The Francis

The room had comfortable, clean beds and nicely scented, good-quality products, and they even had hot chocolate available. The Francis Hotel feels welcoming from the moment you come in, with a warm, cozy interior and lots of local character. The staff were friendly, and for the price, it was a really good place to stay.

Magdelena was personable and professional when I spoke with the staff before our Portland weekend, and everyone was very accommodating once we arrived. The Francis seemed like the kind of boutique hotel we wanted, instead of the usual Marriott-style place I knew from 40 years on the road. Still, our first-floor Bramhall suite left us a bit underwhelmed. It was clean, with a modern tiled bathroom that looked from the 2020’s, but the rest of the room felt like 1987. There was no closet, and it had a king platform bed. I'd suggest looking at the other room types and styles.

We had a quiet night and the staff were so friendly. The hotel itself is beautiful, and our room was cute and cozy. We enjoyed the location, with dinner at the restaurant next door and breakfast at the spot across the street. A lovely one-night stay, and we'd come back.

The parking lot, which costs extra, needed better sanding. It was really icy that weekend. We had no hot water the first night or morning, and although it was eventually fixed, we only managed one shower all weekend. We stayed with our dog, and the dog fee itself seemed normal, but other dog-friendly places at least left a bowl, treats, and a toy. We also paid an extra $30 per night for a “customized experience” that was supposed to include at least a welcome cocktail, but none arrived. The cafe vouchers they gave us were no use because the cafe wasn't taking orders while we were there. When I raised all this, I was told the extra $30 times two covered coffee in the room, shampoo, and soap. There was no cream or half and half for the coffee, and had I known there'd be a charge for those items, I'd have brought my own. I only used the soap, since I didn't get to shower much. They eventually promised me a “gift card,” but gave me credit toward a future stay instead. I won't be coming back.