What a dreamy stay in Portland! The neighborhood and city are amazing, but the apartment and hosts Penelope and Nathan really gave us the Shangri-la experience we feared might lure us away from Brooklyn. I've stayed in many air bnb's and this has been my favorite. It gives the woodsy, serene feel of the Pacific Northwest along with every amenity imaginable. I especially appreciated the dimmers on the lights and the Kleenex since my allergies had kicked into gear and the previous two air bnb's had only toilet paper. There were tons of similar little delights to up the luxury quotient and show that these hosts were incredibly thoughtful about anticipating guests' wishes.

The bedroom wasn't as small as I imagined and the bed in there is like sleeping on a cloud. My friends had less luck with the pullout, which was an air mattress that deflated on them over the course of the night. But as soon as we let Penelope know, she and Nathan were there going totally out of their way to replace the entire sofa with a regular mattress to avoid similar problems in future. And this was despite our protests and also on the Friday of the getaway weekend they'd planned for themselves. They are both so sweet and attentive and it's reflected in the decadence of the space. So much so that it was really difficult to leave and back in Brooklynour minds wander to the time we can return in the future.

The neighborhood is also pretty rich with great places to eat and drink. We enjoyed the vegan barbecue and outdoor patio at The Bye and Bye, where we smoked with impunity during a lengthy downpour, and great fondue at Cafe Hibiscus. The espresso at Barista is heavenly and we had a huge, delicious breakfast at Tasty 'n' Sons which is nearby if you like a walk. We can't wait to come back and stay with Penelope and Nathan again and maybe talk them into going out for a round.