Portland's Hidden Gem: River's Edge Hotel Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the glorious, slightly chaotic world of the River's Edge Hotel in Portland. Forget those sterile, perfectly-polished hotel reviews – this is the real deal. Let's get messy, let's get honest, let's find out if this "Hidden Gem" actually sparkles.
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First Impressions (And a Mild Panic Attack):
Okay, so I roll up. River's Edge. Sounds fancy, right? And, honestly, the exterior does hint at something swish. But here’s the thing: I'm a bit of a worrier. So, even though I called ahead about accessibility (very important!), I’m clutching my pearls a little. Immediately, I’m eyeballing: "Accessibility?" - well, it's gonna be a biggie, I need to know. I did, however, see "Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Valet parking" – GOOD. Car park [on-site] is a must! I am very happy that they offer car power charging station.
Accessibility: Smooth Sailing (Mostly!):
Phew. I'm a big fan of "Facilities for disabled guests". The entrance was flat, the lobby was wide open, and the elevators… well, the elevators were glorious! Spacious, clearly marked buttons, and (bonus!) a soothing, non-claustrophobic vibe. I didn't have to call for help, and I could cruise around the public spaces with no drama. I’m happy about the "Ramps." "Elevator." "Wheelchair accessible." And "facilities for disabled guests" is a big tick.
On-site Awesomeness (and the Slightly Less Awesome):
- Restaurants/Lounges: Definitely a strong point. "Bar", "Coffee/tea in restaurant", "Poolside bar", "Restaurants". The big bonus? Many had amazing views of the water and the city. I’m a sucker for a view.
- The "A la carte in restaurant" and "Buffet in restaurant" situation: Okay, so I’m not a fan of "Asian cuisine in restaurant", but that's me. I would love to see "American cuisine in restaurant." Food wise, my big plus is the "Breakfast service", the "Coffee shop" and I also appreciate the "Happy hour".
- Warning! Some of the seating arrangements in the bar area felt a little tight, which could be tricky for anyone with mobility challenges. But overall, a win.
Internet Intricacies (The Modern Traveler's Nightmare):
Let's talk Wi-Fi. This can make or break a hotel stay, right? "Internet access", "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!", "Internet", "Internet [LAN]", "Internet services", "Wi-Fi in public areas", well, the hotel is a winner. My life depends on the "Internet" and I am very happy about the "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" I can't live without it. I’m a social media addict, and I need to know what's happening in the world. Now, the public areas? The one in the lobby wobbled a bit during a Zoom call with my boss. A bit of a "Wi-Fi for special events" would be a big plus.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Spa Day Dreams):
Right, here's where the River's Edge really shines. "Body scrub", "Body wrap", "Foot bath", "Gym/fitness", "Massage", "Pool with view", "Sauna", "Spa", "Spa/sauna", "Steamroom", "Swimming pool", "Swimming pool [outdoor]", "Couple's room." The list goes on! I am in heaven. The spa is a complete game-changer. Seriously. I'm imagining myself in the "Pool with view" right now. The "Sauna", "Steamroom" are all great.
- The Spa Experience: A Deep Dive (and a Little Meltdown): I booked a massage because, honestly, I needed it. My stress levels were through the roof before I even got there. The staff were amazing – kind, attentive, and incredibly professional. And the massage? Absolutely divine. I actually started to cry during it (happy tears, I swear!). I think I released like, five years of pent-up tension. The "Couple's room" is perfect for your honeymoon.
Cleanliness & Safety (Let's Just Say I'm a Germaphobe):
I am all about "Anti-viral cleaning products", "Cashless payment service", "Daily disinfection in common areas", "Doctors/nurse on call", "First aid kit", "Hand sanitizer", "Hot water linen and laundry washing", "Hygiene certification", "Individually-wrapped food options", "Physical distancing of at least 1 meter", "Professional-grade sanitizing services", "Room sanitization opt-out available", "Rooms sanitized between stays", "Safe dining setup", "Sanitized kitchen and tableware items", "Shared stationery removed", "Staff trained in safety protocol", "Sterilizing equipment." I’m a total clean freak. The staff are super sensitive to the safety aspect. I can't emphasize how much this mattered to me. I felt safe. They've really gone above and beyond.
