Where to stay in Portland, Oregon?

[MaximumBarnes]

I may be going up there for 3 or 4 days in August and would like some lodging recommendations. I was looking for something in the 3-star or maybe a reasonably priced 4-star range. I'd like to stay down in the low $100 range, but I'd consider paying a little more if it was an exceptional value. I will also be without private transportation so the closer I could be to the main attractions and public transit, the better.

 

[next2naus]

can't help w/ lodging but I can recommend the 'Slow Bar' for drinks.

 

[CO Horn]

Do a search on Lloyd Center lodging. You can take the light rail from the Lloyd Center to the downtown district for free.

I would assume the hotel costs in this area would be cheaper than staying downtown.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

not sure exactly what you are looking for, but if you want something a bit more ecletic, try the Jupiter Hotel. It's right next to a great bar, the Doug Fir. Prices are in the low 100's and up. Short cab ride to Pearl District and Downtown.The Link

Jupiter Hotel is a mix of Austin Motel and Hotel San Jose, IMO.

 

[capitalcity]

Where to eat?
What to see?

We're going to stay in the Pearl District, but only for one night (whirlwind weekend).

 

[halsteadfrost]

My wife and I were there this past weekend, and stayed at De Luxe. It was great. Great room, great service, great location. And it ran us $135 per night. I don't know if this is a standard price, of if it was a slow weekend or what, but it was well worth it. That same trip we went to Seattle, and Whistler, and the hotel in Portland was our favorite and the cheapest.

A couple things we did:
Went to Multnomah Falls. We took the Historic Columbia River highway out there. It has great views of the river, and was a very nice drive. There is a 1-mile hike up to the top of the falls which I wouldn't recomend unless you just want to hike. It's pretty difficult to get up there, and the view isn't really that great. I would suggest at least hiking up to the birdge in the middle though.

We walked down 23rd street. It has a bunch of stores, and a couple of them try really hard to be like Austin (including a "Keep Portland Weird" T-shirt which was spotted at a Waterlooesque record store).

We checked out the Rose Garden and Japanese garden, which were both nice on a sunny afternoon. The rose garden is free while you have to pay for the Japanese garden.

We ate at Henry's 12th Street Tavern, and took advantage of their great after 9pm happy hour specials.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

ahh yes, also a very cool hotel

 

[YoLaDu]

McMenniman's converted an old elementary school into a hotel, restaurant, bar, movie theater. It was very cool. I want to say it was called Kennedy School, but i am not sure. It was not downtown but east of the river. nice neighborhood.