Although it’s only October, I’m one of those people who shops for holiday gifts year-round. Sometimes, that means that I have to find that perfect gift twice, because I get so excited to give the first gift that I can’t hang on to it all the way to December.
Thankfully, there’s no sales tax in Oregon, which means my money goes that much further. We want our visitors to take advantage of that great savings too, which is why we brought back our Perks + $50 promotion from now through Dec. 30.
Come visit Portland from Nov. 1-Dec. 30 and book a two-night stay at a participating Portland Perks hotel and you’ll get free overnight parking (an avg. savings of $25/night downtown); free continental breakfast; a discount-packed coupon book with savings on shopping, dining, attractions and performances; AND $50 cash upon check-in to get you started on that gift list. Who knows, you might even be able to pick something up for yourself.
Remember, you can only book this package on travelportland.com. Happy shopping!
Personally, I think that Portland has a lot of perks. There’s the great tax-free shopping, the quick-and-easy access to the great outdoors (hello Forest Park!), the drool-worthy culinary and liquid libation scene and above all, the welcoming buzz of activity.
Lan Su Chinese Garden by LaValle PDX
Portland Perks is also the name of Travel Portland’s exclusive hotel package. It includes your choice of more than 25 hotels; free overnight parking (an average savings of $25 for downtown hotels); complimentary continental breakfast for two and a discount-packed coupon book filled with savings like $20 off dinner at the Heathman Restaurant and 2-for-1 admission to the Lan Su Chinese Garden.
Portland Perks is a great deal year-round, but if you book a two-night stay from now until April 30, you’ll get $50 cash at check-in to spend any way you wish. This is only valid at selected hotels and you need to travel by the end of April.
Need some extra Portland motivation? Now through April 5, you can vote for your favorite Portland-inspired photo on Facebook. The winner will receive a two-night stay at a participating Perks Hotel, a $50 American Express giftcard and a Canon PowerShot SX130 IS digital camera for all those pretty pictures.
After three days in Seattle for my daughter’s volleyball tournament last weekend, it was good to be home. But travel tournaments like these are also nice mini-vacations for our family.
When you’re driving up to a mountain, seeing its bright peak pop up in the distance is one of the most exhilarating feelings. Anticipating what you’ll find there is part of the fun, because a winter-white landscape can be so refreshing to the body and spirit during the grayest part of the year. Whether you are someone who feels the need for speed — downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling or sledding – or prefer the peace of quiet forest trails and cozy lodges, Mount Hood has a world of fun waiting only about an hour and a half from Portland. (more…)
Grammy-nominated bassist Esperanza Spalding will perform at the Portland Jazz Festival.
The Portland Jazz Festival isn’t until February (Feb. 18-27, 2011, to be exact), but you can buy tickets and book hotel rooms NOW. And if you book one of the hotels supporting the festival, you can get an outrageous 50% discount on the best ticket package.
This year’s theme highlights Jewish and African Americans playing jazz together, with both a historic perspective and the inclusion of contemporary Israeli musicians. You’ll be able to go to a klezmer brunch or a gospel brunch — or, hopefully, to both! I’m hoping to see the Jewish community at the gospel events and the African American community at the synagogue for some klezmer music.
Stay tuned for more blog posts about the Jazz Festival.
There are people who love deals (Pretty much everyone, right?) — and then there’s Cheryl VanClacken. The host of the fictional morning show “Perk Up Portland!” lives to “help” local celebs sniff out bargains. Check out her videos for the lowdown on savings, Portland-style. One note: While Portlanders do enjoy saving money, few of us are quite as … enthusiastic … as Cheryl.
Have you visited the official Portland fan page on Facebook? That’s where we share local tips and talk with 6,000 or so of our closest friends.
If you’re not yet among Portland’s fans, now is the perfect time to join the party. This month, we’re sharing more than great insider info about the city: We’re offering a $50 gift card for shopping — sans sales tax — at downtown Portland’s Pioneer Place. Just book your spring getaway (minimum two-night stay) by Feb. 21 for travel by April 30.