Dining Delights (And the Occasional Calorie Guilt):
Food! My weakness. Okay, so I’m getting hungry, like REALLY hungry. The hotel, happily, has "A la carte in restaurant", "Asian breakfast", "Asian cuisine in restaurant", "Bar", "Bottle of water", "Breakfast [buffet]", "Breakfast service", "Buffet in restaurant", "Coffee/tea in restaurant", "Coffee shop", "Desserts in restaurant", "Happy hour", "International cuisine in restaurant", "Poolside bar", "Restaurants", "Room service [24-hour]", "Salad in restaurant", "Snack bar", "Soup in restaurant", "Vegetarian restaurant", "Western breakfast", "Western cuisine in restaurant", wow that's a lot! I love "Room service [24-hour]", "Coffee/tea in restaurant", I didn't try the "Asian cuisine in restaurant" and "Asian breakfast", but I did like "Western breakfast". I could have used a "American cuisine in restaurant" though.
- The Breakfast Buffet Debacle: The breakfast buffet was a bit of a free-for-all. Let's be honest. I'm not sure if this is the best way to make a good "Breakfast [buffet]". The quality of food, though? Solid. If you're a "salad in restaurant" lover, you’re in luck.
Services & Conveniences (Because We All Need a Little Help):
"Air conditioning in public area", "Audio-visual equipment for special events", "Business facilities", "Cash withdrawal", "Concierge", "Contactless check-in/out", "Convenience store", "Currency exchange", "Daily housekeeping", "Doorman", "Dry cleaning", "Elevator", "Essential condiments", "Facilities for disabled guests", "Food delivery", "Gift/souvenir shop", "Indoor venue for special events", "Invoice provided", "Ironing service", "Laundry service", "Luggage storage", "Meeting/banquet facilities", "Meetings", "Meeting stationery", "On-site event hosting", "Outdoor venue for special events", "Projector/LED display", "Safety deposit boxes", "Seminars", "Shrine", "Smoking area", "Terrace", "Wi-Fi for special events", "Xerox/fax in business center" is a good line of service. The business facilities are, well, business-y, which is great if you need them, but not really my jam. This is a great hotel for someone who needs to host "Meetings".
For the Kids (Because, Let's Be Real, They're Important):
"Babysitting service", "Family/child friendly", "Kids facilities", "Kids meal" is great! If I was a kid, I'd be super happy.
The Nitty Gritty (Because Details Matter):
- Access: "Access", "CCTV in common areas", "CCTV outside property", "Check-in/out [express]", "Check-in/out [private]", "Exterior corridor", "Fire extinguisher", "Front desk [24-hour]", "Hotel chain", "Non-smoking rooms", "Pets allowed unavailable Pets allowed", "Proposal spot", "Room decorations", "Safety/security feature", "Security [24-hour]", "Smoke alarms", "Soundproof rooms". All is good.
- Getting Around: "Airport transfer", "Bicycle parking", "Car park [free of charge]", "Car park [on-site]", "Car power charging station", "Taxi service", "Valet parking" is the best line of service. Definitely a plus.
Available in All Rooms (The Essentials, Baby!):
The rooms were lovely. "Additional toilet", "Air conditioning", "
Ueda's Hidden Gem: Royal Hotel Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This is my kind of itinerary. Forget the glossy brochures and sunshine-and-rainbows. We're diving headfirst into the River's Edge Hotel in Portland, Oregon, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. And let's be real, I'm probably going to spill coffee on this thing, and that's just the beginning.
Day 1: Arrival and Initial Panic (Good Start, Right?)
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Portland Airport (PDX) to River's Edge Hotel - The Great Luggage Gauntlet. Okay, so the flight was… bumpy. Like, "did we just hit a flock of pigeons?" bumpy. Finally, the blessed touchdown. The plan? Smooth as butter. Reality? Dragging a suitcase the size of a small refrigerator through the airport, dodging rogue scooters and questionable airport coffee spills. I’m pretty sure I saw a dude wearing socks with sandals. Portland, you’re already winning. Finally, Uber arrives. I get in and am greeted by a driver blasting some obscure indie band. "Sounds…intense," I mumbled, which earned me a look that said, “Honey, you haven’t even begun to understand intense.”
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Check-In (and the Dreaded Room Hunt). The lobby’s gorgeous. Modern, sleek, all the right things. And the staff? Super friendly. But the room. Always the moment of truth. Did I get the view I paid for? Nope. Facing a brick wall. Sigh. "Fine," I muttered to myself. "Brick walls have their own beauty." They don't.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Room Reconnaissance and Meltdown (Kidding, Mostly). Okay, let's do a quick inventory. Bed? Check. Coffee maker? Check (important!). Mini-fridge? Check. Okay, we're in business. But then…wait. No power outlets near the bed. How am I supposed to charge my phone and stare at Instagram before I fall asleep? First-world problems, I know. Still, I’m starting to feel that existential dread.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Hotel Bar - The "Embrace the Chaos" Hour. Okay, time to un-furl. The hotel bar. The "social lubricant" as they say. I order a local IPA (because, duh, this is Portland) and a plate of… something. Let's call it "mystery pub grub." The bartender is surprisingly chatty, and I share my luggage struggles. She just shrugs and says, "Welcome to Portland. We're weird, and we like it." I think I might have found my people.
