that is still not too far from downtown and the trendy neighborhoods of East Portland.
OTHER AREAS
For those that don’t need to be part of the inner-city action, there are plenty of other areas in Portland that offer accommodations at a better price than one will find downtown. Most popular, of course, is the area around the Portland International Airport, where chains like Sheraton, Embassy Suites and Radisson have hotels that are a mere stone’s throw from the terminals. For an even better deal, visitors can head south on Northeast 82nd Avenue for a selection of budget-friendly hotels that are still only a short drive from the airport.
North Harbour is another area that is close to both the airport and the Vancouver, WA border. Several budget hotels operate in the area, and local attractions include the historic Fort Vancouver and the Jantzen Beach Shopping Mall. The nearby neighborhood of Overlook is a mecca for wallet-friendly motels that are conveniently located just off of Highway 5.
In South Portland, areas like Markham provide a mix of budget motels and chain hotels, while the South Waterfront District near Marquam Nature Park has a few luxury accommodations, including the Avalon Hotel and Spa, a lavish property located on the riverfront.
As with all cities, travelers to Portland must decide if they’d prefer to stay in the center of the action in the heart of the city or venture out into the neighborhoods and suburbs where there might not be as much going on but the experience is more authentic and less touristy. Luckily, hotels and motels abound in all areas of this charismatic city.
DOWNTOWN
Portland’s downtown core is located on the west side of the Willamette River and south of Burnside Street. Downtown is a hub for all the things in Portland that visitors seek—cultural attractions, historical sites, shopping, nightlife and restaurants. And at the center of this tourism hub is the on Broadway and Morrison streets. Known as both Portland’s town square and its living room, this popular event spot attracts around 26,000 visitors a day so it is not surprising that so many people choose stay near here.
Luckily, tourists will have no trouble finding a hotel nearby. And those who are into the charm and grandeur of historic sites are especially fortunate—the Governor Hotel is a grand heritage hotel located only a few blocks away. The Hotel Vintage Plaza, also close, first opened in 1894 and now operates as a restored boutique hotel. Also nearby is the Hotel Monaco, which was built in 1912 as a department store and now offers lush and modern accommodations.
Of course, such grandeur often comes at a price. For those who want to stay near the square and heart of things but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it, the Ace Hotel on Southwest Stark Street is a budget-friendly option that still offers modern accommodations. Still, there’s more to downtown than the Courthouse Square. Heading south along Broadway will take visitors to the cultural hub of Portland, where galleries and museums line the streets, and farther west towards the river is where tourists will find a room with a view, near the stunning Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
PEARL DISTRICT
The Pearl District is located north of downtown near the waterfront and includes Portland’s Chinatown. Supposedly named because its artistic-yet-grungy presence represents a gleaming pearl within a brittle shell, the area is considered a true gem among Portland’s neighborhoods. Dubbed Portland’s arts district, it’s known for trendy shopping, eclectic brewpubs and exciting nightlife as well as for the world-famous Portland Classical Chinese Garden.
With its great features and close proximity to the rest of the city, the Pearl District is a great place to stay. Nearby hotels include the Benson Hotel, a grand and lavish landmark that opened in 1913, and the Mark Spencer, an arty and elegant 1904 hotel in the heart of the theater district.
NORTH PORTLAND
Visitors looking for something less hectic but just as interesting can consider areas like Northwest Portland and Nob Hill, which are known for being fashionable and trendy, and where fancy wine bars and boutiques are scattered between grand Victorian houses on windy streets. Nature dominates the area too—North Portland is covered in greenspace like the Washington Garden, the Japanese Garden and the International Rose Garden.
There are also plenty of accommodation options here. Of particular interest is the Inn at Northrup Station, a colorful and energetic remodeled 1970s property that tries to capture the trendy energy of the neighborhood. Farther south is Hotel deLuxe, a historic continental-style boutique hotel that is a favorite among travelers.
EAST PORTLAND
Obviously there is more to Portland than what’s west of the river. East Portland, on the other side of the Willamette, offers a more diverse and laid-back culture with a distinctly hip vibe. The Irvington area in particular has an alternative feel to it, while Hawthorne Boulevard is the hub of university culture with one-of-a-kind music shops, clothing stores and pubs. South is the Sellwood Antiques District, which is a great place to find a good deal on a piece of history. A variety of chain hotels and motels can be found in East Portland, but for those looking for a unique place to stay in the middle of the action, the trendy and minimalist Jupiter Hotel is an affordable and popular place to rest up.
Northeast Portland is home to an area known as the Rose Quarter, which lies along the river and is known for its bumping nightlife and regular sporting events. Big-name chain hotels dominate the landscape here, making it an economical place to stay that is still not too far from downtown and the trendy neighborhoods of East Portland.
OTHER AREAS
For those that don’t need to be part of the inner-city action, there are plenty of other areas in Portland that offer accommodations at a better price than one will find downtown. Most popular, of course, is the area around the Portland International Airport, where chains like Sheraton, Embassy Suites and Radisson have hotels that are a mere stone’s throw from the terminals. For an even better deal, visitors can head south on Northeast 82nd Avenue for a selection of budget-friendly hotels that are still only a short drive from the airport.
North Harbour is another area that is close to both the airport and the Vancouver, WA border. Several budget hotels operate in the area, and local attractions include the historic Fort Vancouver and the Jantzen Beach Shopping Mall. The nearby neighborhood of Overlook is a mecca for wallet-friendly motels that are conveniently located just off of Highway 5.
In South Portland, areas like Markham provide a mix of budget motels and chain hotels, while the South Waterfront District near Marquam Nature Park has a few luxury accommodations, including the Avalon Hotel and Spa, a lavish property located on the riverfront.
Holiday Inn Express Portland NW Downtown
Located in the historic Nob Hill District and Northwest Industrial area!
