Please understand that I DID NOT stay at this hostel. I live very near to Portland, and don't really need to stay anywhere in Portland.
However, some information from a local might be useful:
This hostel is the ONLY place that has public lodging on SE Hawthorne west of 82nd Avenue. In fact, on the entire central Hawthorne and Belmont eastside area (Portland's old east side residential neighborhoods area) there are precious few places that offer respectable public lodging. (There is a homeless shelter or two in the true "Central Eastside" district 1 mile closer to downtown, but those are not "respectable public lodging" by any means.)
The location is, however, one of the best in Portland for this type of accomodation. Hawthorne is a busy street, but still reasonable for pedestrian use during most hours. The neighborhood surrounding the hostel is very quiet, except for SE Hawthorne, and therefore one doesn't have to walk or ride a bike on a busy street to get around. Downtown Portland is very close to this accomodation. For me, it is a 20 minute or so walk. Bike ride and transit (#14 bus) are other options, and equally convenient. Several small neighborhood parks are nearby, and Mt. Tabor Park, which offers some great views of downtown and eastward to Mt. Hood, is about 2 miles away.
Since I wrote my original review of the hostel, several other reviews have appeared on VirtualTourist, and thus I will also redirect you to them, as some of these are people who actually stayed at this hostel, and contain very useful information for those who are considering it an option:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/a41c2/http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/101726/http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/180fac/http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/17b569/(Please note that there is one slight error in this last review: the Hawthorne District is east of downtown Portland, and not west of downtown Portland. In fact once Hawthorne crosses the Hawthorne bridge into downtown Portland, it ceases to exist on the west side of the river. However, just because someone got a little confused in their sense of direction doesn't mean their review of where they stayed should be any less relevant.)
Unique Qualities: Aside of its great location:
The hostel also has a number of ecologically sound features. For example, they have installed an "eco-roof" - a roof made of plants that help insulate the building as well as help keep the air in the city clean. Rainwater is collected and used for watering plants, rather than dumped onto the street. The web site (below) has a section that describes their ecological commitment.
Need food? Safeway is across the street and west two blocks. There are also several nearby convenience stores, and a Zupan's Market not far away on SE Belmont, as well as various other options.
Need restaurants? Hawthorne is full of them.
Want a cheap movie?
The Bagdad shows movies, has food, and entrance (which does not include drinks or food) is only $3.
Need goofy gifts? Hawthorne has some interesting stores and if that isn't enough Belmot is an easy walk to the north and Division is an easy walk to the south, and the convenient bus line will take you to downtown Portland where you can visit Saturday Market or a host of other interesting spots. Or, you can take the #14 bus east to the end of the line at Lents, where you can visit
Trillium Artisans and get other interesting and unique items.
Need an ATM? Bank of America is 8 blocks east, and Rivermark Credit Union is 6 blocks west.
As I say, I have no need to use the hostel as I already live here, but if I were visiting Portland this would be high on my list of places to stay.
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Theme: Hostel
Phone: 503-236-3380
Address: 3031 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, OR 97214
Directions: North side of street, just after the Safeway store which is on the south side of the street.
Website: http://www.portlandhostel.org/
Other Contact: Toll Free: 1-866-447-3031
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on Apr 20, 2008
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