The Society Hotel - Portland — Hotel in Portland

I’d like to start this review with two things. 1) I wanted to like this place. 2) I’ve spent years of my life backpacking through Central/South America as well as all over Europe. I’m fairly accustomed to hostels and places attempting to provide a luxury/historic experience in the middle of unsightly neighborhoods.

Of all the places I’ve stayed for travel I can say with certainty they handle their environment in the least professional manner. from confusing a patron with a vagrant at 6:30pm and refusing me entry when I had a reservation, to wasting the police officers time because “homeless people are standing on the sidewalk” as the lady at the desk said to the dispatcher at 6:45pm. For perspective I travel for work in sales have to be dressed to a tee all day when I travel I like to be comfortable I was wearing a hoodie and had a backpack with me for this 4 day trip. I had to leave and walk around downtown Portland in 30-40 degree weather in order to reattempt entry through the coffee shop door 10 minutes later. Mind you this isn’t midnight or some ungodly hour I arrived at 6:30 and then was consistently looked down upon and treated with disrespect for the entirety of my stay as if I didn’t belong. upon checking out the next day on my way to my train when I voiced my complaints to the staff, instead of apologizing on behalf of the businesses mistake, the attendant got aggressive and angry with me for not being understanding of what the staff has to deal with outside… I’m sorry not sorry I’ve traveled the world and hotels in third world countries handle security better while maintaining professionalism and treating their guests with more respect regardless of the clothes they chose to travel in. The FACT that a hostel in La Roma Mexico City handles a MUCH more dangerous environment in an objectively better way should concern the owners/management of this hotel greatly. Never mind all the establishments in New York and San Francisco that are dealing with remarkably similar circumstances to this business that are paying more in taxes charging less for their service and again maintain professionalism and respect for their guests.

Also after reading your reviews and seeing that a large amount of guests are having trouble getting their deposit returned to them if my 50$ is not returned to me before the legal precedent is passed I will happily spend the 1-2k to take the company to small claims court off principle alone. Only business I’ve ever felt more blatantly disrespected by was Comcast cable.

My experience at this establishment was entirely unacceptable. Unless they retrain their staff on how to deal with complaints and restructure their security I and the rest of my coworkers/staff who travel for a living will be avoiding this place, I recommend you...

What an amazing experience! The room, staff, decor, and facilites were all great. Room: We knew the room only had a sink, but that's all we needed. We were offered a noisier street view corner front room or a quieter rear room with a poor view. The room was stylish, super clean, the bed was comfortable, and extra storage under the bed. It was pretty quiet, but at night on the weekend it did get noisy. There were ear plugs in the room when we arrived, and although we did not use them, they would definitely be handy for some light sleepers. We also loved the tiny chip of artisanal soap that was provided. So smart and efficient. Washroom: There are 3 lockable washrooms that each floor has. It was our only real concern when booking the hotel, but it was unfounded. The washroom was stylish, super clean, and we never had a problem accessing it. We never saw any people. Not even in the hallway. They provided bath robes to make the 5 steps down the hallway easy too. The lobby washroom was just as nice and clean too. Facilities: The rooftop patio was uber cool. It was easily accessible and was never that busy. You could grab a drink or snack from the cafe in the foyer and take it to the roof. They have heaters up there too. The foyer lobby has a great cafe where you can grab coffees, drinks, and snacks. There are several tables and lounge chairs there too. Staff: The staff are really friendly and helpful. They were quite accommodating and great with both email communication before the trip and face to face as well. Location: The hotel is in the middle of China town and Old Town, one block away from the MAX Red Line station. It's both good and bad. So easy to get to and from the airport and all around town, but terrible in that there are so many homeless people around. The good news is that the homeless people are really only visually disturbing. They never attempted to interact with us at all. The doors are also all electronically key locked to your room key, or controlled by the desk staff. Decor: The hotel is pretty stylish and chic. It has a dark old but stylish feel. Some parts are a little creepy old, but clean, and we loved it. One of the coolest places was the stairwell. Use it to exit and enjoy the art gallery on the way down and out. Bottom line: The price was great, location was both good and bad, but we loved it the property and would definitely...

I originally booked for two nights but I ended up extended for a total of five nights because I enjoyed the accommodations that much.||||Lobby, check-in, and cafe downstairs were all beautifully designed and welcoming areas to hang out or study. I loved the fireplace and living space. Wifi was great!||||Staff: Everyone on staff was wonderful and welcoming; however, Candace and Branson were people I had the most contact with and it was always a good time. From Candace always being available to help me with navigating the neighborhood and hotel to Branson giving me tips on Portland, chatting about life and fulfilling my caffeine needs, I loved getting the chance to know them. They definitely sealed me in for additional days and were a big reason I felt so comfortable throughout my stay.||||The Rooms: My first two days were in a King suite with a private bathroom. I was in the room deigned by Peter. It was comfortable, quiet despite the locals living it up outside, and roomy. The rest of my stay was in a Queen room with shared bathroom. I was concerned about having to share a bathroom but they are large, extremely clean and have comfortable and convenient amenities. I slept so well in every room I booked. There might be something to this no technology in the bedroom "myth". I liked the minimalist approach to hotel stays and appreciate the added luxury feel with the bathrobes. Little things like a robe really elevate the overall experience in hotels.||||Cons: ||No formal parking but there is plenty of street parking and much of it is free. Private security in the community keep a good watch on vehicles.||||A con that is not the hotel's fault is the unfortunate state of Old Town and it's displaced and struggling locals. They didn't bother me when I was outside but it was sad to see other human beings in those conditions. Be safe walking around the area as some can be unpredictable or in distress. Like with any city, especially downtown areas, just be aware of your surroundings.||||Overall, The Society is on my list of Portland favorites and I will be returning for...