Anyone have any experience with the Benson Hotel in Portland? Pros/Cons? Best room/suit? Tips on getting a good deal?
The Benson is a very nice, classic hotel, decently located in downtown Portland. Last time we stayed there, I got a deal on Hotwire. You can generally figure out what “hot rate” hotel you are going to get. Don’t know when you’re going, but right now Hotwire has some really cheap deals for 4-4.5 star hotels in Portland…no doubt they’d all be good.
The Benson is old world in a quirky modern city. Years ago it was the thing for mom’s to take their daughters to brunch there. H and I spent an anniversary early on at the Benson.
Portland is just beginning to build many new hotels. The Heathman is also downtown, old world, and both are great locations.
The Nines is cutting edge and $$$$. Many we know stay at the Modern — clean and basic. Young folks like the hotel attached to Clyde’s Commons. The Governor was where D and SIL stayed and had their rehearsal party.
PM if you want local information.
Thanks @busdriver11 and @oregon101 ! The Benson sounds like just the sort of place I was looking for. I love old funky hotels! We won’t be there until mid October, yes I’m a planner! This is part of our epic train trip I’ll start posting about soon!
The Benson is NOT funky --it is elegant. Old World. Nice.
Happy you are visiting and hope you love your trip.
Yes, the homeless are a huge issue. If you want to help on your visit know that
the ROOTS magazine is $1 and you can give more. They write the articles, buy the newspapers, sell for a controlled profit and most really do use the money for a roof over their head for the night. Otherwise, just walk away. The people selling them are on corners and in front of stores. The magazine itself is a good read! Should you give more they do keep the extra. I usually buy for $2.
@oregon101 ok maybe funky was a poor choice of words, I meant unique, not cookie cutter, different. After reading more about the Benson I found out you can request a “companion fish” in your room for your stay. That one is certainoy new to me!
LOL Forgot about that! Sweet!
Made reservations! At first I was excited that I could go through Rocket Miles for points and then bummed because they didn’t list the type room I wanted through their portal.
I’m very excited to dine at El Gauho - they have both bananas foster and cherries jubilee tableside they even “fluff” baked potatoes tableside (another new one for me!)
Now to think about packing - what’s the footware of choice in Fall in the PNW? I was thinking maybe Bogs or Hunter low cut boots. Any other suggestions for city walking and maybe easy, short trail walks?
If you go nowhere else the Japanese Garden is a must. Second is walking (from the Benson even) to the waterfront and go as far as you want South. Use GPS and when you reach construction it will tell you how to go around a couple blocks and pick up the walkway again. Lunch --Saturday Market. Cha Cha Cha. Pizzicato. Of course Pioneer Square that is called Portland’s living room and Powell’s.
@oregon101 Thanks for the ideas! Do you think the Japanese gardens will be open/worth visiting in mid October? Do know how much walking is involved?
I was thinking of taking a Segway tour or maybe the Pink Trolley tour. Due to my health I can’t walk bike for very long. We don’t drink so beer/wine tours aren’t an option and because of dietary constraints, food tours aren’t practical.
The highlight of our stay and the reason we’re stopping in Portland is for a tour of the Bullseye glass factory and a visit to their resource center. DH has traveled to Hillsboro for work and has been to some places in Portland including Powell’s so we’ll likely skip that this trip.
OH! I am going over there this weekend to buy some new glass. Do you work with glass? Their store is fun, be sure you walk upstairs to the displays.
Th Japanese Garden is perfect and gorgeous most Octobers. There is quite a history to it. We just went in January. Even in the rain (I believe they offer large umbrellas or at least used to) it is fabulous. Not a lot of walking if you take the little bus up the hill. There are some steps to some areas but you can see a lot without going up and down. In the fall you might get a great view of the city. Just do not expect the colors of the East coast or the MidWest. Totally depends on the weather each year. This past year was gorgeous…
Remember Powell’s is open until 11 or so. Fun place to go after dinner.
Yes! I do fused glass (both 90 and 96) I’m a hobbiest not a serious artist and teach workshop a few times a year to Scouts and homeschool groups focusing on the science as well as the art of glass. My middle son ds18 does torch work (boro) and youngest ds20 does some casting and sand carving (mostly float).
On this trip we’ll also be spending a few days at CMOG in NY and stopping at the Chihuly Garden and Glass is a museum Seatlatle (not a big Chihuly fan but it’s on my check list of glass must do’s) and the glass museum in Tacoma as well as the Imagine Museum is St. Pete FL - truely a hidden jem in the glass world.
You are so luckly to live so close to Bullseye!