To get your gift card, plus complimentary overnight parking, continental breakfast for two and the discount-packed Portland Perks coupon book, visit the Portland fan page on Facebook.
Since I work for Travel Portland, many of my out-of-town friends and family ask me if I know of any secret deals on hotels, restaurants and activities in Portland (most of these people are beyond crashing on my couch, but still want to save a buck).
The answer? Of course I do. I always send them to Portland Perks, where they can get exclusive deals on more than 35 Portland hotels, free parking, free continental breakfast and the Portland Perks coupon book – more on that in a second.
But starting today, I can share an even sweeter deal. People who follow the Travel Portland Twitter feed can book a participating Portland Perks hotel with all the benefits and save an extra $50 off a two-night stay. (more…)
Today I’m happy. Not only because the sun’s shining, meaning I’ll be able to get a nice mid-leg tan while riding my bike tonight, but also because I’ve just received news I’ve been looking forward to for some time; good news for responsible travelers on their way to Portland.
LEED Gold certified, please
Today, Sage Group, which owns two downtown hotels, announced that it’s received LEED Gold certification for the newly opened Courtyard by Marriott City Center, following the recent LEED Silver certification of the Nines.
LEED Certification is granted to development projects and existing buildings that can document leadership in energy efficient design and environmentally friendly construction and operation. Points are awarded for a great variety of practices, and LEED Certification is granted at four levels: basic, silver, gold and platinum, depending upon the points achieved.
The Courtyard joins other green hotels downtown, which are either LEED or Green Seal certified, and now makes the very select list of only 15 LEED Gold hotels in the country. For other green hotels in Portland, browse our list of green-certified partners online.
Sera Architects is responsible for the sustainable design of both the Courtyard and the Nines. And here again, the company created a “first.” Before and during construction, the architects tracked the expenses generated by the “green” additions. They then factored in the various subsidies and savings that the sustainable design elements allowed. The results, available on Sera’s website, are mind-blowing. In both cases, the additional costs were paid back within a year, after which the hotels made profits from the changes. Good news which, I hope, will encourage other hotel developers to choose a better way to build.
Plum Hill's vineyard dog relaxes with us in the new tasting room.
Memorial Day in wine country can be a lot of fun. Almost all of the wineries are open, wine flows, food is served — it’s a great party for the entire Willamette Valley. But it can also be too much — crowded wineries, jacked-up tasting fees, and people tasting one glass of wine too many. And honestly, between the driving and the distance between the wineries, how many can you really fit into one day? So, if you missed the festivities last weekend, not to worry — you can have your own custom wine tasting extravaganza, ANY weekend of the year, in Forest Grove.
The first thing I thought when I visited this place was: what a fun-loving town this is. They’ve got SIX wineries, a McMenamins hotel, and a saké brewery, all within this cute little college town. SakéOne has events going on all the time — from Sakétini Saturdays to their summer concert series. And McMenamins Grand Lodge’s multiple bars are awesome spots to catch live music.
But back to wine. You can easily make a day or weekend out of hanging out and wine tasting in Forest Grove. There are major wineries like Montinore Estate and small, family-run places like Apolloni Vineyards. Most of these are open to the public every weekend, with super affordable tasting fees (often only $5). The wine out there is a bargain too — you can bring home an incredible Pinot Noir for around $30, not $60 like you’ll find in other parts of the valley. After tiring out from all that tasting, return to the Grand Lodge, only minutes down the road from most of these places, to have some dinner, listen to some music, dip in the soaking pool or just relax. Of course, McMenamins also makes their own wine, so if you want, you can continue your tasting trip into the night …
Since I work for Travel Portland, many of my out-of-town friends and family ask me if I know of any secret deals on hotels, restaurants and activities in Portland (most of these people are beyond crashing on my couch, but still want to save a buck).