7:00 PM - Whenever: Stumbling Out into Portland (and Praying I Don't Get Lost). Armed with a blurry map (because, hello, I didn’t print it) and a slightly tipsy optimism, I decide to venture out and find somewhere to eat. The plan is to "embrace the city," which translates to "wander aimlessly until I find something that smells good."
- Possible Dinner Destination: The plan is to "embrace the city," which translates to "wander aimlessly until I find something that smells good." I end up at a food truck. I love food trucks! It’s a beautiful place to eat as the rain starts to fall. Embrace the rain!
Day 2: Exploring the City (and Dealing with the Hangover)
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: The Morning After Blues (and the Quest for Caffeine). Oh, the humanity. My head. The light. The… everything. Coffee. I need coffee. Luckily, the hotel has a decent Keurig. Crisis averted.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The International Rose Test Garden - Roses, Really?! Okay, so this might sound cliché, but the Rose Garden is beautiful. Seriously beautiful. I'm not usually one for flowers, but the sheer variety of roses, the colors, the scent… it's almost overwhelming. And I'm starting to think I've lost a lot of time here. I love the Rose Garden. If I'm being honest.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch - Food Cart Adventures, Take Two. Remember those food trucks from last night? I’m officially addicted. I grab some Vietnamese noodles that are chef's kiss. I also make the mistake of ordering a spicy one, which I immediately regret. But the flavor… so good.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Powell's City of Books - May I Be Buried Here? The mecca. The promised land. Powell's. I could get lost in here for days. And I pretty much do. This place is a librarian's wet dream. I buy way too many books, spend way too much money, and feel absolutely no regret. Okay, maybe a little regret about my credit card bill.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Exploring the Pearl District (and Maybe Buying a Hat). The Pearl District is all trendy shops and art galleries. I wander around looking for inspiration. I make the mistake of trying on a ridiculously expensive hat. It looks amazing. But I'm a broke traveler. I sigh and walk away.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner - Fine Dining (or, You Know, Something). I'm feeling fancy, so I make a reservation at a restaurant. I get dressed up (well, slightly less grubby than usual), order the most expensive thing on the menu, and pretend to be a sophisticated traveler. (I’m not).
8:00 PM - Whenever: Late-Night Stroll (and Maybe Some More Food Carts). A relaxed stroll along the waterfront. The city lights. And I definitely sneak in a late-night snack from a food cart. Can't help myself.
Day 3: Departure (and the Sadness of Leaving)
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast and Regret (or, "Why Didn't I Buy That Hat?"). Breakfast at the hotel. This is my last day, I realize. I don’t want to leave. I should have bought that hat.
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Final City Exploration (and Trying to Remember Where I Parked My Rental Car). Last-minute souvenir shopping. Exploring a different part of the city. And then… the car. Where did I park the darn thing? The search. This is the part where I start to get a little panicky.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: River's Edge Hotel Check-Out and Farewell Sigh. Goodbyes. I love you, River's Edge. I’ll miss that slightly-too-soft bed and the friendly staff. Maybe I'll come back… someday.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Airport Again - The Final Gauntlet. Back to PDX. More crowded security lines. Hoping my luggage makes it this time. Praying the flight isn't bumpy.
3:00 PM - Whenever: Home. Home from where? Then I have to go back to my normal life. That’s the hardest thing about trips. Until Next Time, Portland.
Post-Trip Reflections (The Real Stuff)
Honestly? Portland surprised me. It's weird, beautiful, and chaotic. And I absolutely loved it. The food, the people, the vibe… it's all just… different. I should have bought the hat. Next time. Next time, I'm staying longer.
Important notes:
- This is just a starting point. Feel free to improvise, get lost, and embrace the unexpected.
- Pack a good book. And comfortable shoes.
- Don't be afraid to try something new.
- And most importantly: drink the coffee. You're going to need it.
Okay, spill, what's the big hype about River's Edge Hotel? Don't just give me the brochure version!
Alright, alright, settle down. Look, I'm a bit of a Portland snob, right? I *live* here, and I've seen (and mostly scoffed at) my fair share of "luxury." But River's Edge? It's... different. Forget the typical hotel sheen. This place feels… well, like you've stumbled into a secret club. Okay, maybe it's not *that* secret, but the feeling is legit. It's the location – right on the river, watching the Willamette just *flow* and *flow*… it’s hypnotic. And honestly, it's one of the few places in Portland that actually feels like an escape, even though you're practically downtown.
