Winter Staycation Portland: Downtown Hotels You Need to Know About
Finding Your Home Away From Home in Downtown Portland
With lower airfares, seasonal hotel prices, and fewer crowds, winter is an ideal time to plan a vacation. But between the hustle of the holidays and work priorities, it can be difficult to plan a relaxing escape.
Fortunately for us Portlanders, we have all the makings of a great vacation right here in our own city. In fact, you can plan the perfect winter staycation here in Portland – all without ever leaving downtown.
Just wandering around downtown, you can experience fine dining, source custom-made goods, try local beer, sample bites at the local market, and peruse the city’s finest art. All that’s left is for you to do is to pick the perfect hotel! Here are a few of our favorite downtown Portland accommodations you need to know about – we think you’ll have a great stay at any of them.
Urban Luxe at The Sentinel
For the high-class traveler, look no further than The Sentinel. A beautiful Italian Renaissance building complete with Corinthian columns, this historic hotel has seen nearly a century of guests, including Gus Van Sant, who filmed My Own Private Idaho in the building.
With generously sized rooms and multiple travel awards (including the #1 Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Award Ranking in Top Hotels in America's Pacific Northwest), the Sentinel is luxury at its finest. Yet true to Portland charm, the Sentinel embraces Portland’s alternative spirit, too.
Hotel amenities include Salt & Straw gourmet ice cream, and the rooftops are homes to beehives for BeeLocal, a local company that produces artisanal honey. And while there’s much to love about this stunning hotel, our favorite detail is the “room at the end of the hall,” the perfect secret library that exudes Portland’s spirit.
Minimalist Ambiance at the Ace Hotel
For the mid-century modern and minimalist traveler, the Ace Hotel is the perfect downtown Portland spot. Located in the West End, the Ace takes up space in the old Clyde Hotel. Each room is decorated with Pendleton wool blankets, custom wood furnishings, and understated, rustic elegance.
Adjacent to the hotel, you’ll find Clyde Common (serving up mouth-watering eats), and Stumptown Coffee (locally roasted beans). And with Powell’s Books and the Pearl District mere blocks away, the Ace Hotel is the perfect site for a hipster getaway in your own city.
Insider tip: be sure to visit Room 201, a little breakfast nook on the second floor that serves locally sourced and homemade morning snacks. Just be sure you get there before they’re out of biscuits.
Historical Lodgings at The Society Hotel
For those who are fascinated by Portland’s ever-unfolding history, The Society Hotel offers a unique foray into the city’s past. Originally a 19th century lodging house for sailors and once known as The Mariner’s Home, The Society Hotel carries a long history within its doors.
Through decades of operation as a sailors’ boarding house and then a hospital (the patient register has names including William Ladd to Asa Lovejoy), and then a social hall for the Chinese American Citizen Alliance, The Society Hotel has witnessed much of Portland’s evolution.
Today, the hotel is comprised of restored original rooms, in addition to 12 larger suites and a bunk room. The Society Hotel prides itself on holding a place for everyone, “from the comfortable cafe in [their] lobby to the open-air deck on [their] rooftop, there’s a place for you at The Society Hotel.” An added bonus? Accommodations start at a mere $37 a night.
Experience the Perfect Staycation in Portland
Downtown Portland has hotels to accommodate a wide range of styles and budgets. Whether you adore chic minimal decor, or you prefer to bask in modern boutique luxury, start planning your Portland staycation today – you won’t be disappointed with the downtown hotel experience!