Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, PDX, OR [Master Thread]
Jan 18, 2004, 3:10 pm
#1
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Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, PDX, OR [Master Thread]
I am considering a 2 day stay as part of an end of RTW mileage run. Does anyone have any comments about this hotel?
There is a rate of USD 85 on offer, however the Westin in town is only USD15 more. Is it much more hassle/time to get into town? I gather the Westin is a good property.
Muchos gracias for any comments!
There is a rate of USD 85 on offer, however the Westin in town is only USD15 more. Is it much more hassle/time to get into town? I gather the Westin is a good property.
Muchos gracias for any comments!
Jan 18, 2004, 3:19 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
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I have never stayed at the Sheraton PDX. It looks like a older building and would be a shame given the great transit system in PDX. $1.60 or $1.80 each way into town. Get off at the Pioneer Square stop. You will see the Westin with a green roof. About 19 stories tall. You can not miss it. Try Koji Osakaya if you like Japanese. On the way to the Westin. You gotta go into town. OK property. We've recently fallen for the Hilton. Excellent.
Jan 18, 2004, 4:23 pm
#3
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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Don't even consider staying at an airport hotel at PDX. It is far too nice a city for that! The Westin downtown is worth double the airport sheraton price (ignoring location). Lots to see in Portland (but you must know that, it isn't very convenient for a Oneworld RTW routing!).
Jan 18, 2004, 5:16 pm
#4
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Staying at the airport Sheraton if you aren't with car or just in transit is probably a poor choice. You can take the MAX light rail to downtown for 1.55 and about 35 minutes or take a cab for about $20. Downtown is very walker friendly and the entire downtown area is free for public transit (Fareless Square setup). Definitely pick the Westin if you are visiting town for a couple of days.
Jan 19, 2004, 10:46 am
#5
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Thanks for the input. I might push the boat out and go with the Westin in that case - and try to get a few hours in town.
number_6, for a change this is *A RTW. I am trying to fit a couple of short sectors on UA F to take advatnage of LH's very generous minimum 3750 miles. That should top up Senator for another 2 years! <IMG SRC="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif">
[This message has been edited by Swanhunter (edited Jan 19, 2004).]
number_6, for a change this is *A RTW. I am trying to fit a couple of short sectors on UA F to take advatnage of LH's very generous minimum 3750 miles. That should top up Senator for another 2 years! <IMG SRC="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif">
[This message has been edited by Swanhunter (edited Jan 19, 2004).]
Jan 19, 2004, 2:09 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Well, it's not *awful*, but it's very much run-of-the-mill-beige-airport-hotel. I last stayed there a few years ago, and while nothing was awful, nothing made it look any more like Portland and less like Des Moines.
I would definitely go into the city; it's about a 40 minute ride on the MAX train, leaving from just outside baggage claim. There's automated fare collection systems, and the train will leave you a very short walk to the Westin.
E
I would definitely go into the city; it's about a 40 minute ride on the MAX train, leaving from just outside baggage claim. There's automated fare collection systems, and the train will leave you a very short walk to the Westin.
E
Jan 19, 2004, 2:29 pm
#7
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I stayed there about four years ago. I hated the beds (mattresses hard and sheets wanting to run away). With the Max light rail, downtown is sooo accessible. Go with the Westin or Hilton. Good places to eat downtown with lots of half-off afternoon happy hour specials. Did six Idines in one afternoon in October.
Linda
Linda
Jan 19, 2004, 4:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2003
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I like the PDX airport hotel. It is less than 3 minutes to the airport and the shuttle is very frequent. Ideal if you have an early am flight.
The hotel has given me 100% upgrades to a suite. Excellent Plt recognition.
It is however not a good location for site-seeing Portland.
The Westin is nice but beware that they have over charged me Minibar fees each stay and also charged me $12.01 for a 30 second phone call. (for some reason - perhaps the thick walls - my ATT cell does not work in the Westin)
Room upgrades are limited at this hotel. The Sheraton has a club level with free evening and morning food/drinks. The Westin does not.
Overall the Westin Portland is the worst Westin I've ever stayed at - But its still a reasonable choice as a bad Westin is better than some other chains.
Taxi one way is less than $30 from PDX to the Westin.
The hotel has given me 100% upgrades to a suite. Excellent Plt recognition.
It is however not a good location for site-seeing Portland.
The Westin is nice but beware that they have over charged me Minibar fees each stay and also charged me $12.01 for a 30 second phone call. (for some reason - perhaps the thick walls - my ATT cell does not work in the Westin)
Room upgrades are limited at this hotel. The Sheraton has a club level with free evening and morning food/drinks. The Westin does not.
Overall the Westin Portland is the worst Westin I've ever stayed at - But its still a reasonable choice as a bad Westin is better than some other chains.
Taxi one way is less than $30 from PDX to the Westin.
Jan 19, 2004, 6:32 pm
#9
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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One of the charms of Portland is that it has some of the best food in the US. Within 2 blocks of the Westin are some fine restaurants (try Dragonfish, a truly amazing pan-asian cafe, see http://www.dragonfishcafe.com/pdx/index.php ), while within 10 blocks there are a dozen that would shine in Manhattan (at a fraction of the NY price). Cafe Azul, for example (if there were a Michelin rating for Mexican restaurants, this would be the only 3 star in North America -- and I know that includes Mexico City and Guadalajara). While free food in the Sheraton lounge is tempting, I'd save room for the local cuisine. And the corner rooms in the Westin are charming (I had always thought this was one of the best Westins in the US, but I've only stayed in a corner room, and it is a historic hotel so some of the rooms are bound to be undesirable).
