Northwest Portland Hostel — Attraction in Portland

Conversations at the Hostels

I was standing in the Hawthorne Hostel trying to decide what to do next in my quest to move to Portland. The Portland rental market is tight, expensive and filled with red tape. I decided to take a chance on another temporary stay at another Hostel. I needed time to think and decide because I only arrived in the city December 1st. So I took my five bags, walked the four blocks to the city bus stop that would transport me to the Northwest International Hostel & the Elliston House. Throughout my trip to the city and since my arrival I’ve always managed to find assistance when I needed the help. The bus dropped me off four blocks from the Hostel. I stepped off, organized my bags, then walked. Unfortunately, the damaged wheel on my largest suitcase broke. The trip to the hostel was uphill and it was a struggle in the light rain. That’s when Angel arrived, she took one of the bags and up the hill she went. I rapidly followed behind with the other four. We walked three blocks, before my GPS malfunctioned and Angel left prematurely but I was close enough to make it to the hostel. I decided to stay through the holiday period: today is December 28th. When I entered the lobby of the Northwest Hostel I didn't know what to expect, but I soon learned what a unique placed it was. The highlight of the first evening consisted of beer tasting in the dining area. Then, we quickly bonded and the group went to the 21 avenue kitchen and bar for karaoke. I met Andy from Philadelphia at the beer tasting and the discussions we had continued and deepened after he sung. He understood how important it is to address social issues. And how certain principled music artists sacrificed at the expense of their financial well-being. How social commentary and critique buttressed street creed and legitimacy. Andy stressed the importance of artists that have articulated these positions over a significant period of time. I met Pete at the same beer tasting. He was from the New England region. He had a Yankee practicalism that allowed him to see the power of honesty and sincerity as the solution to almost any problem or issue that arose from social interaction. We bonded and had a great time at Karaoke. I met Adam at the Hawthorne Hostel before he arrived at the Northwest International Hostel. He was a graphic novelist. He talked me into buying a skateboard in the future. As we conversed in the dining areas of the hostel, we both discovered we had the same issue: procrastination. As I searched for more permanent housing, I thought it would be a great idea to join social media. I’ve had numerous conversations with Karla over Facebook as I walked through the Elliston House where I’ve been housed. I have quickly learned I could depend on her even temperament, common sense and wisdom. She is a beautiful person both inside and out and posts great stuff on Facebook. Another person I met using social media is the Dark Romance Novelist Olga Goa. I was in my bunk bed when I decided to say “hi” to my newest Facebook friend. I wrote and sent a greeting, but I never expected a response. Of course Olga surprised me but that's her. I expected a short conversation and what transpired was communication that lasted 2 and a half to three hours while I was in the top bunk of my connected dorm room in the Elliston House. l was using the voice converter, my roomies insisted they weren't upset by the lengthy conversation. Olga is smart, funny, engaging and a free spirit. She is really feminine: I am a fan. On the second floor of the Elliston House is the cooking and dining area. I was cooking one day when a student from the University of Arkansas walked into the room. Within 10 minutes Samina and I were talking and discussing issues big and small. Later, we were joined by the tech guy: Jacob. I switched from Microsoft Word to Google Drive because of a discussion we had at the hostel. Both are talented and smart with great leadership potential and natural ability. Today I attended services at Saint Mary’s but I wasn’t alone, my friend...

This was my first time staying in a hostel (ever) and I feel like the NW Portland Hostel has set the bar extremely high.

I had a very easy time booking my own room on their website the morning of needing a room for the night. Check-in reportedly isn't until 3:00pm, but when I arrived around 1:00pm, they already had my room ready for me to check-in early at no additional cost. Story (misspelling?) greeted me at the counter and gave me a tour of the lower level of the main building where the cafe is located as well as a common area for eating, working, and watching TV (The Olympics were on when I was there - this was a great space to watch the games!), as well as the garden area with seating in the back. She then walked me to my room in the guest house building and gave me a tour of the facilities there. Upon asking, she was also able to give me suggestions on local places to check-out and to be mindful of as a single woman traveling alone. She was super kind knowledgable, and welcoming.

