First let me say I got this hotel for a very cheap rate of $41.00 per night. I still feel like I got a bit ripped when I compare my bid with others who got it for a little less. Why do I say that? Well this hotel clearly discriminates against Priceline travellers and assigns the smallest and least desirable rooms. My room had one queen bed, a window that would not open, and a shower without a bath tub. It was one of the smallest rooms I have ever seen. When I called the desk to see if I could switch rooms, she apologized and said "Your reserved your room through Priceline and your received our standard room. I get in trouble if I move you to a larger room." My Hilton Honors card did not help to get to a larger room. It may have helped to get me my room on the ninth floor which had a decent view of downtown Portland. So except for the size of the room, it wasn't so bad for one traveller. It would be tight with two people. My room was 937. If you are able to squeeze a room on the even side, they have balconies which would make the room seen larger but you face a different direction and may hear public transportation and street noise. My room was pretty quiet. The queen bed was comfortable with four pillows. The desk chair and desk were nicely finished and the television had many cable channels. It was about 27 inches. The carpets were clean and the decor very standard. I did need to put a towel underneath the door to block out light and noise since there was a big gap that was annoying. With that being said, the hotel is also outside of center city area although it is part of Priceline downtown zone. The 4 star hotels are in and around dowtown. Fortunately, it was a quick and free ride by public transportation (The MAX) to center city. The MAX is located right outside the hotel and is very, very convenient to the airport and downtown. No need to rent a car if you are coming as a tourist. It cost $1.70 each way to the airport and takes about 20-25 minutes. Trains, busses and trolleys can take you almost anywhere around Portland. Taxi's are available too which helped me since the MAX does not run all night. There is a mall across the way and restaurants in the area, but the neighborhood did not seem very safe at night. The streets were basically deserted when I would come back from downtown on the MAX. This hotel is a convention hotel and has a nice size lobby. It also has a bunch of restaurants, a bar, and tons of meeting space. They have a nice lobby that is well maintained. The gym has aerobic equipment and weights. There is also a computer room that one can use for free. They even allow you to print for no cost. This makes this hotel clearly deserving of its 3* rating. It's the standard rooms that don't cut it since the windows don't open, they only provide a shower, and they are as small as a Motel 6 rooms. So, I had a small room, but I did get a high floor with a decent view. Except for the small room and not really being in downtown, well, overall the Doubletree Lloyd Center is a good value. I was just glad I was traveling alone. Portland, in itself, is also a great city. Downtown is divided into many different areas that are interesting and historic. There are many neat neighborhoods to explore, unusal public art, tons of parks that are interactive, and lots of history. Getting outside the city can be exciting as well. If you have the time, take a day to do an eco tour along the scenic highway, eventually to Mt. Hood, that will take you past amazing waterfalls, a fascinating dam with a salmon rope, and to one of the most picturesque mountain tops I have ever seen. Portland also has amazing gardens that are worthy of a visit. The Rose Garden gives you a great view of downtown and some fanatastic smells as well as beautiful roses. The Japanese Garden is really remarkable as well as peaceful.The Chinese Garden brought me a sense of a respect for out enviroment and our culture. My stay could have been better and I would be disappointed if I got the Doubletree again but getting this property, especially if you are a single traveler, is not too bad.
