The Kenton Hotel

After driving six hours, we arrived after dark and couldn't even see the building. It was black with no lights. We were hoping to get a good night's sleep, but there was nobody there to let us into our room. We had to go to another hotel and lost our money on this booking. There was a strip club down the street, and we had to haul our luggage up a long staircase to the second floor. We also had no internet connection for days, though we didn't mind since we were on vacation. Terrible experience. Run.

Booked through Airbnb and got a great deal, just right for my week-long stay. There's no staff, but the place has all the privacy you could want. It's in Kenton, a really charming neighborhood.

I had a fabulous time here for the Freedom to Thrive 2023 Abolitionist convening. The room was clean, spacious, and comfortable. I liked the wall murals and outdoor hangout areas, and the air conditioner was strong. I also really liked having three big pillows. I'd suggest softer sheets and an extra blanket.

The room was clean and comfortable, and the AC worked well. It did the job as a base while we explored Portland, though if I had the choice again, I'd probably book an Airbnb. The marketing gave me a different impression of the place. The website talks about “deep roots in the community” and shows a courtyard full of people, but when we arrived it was quiet and lifeless. There wasn't any hotel staff on site. I was hoping someone at a front desk could tell us about the neighborhood or answer questions, and even just knowing a staff member was somewhere on the property would've been nice. We got one thin blanket and a sheet, which was fine in the hot weather. The trash can was tiny and already half full when we arrived, so we ran out of room for rubbish pretty quickly.