The Society Hotel - Portland

I really enjoyed my stay at the hotel. I stayed in the bunks and they were really comfortable for the price paid. The linens were clean but there was trash behind the lock box. The area is really walkable but has a homeless population. They pretty well stick to themselves though. The building is locked 24/7 and you either buzz in or use your key. There was a silverfish in the bathroom. But that isnt too surprising because it's an old building. No signs of mold anywhere. The bathrooms were really clean and the conditioner was really nice. Definitely going to stay here again.

Positive: Innovation Negative: Asked to be on top floor. They then held a party that happened to be right over the room they. selected . Then they put a noisy tenant next to me, had to go to concierge to ask to be quiet. Give room no cable share bathroom but price as high as more

I only stayed one night, but it was short and sweet due to just having an overnight layover. Very easy to get here from the airport by train or Uber. Best part of my experience was with the staff here, super friendly and helpful. Many things to explore in this region. They are aware of the homeless population in the area, hard for anyone not to notice, but the staff takes safety of guests seriously. As a single female visitor I felt safe in the area.*note: I walked by myself at night, but was not out past 9pm.

I found this hotel based on price and location, in that order, and was very pleased. I chose a single room with en suite, not shared spaces. The room was minimalist and well-appointed, and very comfortable -- and I loved the art. The lobby cafe and rooftop are really great spaces. Be aware that this hotel is in a downtown neighborhood, not a business district, with social services nearby and some people living outside nearby. I personally never felt unsafe in the neighborhood, and the hotel lobby is secured. I loved the walkability and access to Portland's great transit network. The building's rehab is lovely (take the stairs -- the walls are covered with framed newspapers) and the Chinese Garden nearby is fantastic.

I had a really great experience here. I have never stayed in hostel before and really enjoyed my stay. Pros: - This place is in a beatiful historic building. - The location is very walkable and has a lot of character as well as transit connection. - The staff were very friendly and professional. - I felt very safe and secure here. - The bunks were surprisingly cozy and had lots of privacy which really surprised me. - The rooftop views were incredible especially at night. - I met tons of cool people from all over in this hostel. - I paid roughly $40 for all of this and it was a steal. Cons: - While the location in Chinatown had a ton of character and convenience. It was also very sketchy. I felt uneasy parking my car and walking around the area due the massive amount of homeless people doing drugs out in the open. I worried the entire night that my car would be broken into. (Fortunately, nothing happened). The reason I still gave this place 5 stars is because the staff and owners have no control over this and it felt unfair for me to give this place anything but 5 stars.

The amount of things I didn't like was longer than the list of things I did like. Rooms are small, like a studio apartment, basic amenities but cute. Don't even think about breathing on a towel or a blanket. Everything is WHITE and super stainable, which they will charge a cleaning fee to deal with. There is no parking. The staff were friendly, but I didn't like the vibe I got, like they were somehow better than you just because they worked there. Honestly, it wasn't worth the price I paid for the room I booked. But it was within walking distance of the roseland theater, so I'll take what I can get.

Intrepid travelers who want a no-frills, low cost place to stay will appreciate the charm and character of this old hotel. Before booking, however, it is important to understand the levels of accommodation offered. People who stay in the hostel will sleep in one large room with dozens of bunks. Upstairs there are shared bathrooms and a cooking area. The next level is the private room with a shared bathroom, which they call a "standard" room. The shared bathroom situation reminded me of my college dorm. Each shared bathroom had one sink, one toilet, and one shower. I appreciated that the bathroom was so big that I just wheeled all of my luggage into the bathroom to take a shower and get ready! Guests who want a more typical hotel room with its own bathroom will need to book a "premium suite." The lobby was very nice, with drinks and some food available from their cafe. It was there that I learned that those in charge of the hotel are making every effort to be green and preserve as much of the old building as possible with its original materials. I respect that but am concerned about the "old building smell’ emanating from the third floor hall. This smell could be indicative of problems such as mold, mildew, or decaying materials. The hotel is located in Old Town and Chinatown. It is close to Union Station, the very famous Powell’s bookstore that takes up an entire city block, some very beautiful Chinese gardens, and a stop for the inexpensive and efficient MAX light rail that can quickly take you to another, more desirable location in Portland and environs. I would highly recommend this hotel to my friends who have backpacked across Europe and bicycled across the Sahara Desert. I personally would not take children to stay in this area of Portland. The Society Hotel is an interesting and memorable place.