So, location, check. But the rooms? Are they… *hotel rooms*? You know, the bland beige boxes?
God, no! Thank heavens. Okay, so, the rooms... let's just say I accidentally locked myself in the bathroom for a good ten minutes the *first* time I stayed there. Not because of a faulty lock, mind you. It was the *ambiance*. The lighting! The soaking tub! The view! I even almost started singing opera… which, trust me, no one wants to hear. Seriously, they've put thought into this. Big windows, river views (duh), comfy beds you could *drown* in… I swear, I napped for like, a solid twelve hours. It was glorious!
Alright, alright, views and bathtubs. But what about the food? I'm a foodie. Portland's a foodie city; can they *actually* deliver?
Okay, this is where River's Edge REALLY shines. The restaurant, *The Three Degrees*, is… wow. Look, some hotel restaurants are just… there, right? Like a necessary evil. This is NOT that. I usually avoid hotel restaurants like the plague. But. The Three Degrees. I could talk about the food for days. I've tried practically everything on the menu. Okay, maybe not *everything*, but a good chunk of it. Like, the pan-seared scallops with the lemon-y butter sauce?! Don't even get me started. I had a moment. A *real* moment. And the wine list? Forget about it. They actually *know* wine! It's heaven for a food and wine snob like myself. My only complaint? You'll probably have to loosen your belt a notch. Definitely worth it.
What about the service? Hotels can be hit or miss. Do they have a good staff?
Seriously, the staff make the whole thing. They're all genuine. And I gotta be honest, this is important. There's a concierge there, I think her name is Emily, she always does more than she has to. One time, I was in a serious bind, needed theatre tickets FAST, and she got them for me, like, in minutes. And not just any tickets - GREAT seats! I swear, she should get a raise. The service is personal, it’s thoughtful, which is rare in big hotels. They actually *care*.
Okay, okay, I'm intrigued. But what's the *catch*? There *has* to be a catch, right? Hotel luxury usually means a hefty price tag.
Alright, alright, let's talk about the elephant in the room – money. Yes, it's an investment. It's not cheap. But honestly? Considering the experience, the views, the food, the *vibe*… I'd say it's worth it for a special occasion. Or, you know, if you just need to escape your life for a weekend. I did that once, hiding away with a bottle of wine and a book. No regrets. It's not something I do every week, but it's a splurge that feels *earned*. Consider it a self-care reward. Trust me, the cost-benefit analysis is… pretty darn good.
Anything else? Any hidden quirks or downsides I should know about? This is where you spill the tea!
Okay, alright, spilling the tea! Well, the parking situation can be a bit… let's just say it’s not *ideal*. Sometimes, navigating the parking garage feels like a real-life Mario Kart! And the elevators… sometimes, you have to wait. But, honestly, those are minor. One time and this is a small thing, but the gym wasn't *quite* up to par. The equipment was a little dated. But hey, that's nitpicking. The downsides? Well, you might not *want* to leave. Seriously. That bathtub? I almost missed my flight once.
I'm a business traveler. Does River's Edge work for, well, actual work? or is it all romance and bathtubs?
Okay, that's a fair question. Look, I'm more of a "vacation" person. But, the business folks seem to dig it too. They have meeting rooms. Their wifi is pretty reliable (crucial!). And honestly? The atmosphere is conducive to, you know, *thinking*. No sterile conference rooms here, thankfully. The quiet, the views… it's a good place to recharge and get work done, even if you have to force yourself to stop staring at the river. The only downside? You might find yourself tempted to swap your laptop for a cocktail at the bar. Totally understand.
Okay, you've convinced me. But one last thing: Best time to go? Any insider tips for booking?
Ah, the golden question! Okay, booking… well, avoid peak season (summer, holidays) if you can. Rates shoot up then and it gets a bit busy. Weekdays are quieter, generally. My *real* secret? Try to snag a room with a river view. Worth. Every. Penny. And if you are feeling like a splurge, ask about suites. Worth it for the space alone! Seriously, I'm not going to lie. I'm biased. I love this place. Go. And thank me later. Or, you know, send me a postcard.
What if I just want to hang out at the bar? Any good?
The bar. Oh, the bar. Don't even get me started. I have spent many, many a happy hour there. It's called, *The Three Degrees Bar*, which is confusing, but trust me. It's a good one. It is stylish, buzzy and relaxed, all at once. The cocktails? Fantastic! They have a particular local gin, with some kind of crazy botanicals that I adore. The bartenders are pros, which is nice because I've beenStay Finder Review
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