More about The Nines, Portland
Exceeded expectations for our honeymoon
by TripAdvisor Member JaphyRyder
We may have been the only wedding in Portland since we chose to get married on the snowiest day in Portland in many many years. Luckily we eloped and our stay at The Nines was a fabulous way to cap off our surreal wedding weekend in the snow. When we told the front desk that we were staying there for our wedding they upgraded us to a city view room. Upon our arrival we found a wonderful bottle of champagne and a decadent tray of artisan chocolates. The decor of the hotel is urban upscale and the attention to detail in our room was stunning. The staff were all friendly and helpful and genuinely seemed to enjoy working at the hotel. These were the two things that I feel set the hotel apart from other hotels in the same price range. Lastly, the hotel is right on Pioneer square and close to everything downtown. The light rail is a half a block away making it easy to hop on and get to places farther away. In short, The Nines is a contemporary luxury hotel in the heart of downtown Portland and stands out from your typical hotels in that price range.
No Platinum Upgrades for SPG members
by TripAdvisor Member PDXStocks
This was our second stay at the Nines. The first stay was disasterous. On this stay we booked two rooms and brought our parents with us for a post Christmas weekend.
As a Platinum Starwood member I am used to being upgraded to a suite if available. Because of the problems encountered on our last stay, I deliberately called reservations 20 minutes before we arrived at the hotel and asked if rooms were available for that night, what categories and at what cost. The reservations agent confirmed there were Junior Suites available and quoted me a daily rate.
At check-in there was NO mention of an upgrade. I then asked the gal checking me in if I had received an upgrade. "Oh, I'm so sorry there aren't any Junior Suites available," came the lie. I then told her I had just called reservations 20 minutes earlier when I was at I-5 and 217..."oh, well we there aren't any cleaned right now, but there is a disability accessible Junior Suite available if you would like it." I replied, "No, you played games with me the last time I checked in and as a Platinum guest I'm not playing that game."
So we stayed in two deluxe city view rooms as I had booked on the website.
Quite frankly, I think it's atrocious behavior on the part of the hotel, especially when there have been previous complaints from myself and others to Starwood.
As for the rooms, they are incredibly well appointed as befitting a Luxury Collection hotel. The sheeting is high quality, the bath towels are oversized and beautiful. The robes are excellent. The toiletries are Gilchrist and Soames. While they aren't L'Occitane or Bulgari or Etro, G & S while a step down is certainly nicer than you would get at a say a Sheraton or Hilton. The rooms are done in chocolates and turquoise. Very hip and very modern.
The mini-bar was unlocked on this visit which was nice. There are two complimentary bottles of water in each room. Flat screen TV's with DVD players. No Bose radio as in other premium hotels.
Valet can run a little long, so call 15 or 20 minutes in advance to be sure you have a car waiting. The valet and bellmen are all excellent and quick.
Because the restaurant Urban Farmer was not good on our first visit, we skipped it this time. The menu is still one of the MOST expensive in all of Portland. There are excellent well reviewed restaurants in Portland, so visitors should realize that the price point will be lower and the quality will be as good or better as soon as you exit the front door.
The lobby areas are visually as gorgeous as the decor in the rooms. On weekends, expect a full lobby with people checking out the lobby or stopping to have drinks. The bar servers float throughout the lobby offering drinks and appetizers. It's great people watching, but if you're looking for quiet conversation you will not find it. It's hip with a younger crowd and there's a constant buzz, with many varied seating areas.
On Dec 27th when we visited, there were people waiting for rooms to become available as late as 6 pm, because we heard their complaints. Whoops. Part of the problem is the hotel just secured a contract with the NBA. On Dec 27th the Toronto Raptors basketball teams checked out of the hotel at 5 pm. Those rooms then had to be cleaned.
In addition, on game days with the Portland Trail Blazers you will find hoards of people, mostly kids at the exit on Morrison waiting near the team bus to ask for autographs from the visiting team. It completely blocks the sidewalk in front of the hotel, so realize what is there. The teams generally depart for the Rose Garden two hours or so before the game and this is when you'll have the most people on the sidewalk. In addition, those same people will be filtering into the lobby (because it is a public space) looking to spot NBA players, and no, the NBA players don't hang out in the lobby. Being swarmed by autograph hunters is not their idea of fun, it's not all that great for the hotel guests either.
The top floor restaurant has not yet opened.
Room specials on the hotel website run as low as $129 per night, but I also see that people are buying rooms on Priceline for as low as $65 a night. This also brings a different element into the hotel.
