I gave the hotel 1 star because less than 0 isn't an option - it should be called "The Century Ago" hotel. Generally speaking, this place is the epitome of false advertising: It is nowhere near Portland metro, being that it is "centrally located in Tualatin's business district" (which by the way is like being the first office to the right on the 3rd floor of a 6-story medical clinic - there's nothing particularly interesting about the location in the first place) and while it is affordable for a hotel, the experience is more like that of a converted Motel 6 (except the outdoor renovations),but don't expect the same service or ambiance as The Grand Hotel or another 3-star venue.
We reserved a room block for our guests coming in from all over the country - NY to LA - and couldn't have been more disappointed in that decision. When you consider you can stay at the Grand in Tigard (right near Bridgeport and closer to Lake Oswego/Portland metro with shuttle service and ACTUAL amenities) for less in most cases than a "lakeside" view at this hotel - conveniently located in the 'burbs of SW Portland (where life shuts down after 8 pm without a $20+ uber ride to elsewhere) we left feeling robbed of $660 for 3 nights' stay (taxes are $20, and embarrassed to have suggested this venue to our guests staying locally for our wedding in Sherwood.
When we checked in late evening Friday at the front desk, the staff" were nice but not above and beyond, and acted/appeared to be brought in from a temp agency or on call for the regular staff; dressed in casual clothing and seemingly incapable of doing much without consulting another staff member.
The elevator ride to the room should've been an indication of the "trapped" feeling I'd have all weekend, as the hotel walls, floors, and rooms are beige, puke/pea green, or crap brown, and adorned with "artwork" I wouldn't waste driving to the thrift shop to donate - a few reprinted and cheaply framed polka dot wall hangings true to the "old world ambiance" they are going for. The furniture appears to have been purchased through a close-out sale or from an office building that redecorated - the colors made me feel like I was back in my office cubicle - pale, cheap, and unappealing. No wonder all the featured pics are of the outside view, which was lovely from our one window that looks through the "deck" to the "lake", but is nonexistent from the balcony door where the view would be visible from the bed, as the door faces the side wall of the building/patio (no view). The lone window was also located above the room's archaic heater/AC wall unit that uses a "hot/cool" or "blue/red" dial as the thermostat - impossible to get to a decent temperature since it sits under the window and is in the furthest corner from the rest of the room where the guests would be located 90% of the time.
The "services" at the hotel are better matched to that of a Days Inn located along a stretch of highway with no other services for 100+ miles - decent if there's nothing else and you don't want to sleep in the roach motel but overpriced for the experience. There is no valet, bellhop, or concierge, and the hotel features only one elevator that barely fits the rickety luggage cart with 2 people. The property "features" an attached restaurant/bar that is accessible only via hotel exit and reentry at the opposite end to the hotel lobby (so if it's raining, it's not so conveniently attached). There are no spas, salons, or other services on-site, and if there's a fitness center I didn't see it. The pool/hot tub are located behind a door that at first glance could be mistaken for the janitor's closet, and is basically a concrete slab with a pool and hot tub right next to one another, featuring the type of plastic chairs/tables you find at an end of summer clearance. There are no windows inside the pool area and the ventilation sucks (or doesn't if I'm being literal), so it's stuffy and smells like chlorine. There are no fresh towels available there - you must bring from your room or grab from the laundry room if you can find it
. The location is certainly conveniently close to I-5, but Tualatin is located amidst all the things people generally take a vacation from - unnecessary traffic, doctors/dentists, carpool lots, grocery stores, your local breakfast all-day café, and strip malls overloaded with chain stores and pet food. It is 40+ minutes from wine country (so yes, only "minutes" away so long as you don't care how many), at least a 25 minute drive to downtown Portland (ie-$20+ uber ride), and almost 30 miles from the airport with a 2+ hour mass-transit ride to get there or back and not shuttle available. The hotel is located near nothing interesting unless Buffalo Wild Wings is your idea of fine dining and shopping at Cabela's seems exotic, The Oregon coast is still 2 hours away though offers rooms/rates that are similar (if not less) - consensus by all our guests was that it was overpriced. read more