Hotel Grand Stark

The room felt warm and the bed was comfy, and that morning coffee was delicious. Check-in was quick, and the service was great. We could hear city noise through the windows, though. We’d definitely stay again.

The staff are pleasant, the rates are usually good, and it’s handy to have so many good places to eat nearby. But this doesn’t feel like a four-star stay to me, despite the hotel’s attempt at a luxury boutique image. Street noise is so loud I keep wondering if a window is open. The thermostat never works, and this visit the shower wouldn’t get hot and the shower gel was empty. The room fridge is crammed with minibar items, which I’ve been fraudulently charged for, and which makes it unusable. There are other reviews saying the same. I don’t know how this is considered a four-star hotel.

I keep coming back whenever I’m in town, and I look forward to it. The rooms are compact but use the space smartly, and the design is great. Staff are always friendly, and the bar is a good one. There are lots of great restaurants and bars within walking distance, and the central location makes it easy to get to popular neighborhoods. There are many homeless people outside, but that’s more a Portland problem than a hotel problem.

The staff were delightful and did their best to help. It’s a shame, because the hotel has a lot of potential. The layout of the small rooms is strange. The sink is across the room from the bathroom, and to get under the shower head you have to press yourself against the handle. The overhead heater is passable, but the rooms are drafty, loud, and sirens from police cars woke me late into the night. The location is a serious drawback. There’s a homeless shelter directly across the street, with open crack use less than 20 feet from the entrance. People carrying weapons gather outside the shelter and at the corner store. They weren’t openly aggressive, and I didn’t necessarily feel unsafe, but it’s not what you want around your hotel.