The Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Portland

Janet made our celebration at the Departure feel even more special. We went with friends just after their wedding ceremony, since they were staying at the hotel. Our server knew the menu well and was a lot of fun. At the end she brought a champagne toast for the newlyweds, plus a delicious non-alcoholic drink for the two of us who don't drink. I loved that she noticed, and we really appreciated the thoughtful service. The food was good, too.

We’d had three wonderful nights at The Nines Hotel, and I was ready to give it five stars. Then on the last morning I found charges for things we hadn’t received, and my rating dropped to four. It’s not about the money. Having to inspect the bill every day to make sure you aren’t being charged incorrectly makes it hard to relax or trust the hotel. They also put a charge and a credit on my bill that weren’t mine, which only made the final account more confusing. I wanted a lovely last day, not to go line by line with the front desk. There were several snack charges because we’d touched the bags. I’d marked the snacks so no one but me would touch them, and no one did. The three items I lifted to see what they were didn’t show up on the bill, but other items did. That makes the explanation about an automatic sensor sound questionable. If the system doesn’t work properly, it shouldn’t automatically charge guests. The snacks are in dark, custom bags with the hotel logo, so you have to lift them to see what’s inside. What’s the point of a sensor if you can’t check them? On vacation, I don’t want to argue about whether I bought something or worry that a hotel might charge me for items I didn’t take.

The beds were so comfortable, and we had a delicious dinner at the Urban Farmer Steakhouse. We tried oysters, steak, beet salad, mashed potatoes, and gelato, and every dish was great. Our quick stay at the Nines after Thanksgiving was amazing, from the quality of the rooms and friendly, accommodating staff to the beautiful Christmas decorations and phenomenal food. We also found a special welcome setup in our room. A big thank you to Amina and Juan for the handwritten card. I can’t wait to return!

The overnight bellman really stood out. We had an early flight, and at 3:30 a.m. my husband went to get the car while I waited. The bellman looked things up on his computer to help us and showed real concern. When another guest was upset about an incorrect Uber Eats order, he stayed calm and professional through the whole situation. He seems to go above and beyond for guests. We enjoyed our stay and will be back. The Nines is well placed by Pioneer Square, with an easy walk downtown or across the river to the Eastside. Staff were helpful and quick to respond, and our room was clean and spacious, with a coffee maker and bottled water. At The Urban Farmer, we had the daily special, pork shank hash. It was flavorful, generously portioned, and reasonably priced. Our friendly server also gave us tips on things to do in Portland.