Crowne Plaza Portland Downtown Convention Center by IHG

The staff were helpful and really friendly, and the stay felt comfortable, almost like being at home. The crown plaza is in a fantastic spot, with lots of Portland places worth seeing just down the street. I’d recommend it to anyone.

There are a few decent amenities, including plenty of outlets and USB ports, a decent gym, and an okay pool. The Downtown Portland location is also decent. But I paid about $500 for two nights in a two queen room over Friday and Saturday, then another $27 a night for parking. I compared prices with other Downtown Portland hotels afterward and still don’t know why I chose this one, since it was about 20% more than the others nearby. The breakfast situation was confusing. There’s no free breakfast included, and the restaurant doesn’t offer a free breakfast buffet. The elevators list a la carte items, including a $6 muffin and $6 for 8 oz of regular coffee. Service and upkeep were poor. I called room service about the shower and waited over 30 minutes, but no one came. The thermostat would reset itself to 70 degrees after a few seconds, the air vent was broken, and the key card reader only worked after several tries. The beds were unusually high and awkward to get in and out of. The price didn’t match the room condition or service.

The breakfast was a frustrating letdown. We ordered a couple of eggs and a bowl of fruit, then waited 30 minutes. When people who arrived after us got their food first, we left because we needed to get on the road. The restaurant was understaffed, but the service felt unprofessional and had no urgency. For regular guests, there should be a buffet or an option to upgrade to included breakfast. The room itself was clean and nice, with a great view of the cool homeless encampment out back. The bathroom was clean and inviting, and I was pleasantly surprised by the Apotheke toiletries. Front desk service was nice and welcoming. My girlfriend and I came for an event at Moda, and the location was great for walking to Moda and other nearby spots. Still, once you add the price and dining experience, it didn’t feel worth it. You can eat elsewhere, sure, but then it felt like an overpriced motel 6 without breakfast.

I’ve stayed here three times and it’s become one of my go tos in this part of Portland. The location works well for Moda Center events and the Convention Center, both an easy walk away. The MAX is a short walk, the streetcar is right beside the hotel, and there are plenty of nearby restaurants, including fast food for a quick or cheaper meal. The outside may look old, but the interior is cared for and the rooms seem renovated, with a clean, modern feel and enough room to spread out. The beds are comfortable, the bathroom was fine, and the fridge and microwave are useful. TV and wifi worked well, including the HDMI connection on the TV. Parking was easy and fairly priced for me. You park in a space and leave the pass on your dash after checking in. I’ve heard the lots can fill up, though I didn’t run into that. It’s easy to get to and from I-5. The neighborhood may not be the nicest, but I’ve never felt unsafe walking around. It gets the basics right and seems competitively priced.