Jan 20, 2004, 5:20 am
#10
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MAX Red Line specifics:
Time from PDX to downtown: ~38 minutes
Fare: $1.60 each way. Make sure you purchase an All Zone ticket. That gives you 90 minutes of horsing around time on weekedays; two hours on weekends. The ticket is good for transfers to Tri-Met buses and the City of Portland's Streetcar. Of course, much of downtown and inner N.E. is a fareless zone, but if you want to explore NW Portland you will have to pay the fare to get there.
Frequency: ~Every 15 minutes. Downtown --> PDX service begins at 4:13 a.m., with the last train leaving downtown at 10:42 p.m. weekdays; slightly later weekends. Trains from PDX --> downtown begin running at 5 a.m., with the last train departing at 11:35 p.m.
Other notes: If you use MAX with any regularity consider purchasing a pack of 10 All Zone tickets from the machine, for which you'll get a slight discount (about 10%). They don't expire. Don't forget to validate these tickets (the validator is right next to the ticket vending machine).
I live downtown, in the fareless area, and cabs are running just a hair under $30 between my house and PDX. I haven't used one since last summer, though, since online check-in began, because now I can leave the house an hour and 15 minutes before my flight and get to PDX in plenty of time. MAX is really a snap to use and oh-so convenient.
In terms of MAX's proximity to the Westin, it's two blocks away from either the Pioneer Square North stop or the Galleria stop at 10th and Morrison.
[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited Jan 20, 2004).]
Time from PDX to downtown: ~38 minutes
Fare: $1.60 each way. Make sure you purchase an All Zone ticket. That gives you 90 minutes of horsing around time on weekedays; two hours on weekends. The ticket is good for transfers to Tri-Met buses and the City of Portland's Streetcar. Of course, much of downtown and inner N.E. is a fareless zone, but if you want to explore NW Portland you will have to pay the fare to get there.
Frequency: ~Every 15 minutes. Downtown --> PDX service begins at 4:13 a.m., with the last train leaving downtown at 10:42 p.m. weekdays; slightly later weekends. Trains from PDX --> downtown begin running at 5 a.m., with the last train departing at 11:35 p.m.
Other notes: If you use MAX with any regularity consider purchasing a pack of 10 All Zone tickets from the machine, for which you'll get a slight discount (about 10%). They don't expire. Don't forget to validate these tickets (the validator is right next to the ticket vending machine).
I live downtown, in the fareless area, and cabs are running just a hair under $30 between my house and PDX. I haven't used one since last summer, though, since online check-in began, because now I can leave the house an hour and 15 minutes before my flight and get to PDX in plenty of time. MAX is really a snap to use and oh-so convenient.
In terms of MAX's proximity to the Westin, it's two blocks away from either the Pioneer Square North stop or the Galleria stop at 10th and Morrison.
[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited Jan 20, 2004).]
Jan 21, 2004, 3:14 pm
#11
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Cheers everyone - thanks for the very comprehensive info I now feel very comfortable about choosing the Westin, especially as the price differential is now only USD6. I think I will also take some time out to check out the Cafe Azul. Mexican seems one of the most abused national cusines in the world and it would be great to try something genuinely good!
Sadly, I am not flying in or out in F. It's a C class RTW - SQ from HKG to SFO and then BD from ORD to MAN with UA filling in the bits in between.
Sadly, I am not flying in or out in F. It's a C class RTW - SQ from HKG to SFO and then BD from ORD to MAN with UA filling in the bits in between.
Apr 2, 2004, 5:55 am
#12
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Well, owing to a change in schedule I ended up the Airport Sheraton so i could maximise sleeping time.
I was given an upgrade to a mini-suite on the Club floor (Room 415). Small lounge area with a sofa and T.V., standard bathroom and bedroom with the Sweet Sleeper. Good service from the staff too.
I was given an upgrade to a mini-suite on the Club floor (Room 415). Small lounge area with a sofa and T.V., standard bathroom and bedroom with the Sweet Sleeper. Good service from the staff too.
Jul 21, 2004, 4:43 pm
#13
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I am flying in late on a Friday night, arriving around 10:30. The next morning I plan to get a rental car and drive up the Columbia to Multnomah Falls. Is the airport hotel the better option in this scenario?
Also, is the Club Floor worth the extra $20?
Also, is the Club Floor worth the extra $20?
Last edited by TimMeineke; Jul 21, 2004 at 4:47 pm
Jul 21, 2004, 6:01 pm
#14
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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Given how late you arrive it isn't worth leaving the airport and the Sheraton is nice enough. The club floor gets you evening and morning food service, you would miss the evening spread but get breakfast the next morning (not really worth the cost).
Jul 21, 2006, 8:00 pm
#15
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I'll be staying at this hotel with my wife and baby daughter, arriving late-ish afternoon and leaving very early in the morning. Any (fresh) comments about the hotel, including Platinum upgrades, club breakfasts, etc.? This is on the tail end of a week of staying in the Portland area, including a few nights at the Westin Portland.