We’ve talked about AirBnB in the past. I love it. It’s my favorite way to vacation. We’re going to Las Vegas Heck, I even AirBnB’d on my honeymoon!
But we’ve never talked about where to stay when you come visit Portland, and that’s a shame. Hotels are very expensive here, and they’re mostly downtown. Now, there’s nothing at all wrong with being downtown, but it’s only a fraction of the Portland flavor you see on TV.
So, where should you stay when you visit AirBnB Portland?
Great question.
I did a little digging, and thought, if I were coming to Portland, where should I stay? Which means, of course, only “entire homes” were eligible, since Brent just is not a fan of staying in someone else’s space.
There are a ton of awesome AirBnBs, but on first glance, many of them are in somewhat remote areas of the city. When you come visit, you want to be in a neighborhood. You want to walk to a coffee shop. Get that “keep Portland weird” vibe.
So, here are my suggestions of awesome AirBnBs in great Portland neighborhoods:
Downtown
Get to these by going to AirBnB (use that link to save $25!), then selecting the “entire place” filter, then filter by neighborhood and choose “downtown.”
Downtown is a bit pricey, but still less than a hotel room in the summer. For between $100 and $150, expect to get a studio or a small one-bedroom apartment.
NW Portland/Pearl District
Get to these by going to AirBnB (use that link to save $25!), then selecting the “entire place” filter, then filter by neighborhood and choose “Northwest District” and “Pearl.”
Situated a bit west and a bit north (we’re talking maybe a mile) from downtown, Northwest Portland and the Pearl District seem to be about the same price, but instead of itty bitty studios, you get more space. Plus, you get more funky layouts, and you’re still what would be considered downtown if Portland weren’t so determined to name every six block square a neighborhood. My friends used to live in this neighborhood. You could spend your whole trip eating and drinking and shopping here and you would leave fat, happy, and in love with Portland.
Funky Southeast
Get to these by going to AirBnB (use that link to save $25!), then selecting the “entire place” filter, then filter by neighborhood and choose “Richmond.”
This neighborhood is the hippest part of Portland (and you can believe me, because it’s not my neighborhood!). SE Division street runs through this neighborhood, and there’s something new there every time I go over there. Here’s my suggestion: find the cheapest place you can tolerate in this neighborhood and spend your savings on coffee, restaurants, and beer.
Inner North Portland/Mississippi Ave/Williams Ave
Get to these by going to AirBnB (use that link to save $25!), then selecting the “entire place” filter, then filter by neighborhood and choose “Boise-Eliot.”
Now, this is the neighborhood adjacent to mine, so I can’t be as unbiased here as I was about Division. This is a cool urban neighborhood. The major eateries are on Mississippi Avenue and Williams Avenue, which is a major bike corridor. You’re not too far from downtown, and there are plenty of awesome-looking places here. If you stay in this neighborhood, tweet at me and let me know! Maybe I’ll have a cup of coffee with you. Or some Thai food.
NE Alberta Arts Area
Get to these by going to AirBnB (use that link to save $25!), then selecting the “entire place” filter, then filter by neighborhood and choose “King” and “Alameda.”
This is where I live, and if you know me, you should stay with me when you come, because you know I have guest rooms! We also have a studio apartment in our house, which we are renting to someone on a long-term basis, but I have thoughts and dreams of turning it into an AirBnB when our tenant leaves (which hopefully won’t be for five or six more years). There’s a bus that will take you straight downtown and a bunch of things that will keep you entertained should you not want to leave the neighborhood. Alberta Street is so fun and funky. Let’s go have tea one afternoon!
If you stay in a hotel, you get to see one side of Portland, but if you stay in an AirBnB, you get to see a lot more of the city. Portland is remarkably bike friendly and public transportation is abundant. Come visit, and get a real sense for the city I call home.
