AC Hotel by Marriott Portland Downtown, OR

For someone like me who usually travels cheaply and stays in hostels, this was a pleasant change for a work conference. It felt a bit more upscale than I'm used to, and for a downtown Portland hotel the location was excellent. It seemed like they charged for every extra they could, which took away from the experience some, even though it was a pretty good deal overall. The rooms were comfortable, the bathrooms clean, and the staff were always friendly. The light switches were confusing, though. The gym was small but nice, and housekeeping seemed to come every other day. Breakfast was available, but a little pricey. There's also a lobby cafe with limited hours, and when it closes, the counter folds into a cool piece of art. The decor was nice, if a bit soulless. I liked the painting on the mirror by the elevators and the pencil sculpture downstairs. I enjoyed my stay, even if this isn't quite my usual travel style.

We had trouble getting a response when we texted valet to bring our car around. Once, they couldn't find the key in its proper place and told us they didn't have our car! Apart from that, the hotel is well located for restaurants, shopping and funky bars. We walked over to the Lan Su Chinese Garden and took a great tour. Try Luc Loc around the corner for delicious Vietnamese food.

The room was very quiet, even though mine was across from the elevator. I never heard it or doors closing. The shower was great, and the room was practical, with a huge bench for luggage. I wish every hotel had one, though it could use a light above it. The location was excellent for transit and places to eat, the price was good, the front door was opened for guests during the day, and the valet was very friendly. Breakfast tasted good and had a nice variety, but over four days only one day had something different. The woman serving was friendly, though she didn't seem concerned when plates were dirty or silverware was missing. Housekeeping came every other day unless requested, and guests couldn't be in the room while it was cleaned. Some supplies weren't consistently restocked. When I asked the front desk when the room would be cleaned, they said they weren't sure it would happen that day because they were busy. At checkout, the desk was unattended for about half an hour. One woman took some food items, waited, then left. We texted for our car, but still had to find someone, who explained valet was a third party and they'd try to get it. We were nearly late. We're lifetime Platinum members, but no upgrade was offered. A must-do is the place on the corner, where food comes out in seconds and it's fun.

I was there for a week. The location is great and all the staff were really friendly. The housekeeping arrangements were a little confusing, and the square toilet was weird and uncomfortable, though the room itself was nice. The food is what brings the score down. Breakfast selection wasn't great, and both the service and the setup were confusing. We ordered dessert to the room, but the lava cake came cold and underbaked. The tiramisu wasn't really what I'd call tiramisu. Drinks at the bar were good, and it's otherwise a good place to stay, but I wouldn't eat here.