Inn at St John Portland In-Town

Loved this Inn, clean and staff were so friendly and helpful. Only downfall is no elevator, so if you are on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th floors, you are hiking your luggage up narrow stairs. But . . . the stay was worth it, plus one gentleman helped us with luggage. Very small breakfast area, but was good.

Convenient location in town with free onsite or nearby parking. Can walk to many areas of Portland. Great prices compared to other in-city hotels. Incredibly helpful staff. Solid continental breakfast included. Is there a catch? Yes. But it is not a deal breaker if you are aware that all rooms are accessible only by stairs, and the first staircase is a bit steep. Some rooms are one more flight up, and a few are three flights up. Front desk staff volunteered to bring our luggage upstairs for us on our most recent stay. Also, while some rooms have a private bathroom and others have you sharing a bathroom, all bathrooms are down the hall from your room and require your room key to unlock the bathroom door. Not terrible, particularly since the hotel provides nice bathrobes in each sleeping room. We have stayed there a number of times over the years. The money you save each night can cover your lunches and dinners at fine restaurants in this “foodie” town — and still cost you less overall than just the room rates and parking/valet fees at fancier brand-name chain hotels in Portland. The beds are comfortable. Each room has a small fridge, a TV, a mini-safe, an iron and ironing board. You just need to be ready for stairs and for your private bathroom to be down the hall from your room rather than in your room. It is clearly not an ADA compliant hotel, being an older building with the quirky design issues noted above and no elevator.

This hotel is very unique. Everyone has a private bathroom near your room. There also was limited parking, however, there was more free parking a block away. The staff was very friendly and the breakfast area was constantly being cleaned so there were always clean tables for other guests. The only drawback to this hotel is that all of the room are on the 2nd or 3rd floor, so if stairs are an issue, then this hotel isn’t for you.

Quiet place that feels like a trip into the past.