Originally, when this hotel opened a couple months ago the grand opening rates were running in the $259 range. So it's a definite bargain to stay here from what the owners wanted to charge.
Our other pick for Portland, which is a truly amazing hotel in the $200 range is the Hotel Monaco, with their long established and excellent restaurant the Red Star. It's a block away from the Nines and run by Kimpton Hotels, known for their complimentary nightly wine tasting!
One of the best
by TripAdvisor Member ednacloud
We've stayed in hotels ranging from Comfort Inns to Four Seasons, and like to think we can be pretty objective about where we've stayed. Having read the reviews here of this Hotel, we weren't really sure what to expect, but willing to give it a try.
We loved this place. The room was gorgeous, one of the best we've had anywhere. Beautifully decorated, comfortable, and everything was of very high quality. They had supplied pretty much anything you would need. We had a deluxe king room, with city view. Great downtown location.
The staff were all friendly and helpful and welcoming. The bellman even explained how to work the controls in the room, and you could call on anyone to help if you needed it. We called guest services for ice, and it arrived within minutes.
We used valet parking - the price was what you'd expect - $32. (In San Francisco hotels can charge about $50 per night).
We did eat in the hotel's restaurant. The food and wines we had were very good. The server was lovely and helpful explaining menu items. However, it is very pricey.
We stayed in the Hotel Monaco about a year and a half ago, and that experience was disappointing and more expensive. This Hotel will be our first choice next time we go to Portland.
Worst stay ever! BETTER HOTELS CLOSE BYE!!
by TripAdvisor Member LakeOswegoDANCER
I stayed at the nines with my aunt. My aunt who had to travel a far distance to get to Portland, During check in, I personally never even felt NOT welcomed to be there. There front desk didn't even ask anything besides last name, cc, and id. the front desk could have been more polite. they were on the phone... I think a personal call. so we weren't important! come on front desk people! My family and my aunt are SPG platinum members. We stay at starwood properties every time we traveled. Even at the cheaper things like the sheraton at the airport we get treated better! Worst check in ever... They couldn't even introduce them selves or tell us like if there anything to make your stay better just tell us or anything. the basics of hotel check ins. It means a lot to us, because its shows they care. I felt so bad for my aunt because I really wanted to let her try out the nines because thats where I wanted to have my party. I SERIOUSLY would have went home, but she already paid for the room! With calling them.. DONT EXPECT THEM TO PICK UP QUICKLY OR ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, i called down there a few times to ask if they could give us a wake up call and they didn't answer in till the the third time... bring an alarm? My aunt is a huge business lady, she ask the front desk about internet and etc. and if they had a business area for her to complete work and etc. They never really answered her questions. They also never address her when she passed by them or anything... I don't even think they know our family last name! My aunt talked to me and feels like starwood failed on this one.... But not all bad, one guy int he front desk knew what he was doing.During her stay she felt not welcomed at all, she says that she would never bring her company here for business meetings or anything.
Room service and room cleaning ... good! maybe the room service and room cleaning people should run the hotel... atleast they speak to you in a nice way! One of the house keepers even remember my aunts name... plus there!
As fore Urban Farmer.... Let me start by saying one positive thing. the guy who bought us to our table was nice, he could recognize our voice when we called. but the service was the worst ever. I'm sorry but i've eaten her many times!! I always think that it would change doesn't! bad slow service with mean servers. The servers just act like they don't care about you... they get your order leave. My aunt order her drink and since i'm not old to drink yet... she asked the server to get her a drink, and asked if they had a mock drink for me.... like they do at the st.regis, Sheraton, westin, etc. She said the best they had was a shirely temple.... come on are you serious BE CREATIVE! geeezz........ The food was not that great for my third time. each time I ordered something different... it was food you can get at a cheaper place.
The server didn't even ask us how our food tasted or even remember who ordered what. We asked for our bill... I didn't even know her name so I couldn't even call her by her name.... All my times here even with my stay... I felt this restaurant had nothing special.... I've been to bad restaurants in my life time but at least they give you good customer service and ask how there doing. I GAVE THIS PLACE 3 TIMES TO PROVE ME WRONG... IT PROVE TO BE A BAD PLACE.
After staying two nights, my aunt and I thought that our bonding time was just so boring and difficult. It was difficult because all we were talking about his the dumb hotel people. My aunt felt the hotel was an issue, we had fun only outside of the nines.We understand the property is new... but come on we stayed at many new starwood properties but there way better then this. In my point of view, the nines should train there front desk or servers about customer service. or sent them to a different property where they can show them how to do it. Bartenders here need to learn how to make drinks! honestly!
