I'm going to Maine the week of the 20th and I've got family in the Augusta area so whenever I've gone to Portland I've needed to drive back meaning I could never quite fully enjoy the Portland night life. Are there any Hostels or if not just cheap hotels in the downtown area? I'd like to be able to walk to Novare Res at least - but I don't mind walking a ways.
I saw this documentary about hostels once called "Hostel" watch out for creepy little kids and guys with blow torches.
It's not a hostel, but my girlfriend and I have stayed at the Inn at St. John several times. It's an old hotel with shared bathrooms, so it tends to be fairly cheap. But it's Portland in the summer, of course, so I'm not sure how cheap it will be in July. Still, it's been very comfortable and clean. It's on the edge of the peninsula, so not in the heart of downtown, but an easy 20 minute (ish) walk to Novare Res and all the other spots, and right on the #1, #3 and #5 bus lines.
The Holiday Inn by the Bay is an excellent hotel, really close to Novare Res etc., and under $200 for a weekday. Half joking but if you can't afford that, you probably can't afford a night of drinking at Novare Res....
I stayed at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Portland, which isn't super close to the Old Port (30-minute walk to Novare Res) but it's 2 blocks away from the #1 and #5 bus lines -- and it's far more convenient than the hotels out by the airport. It was basic, but clean, quiet, and relatively cheap, so no complaints.
Including cities like big Portland, Seattle and San Francisco, I have rarely spent more than $120 a night, and never anywhere close to $200. And I've always stayed in clean, charming and comfortable hotels, with easy access to public transit. I figure I'm not on vacation to hang out in a cushy room, and I'd rather save the money to spend on beer, food and other interesting things. I'm not sure how much a place like the Inn at St. John or some others cost, but I really doubt it's going to be anywhere near $200. Save the money for beer.
That sounds like a Priceline commercial... The Holiday Inn is only 3 blocks away...perhaps that's worth an additional Andrew Jackson or two to some folks.
Haha, true. Do you have to pay to use Priceline? If so, I'd rather save the money for beer, as well. Plus, you can always drink a beer while searching the internet for a cheap hotel.
Dunno man... My wife was on business so I got to stay at the Holiday Inn on the company's dime. Great breakfast and very pet friendly...the close proximity and in-room bathroom helped out alot after drinking for 8+ hours in Old Port...Cheers !
Sick with happiness, or sick, period? Novare and Vignola alway have cheeses on hand. And I may be doing a beer & cheese thing there end of July for a private party, but after that one maybe it'll happen a little more often. Or, head to Eb's or Lion's Pride - always a cheese plate available. Long as it doesn't make you "sick" sick...
My thoughts are with Frank on this. Sure, I can afford a $200 hotel for a night but since all I'm doing there is passing out when the bars close, waking up and taking a quick shower, there's no point in spending $200 when $50 will do the same thing, the next night I'll be camping at Eb's so I'd rather save the money on beer and food than sleeping...
Seriously, try airbnb.com - you can sleep conmfortably in a local's home for a cash outlay of less than $30, typically. If you are drinking, mind your manners, though or you will get a bad user-rating on the site, a la EBay. I have rented a room in a private home for 2 weekends/month through fall only 7 minutes from downtown, but it's a friend and she & her dog wouldn't be into drinkers flopping on her couch for the night - sorry.
The cheapest I can find for the night I'm looking at is $69, I should be able to get a hotel on priceline for a similar price.
I'm heading up there a few weekends later with the lady, and she wanted to stay in one of the nicer ($$) BNB's. I'll win the compromise elsewhere.
