I love Portland! My dog and I lived in Hillsdale, a neighborhood in Southwest Portland, in 2006 and 2007. In that timeframe, I enrolled in master’s courses in Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University. I also took the Oregon bar exam. And then I returned to the Midwest.
I set sail once again for the West Coast in late 2014, hoping to find steady income. En route, I spent a night in Bozeman, where I lived for two years, and Ritzville, a small town in the midst of scrubland in eastern Washington.
Eventually, I arrived in Lake Oswego, in Southwest Portland. I coexisted as a grateful guest for five nights with a friend, his girlfriend, and their daughters. The apartment, surrounded by lush forest, yet close to downtown, felt like home.
Afterward, I ambled to Northeast Portland, near the airport, landing at a Radisson for four nights. Two of those nights were free, and the other two were booked with points. The staff enjoyed serving guests, a welcome sign of good hospitality. The check-in agent provided vouchers for evening drinks and appetizers, as well as breakfast, all included with the room. My abode, on the private fourth floor, had a lounge down the hall, where I topped off mochas and lattes.
I stayed one night at the Hyatt Place, also near the airport, using a free night certificate. I might have used the award at the Grand Hyatt in Seattle, but in Portland, the only option is a Hyatt Place. The hotel is encompassed by new, chain development, with convenient rail links.
The next day, I drove to the eastern suburb of Gresham, spending four nights at the Four Points by Sheraton, using SPG points. The walls are paper thin, but the staff is obliging. The location, distant from downtown Portland, is connected by rail, but Gresham is a worn-out section of town.
Following the Four Points, I crossed the Willamette River into Washington, spending a night at the Staybridge Suites in Vancouver, using IHG points. I retreated back across the river the next day, staying two nights at a Holiday Inn Express in Troutdale, a suburb on the eastern edge of Portland, at the entrance to the Columbia Gorge. I redeemed additional IHG points.
On my return to South Dakota, I stopped in Missoula, Montana, for a night at the Holiday Inn Downtown, booked via Priceline. My final day on the road was a twelve-hour stretch to Fort Pierre, through rain and scattered snow.
The adventure endlessly entertained. My move to Portland is impending. Below is a re-cap of accommodations and hotel points used. While the trip dissipated a substantial amount of points and awards, it confirmed my suspicion that wise utilization can prove opportune, and financially rewarding.
Friday August 22
Bozeman, MT – Holiday Inn Express
15,000 IHG points
Upgraded to a King Suite
Saturday
Ritzville, WA – Best Western Plus Bronco Inn
$103
Nice hotel for this isolated locale
Sunday through Thursday
Portland (Lake Oswego) – Joe’s Place
FREE
Thankful for an air mattress and a welcome home
Friday
Portland – Radisson
28,000 Club Carlson points
With Club Carlson Gold Status, upgraded and received certificates for breakfast and evening drinks and appetizers in the restaurant.
Saturday
Portland – Radisson
FREE
With the Club Carlson credit card, the last night of any award stay is free. I booked two two-night stays (see below).
Sunday
Portland – Radisson
28,000 Club Carlson points
Monday
Portland – Radisson
FREE
Tuesday
Portland – Hyatt Place
Category 1 – 4 Free Night Certificate (obtained after $91 paid night in Denver).
Enjoyable, but should have saved the certificate for a more desirable property.
Wednesday
Portland (Gresham) – Four Points
4,000 SPG points
Walls are paper thin, but staff is obliging
Thursday
Portland (Gresham) – Four Points
4,000 SPG points
Earned SPG Gold Status after this stay
Friday
Portland (Gresham) – Four Points
3,000 SPG points
Reduced rate on weekends
Saturday
Portland (Gresham) – Four Points
3,000 SPG points
Another weekend night…
Sunday
Portland (Vancouver, WA) – Staybridge Suites
15,000 IHG points
A quiet suite with comforts of home
Monday
Portland (Troutdale) – Holiday Inn Express
10,000 IHG points
Sandwiched between two truck stops, but pleasant staff
Tuesday
Portland (Troutdale) – Holiday Inn Express
10,000 IHG points
More of the same…
Wednesday
Missoula, MT – Holiday Inn Downtown
$70 booked via Priceline
Late arrival and early departure with view of lobby
mat(the)writer 