In general, I was so happy about there opening, i've heard a lot about this place staying at other starwood properties. so I assumed it was going to be great... I've stayed at many luxury collection hotels, this goes on the bottom. I was so hyped about this property I almost booked my birthday party here! After my aunt and I stay... we found it easier to go somewhere else. my guest/ family frare business travelers and big families, i'm just happy that other hotel sales team knows how to email people back and set up dates, so you don't have to go out of your way!
no help with front desk, servers noir sales...
help from room service and housekeeping!
Hated IT
by TripAdvisor Member jujubean14
I booked the hotel on new years eve for my husbands birthday to surprise him. I drove downtown early afternoon so I can be one of the first people to c heck in that way I get the type of room I asked for, to my disappointment the girl at the fron t desk was not very accomdating, she said oh I am giving you a great room with a nice view, mind you I paid more to get a club floor room, thinking it will be nicer than a deluxe room or superior room. To my surprise the room was the size of a sardine can, it was so small I felt uncomfortable, and the view was of an old dirty building next door, So I went downstairs and asked her for a different room or at least one with two queens which will be bigger, she said I am sorry I can't change the room for you, and it was 3 oclock people had'nt even checked in yet bc the actual check in time was 4p.m. The sevice was definitly not the best for a 5 star hotel, I stay at a 5 or 4 star hotel everywhere I go, its nothing like this.
And the bed was hard as a rock, usually hotels have the most comfortable beds ever, not this one I couldnt wait to go sleep in my own bed...just the whole experince was not great. I have stayed in the Marriot on the water front once before and its a 3 star and they have better service and beds and a view then the nines...
What a disappointment, I was so excited about having a new 5 star hotel in town, I figured i can always book it for our many occasions....
Eclectic Ecstacy
by TripAdvisor Member mysticalmind
Shocked at the comments surrounding this hotel, but then again, it is out of the box, and expectations are everything, as they say. If an expectation for a typical or even boutique 5 star was in mind, then I can make sense of the doubt, but this hotel is all savvy and attitude and a refreshing decor I've not seen so tastefully put together in a very long time. Congratulations JPMorgan Group. The risk you took was the pleasure I reaped; a very lavish one. The Nine's will, in time, find an identity and clientelle. Open just two months, and doing it all with independent style, allows no reference point for the masses who came with high minds. I look forward to your success, but not too much that the price takes you out of my possibilities. Christmas at the Nine's was a ten!
Loved the Nines!
by TripAdvisor Member worldtravelers23
We loved this hotel! Upon check in our room wasn't ready and they upgraded us immediately. The room was gorgeous. Douglas in the club lounge was great, he gave us amazing restaurant recommendations. Robyn at the front desk was wonderful too. Actually all of the staff was courteous and attentive.
Shined-up crappola
by TripAdvisor Member somebabaganoush
When we first arrived , we were told that we could not unload our baggage at the 15 min unload zone, so we drove around till we finally found parking five blocks from the hotel. I was holding obviously heavy travel bags and the door man didn't even hold the door for me. We booked a room with two queen size beds and got a single king instead, which proved to be as awkward as it was tedious for my associate and myself . The employees at the lobby desk looked pained to check us in. After so me eye rolling and other snobbish behavior, we finally got to our room. The room its self was styled in some contrived faux rococo manner complete with Ikea furniture and Lucite desk lamps. We had a view of the bar. the [--] bar! what the hell kind of hotel showcases its overpriced bourgeoisie bar complete with oily business men in control freak suits and watered down high balls? oh that's right, this is all supposed to be "to the nines." what a deprived hell hole! where are all the real people?As for the library? just. don't. If you insist in staying here at least take a trip to Kelly's pub down the street, it will help numb the painful memories that this place will inevitably create.
Posh In a Very Hip Way
by TripAdvisor Member TurtleCreekTraveller
Having stayed at many hotels in Portland over the years, I can easily say you should try The Nines ASAP! I found it to be a stunning property in so many respects. The common areas and the rooms are fascinating and both visual and tactile quality are outstanding. The library and lounge on the 8th floor are amazing, and the atrium views rival or perhaps exceed the city views. I've stayed in many top hotels listed in Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure, and found the service at The Nines to absolutely be on par with those properties and very welcoming. It is true that some rooms only have a shower, but they will work to honor your request for a room with bath if you ask. If you insist on old-world luxury like the Ritz in Paris, this might not be your hotel, but if you appreciate an updated take on luxury that incorporates an element of old-world elegance, this property will keep you coming back.
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