I booked a single room with a double bed with a shared bathroom. The room itself was "no frills" in that it was a very standard room with somewhat dated-in-appearance furniture and bedding, however, that is just aesthetics. The bed was still comfortable and so was the room. There was a little clipper-fan in the room where I was able to clip it to the window-sill for some circulation in the room as there was no ceiling fan. One of the windows opened which also provided me with the chance to have some fresh, cooler air in the mornings and evenings. There were clothes hangers in the room available for me to use for clothes and there was even a desk with drawers to sit at and do my makeup. I only heard neighbors in the adjacent room one time while there, so noise was never an issue during my stay.

My room had a bathroom with a toilet and sink located directly across the hall from my room as well as another adjacent bathroom that included another toilet and sink and shower as well. It was so convenient having two toilets available directly across the hall from me. There was never any "competing" for the bathroom with two right next to each other and more showers downstairs. The bathrooms included wash-clothes for drying your hands after washing them and I was given two towels upon check-in.

The complimentary bagel and single cup of coffee/milk/or juice for breakfast each morning was super appreciated. There were also food options available to purchase as well for all meals throughout the day.

The hostel seems to be encouraging of socializing by offering options for meeting others. While I was there, one night, they offered a one-hour free beer tasting of local beers and the next evening they did the same, but it was a wine tasting instead. I believe they also offered free tours of the local area, but double check their website for that. Fellow travelers there seemed friendly but also respectful if you were wanting solo time.

There are more amenities than what I described in my review, so I encourage you to check out their website to read more about what they offer.

The location could not be beaten. It was an easy ride from the airport on the Max Rail to the nearest stop to the hostel, only about a 10-15 min walk away. There were so many shops, restaurants, parks, music venues, etc all within walking distance of this hostel.

Overall, I had an incredibly positive and enjoyable time. I will absolutely stay at the NW Portland Hostel again when I travel to Portland again and highly encourage others to check...

Yes, this was one of the prettiest and cleanest hostels I have been, having had a membership and traveled the world in them. But beware, they rip you off! The hostel guide had them at $30, we were going to stay there before when I checked it out so I had cut and pasted that info. Indeed, some reviews mention $25 rooms. I was checked in by a young English woman, that turned out to be a manager. She said private rooms were full, so I could use the private apt, at $75 apprrx [with tax and parking I paid well over $82, which is how much the Marriot goes for dtn]. She said I could use half the flat, as long as I didn't touch the kitchen or other bedroom. Fair enough, we are from Port Townsend and I have rented many a honeymoon suite with the same directions not to use certain rooms to get a discount. I also had to wait for them to use my room for a meeting from 4-5, but I was gone and my plans had fallen thru. I came back, had to dump my purse to find all the keys, was talking to my husband, who runs a hotel here in PT, when a worker and a man came waltzing in! It was not explained to me that they bumped me from my room, I could use the bunkbed room, I had NO choice, was livid and demanded refund and they REFUSED. I was told to wait til morning, had no choice but what they did to me! My husband moves people to different rooms all the time for tiny reasons; sharing with this man was a HUGE reason. Again, I was told PRIVATE. My husband told them how to move me to another room, he had to walk then thru it. I was bumped, that room was cheaper [either $30 or $52, depending upon whom you speak to]. Also, FYI the place is LOUD and 'breakfast' is Dickension bread and runny peanut butter, no napkins. I don't know how many hostels I have stayed in, from tiny villages to big cities in Europe, and been lovingly given a hot meal, with a folded napkin and silverware; this was worse that prison service or food! I waited til I got back, spoke to same manager, and she admitted booking me nad telling me all that, but no refund. They also had said I could have rented the whole flat at $170. same price as Hotel Monaco. This is a HOSTEL not the Hilton, and they are charging way too much of they think they can get it. We are disputing it on our credit card. Cute and clean, but you may as well stay at a hotel for less!

In fact, Visa reimbursed me because it was 'service or goods not offered as described'. The fact they lied and insisted on charging me full Hilton price and I was bumped from my room, put in a smaller one and they REFUSED to do anything in person or afterwards, is illegal. Yes, great location, pretty place, but false advertising about things like breakfast or PRICE of room is wrong! They never did get back to me when I asked about $30 price ahead, during or after, but you can find it on web. They charged me $87.50 for a hostel and refused to accommodate or refund difference; put a man in my 'private' room and downsized me, and made it all my problem. That's not cool; that is lying on the web, to my face, and after when they could have fixed things, and the fact there is no one to authorize anything in the evening until 10 am til a manager gets there [and then they won't; she repeated exactly what she had said to me and STILL didn't make it right]....