OR Portland Inn at the Convention Center Downtown

[Colfax]

This is the former Best Western across the street from Portland's Convention Center. I won it with a bid of $38 on a night when the hotel's regular rate was $79. This isn't a fancy new hotel (built in 1964 according to the hotel website). The elevator creaks, the hallway carpet is faded, the furnishings are dated. Still it's a good value at the price, reasonably clean and safe. Free offstreet parking is a big plus and the MAX light rail stops across the street from the hotel. You can ride the rail into Downtown for free since the hotel is within MAX's "Fareless Square".

The hotel has 97 rooms on five stories. Two elevators and interior corridors. All rooms have 1 king or 2 queen beds. Mattress was good, not too hard or soft. Window heating unit worked and good hot water in bathroom. 25 inch TV with 70 cable channels. Pets allowed at $10 per night. Local calls free. Free wireless Internet but it didn't work in my room and the front desk advised that Internet works better in the north facing rooms. I faced south. No breakfast provided and the lobby level restaurant is closed. There are coffee machines in the rooms and Starbucks, Dennys, Burgerville, and Red Robin within 2 block walk. Hotel guests get 10% off at the restaurant in the Red Lion Hotel across the street.

The quality of your stay depends somewhat on whether you get a room facing north or south. The light rail passes directly beneath the north facing rooms, probably every 15 minutes or more during peak hours. I didn't stay on that side so don't know how loud it actually is, but I overheard other guests complain to each other about the train noise. Also the rooms on the north side don't have as good a view. My south facing room on the 4th floor had three ceiling to floor windows with a panoramic view of the convention center spires, Downtown Portland across the river, the West Hills and east side industrial district. Maybe to make up for the train noise and inferior views those north facing rooms get the better Internet connection.

As a Priceline guest I expected to get a room overlooking the train and I politely requested a room facing south if that was possible. The desk manager said I'd already been preassigned to a two-bed south facing room with a good view on the 4th floor. So no Priceline attitude. (Of course on nights when the hotel is busier I don't expect a preferred room on a Priceline rate.) All of the hotel personnel I've met have been friendly, accomodating, and seemed well versed in helping visitors use the light rail.

Only problem I encountered at the hotel is that the sliding picture window in my room is off its tracks and won't open. Couldn't get fresh air in the room except by running the wall mounted fan. Overall I thought it was a pretty decent budget hotel---as long as I'm facing south.