We came to Portland to learn more about the city since we want to one day move here. We stayed at this home for seven weeks, which was a major factor in locking in our dreams to make this city our future home. Our host, Winston, was a big contributor as to why. Why? This was one of the best AirBNB experiences we’ve ever had, but not for the reasons typically listed in reviews. Here are five reasons we recommend staying at Winston’s place:
First, Winston is an incredible human. He’s charming, funny, quirky, and goes out of his way to make you feel welcome in his home. His recommendations for everything from a perfect shot of espresso, to the best tacos, to a killer dog-friendly hike were always top notch.
Second, the quality of this home cannot be understated...such a comfortable bed, amazing coffee/espresso maker, gorgeous decor and a killer projector and sound system. Not to mention the sauna and cold plunge, which is a must-do on a cold and rainy Portland day. This is all true because this house is literally Winston’s home and he has damn good taste.
Third, the location was amazing - a safe neighborhood right next to a giant dog park, and walking distance to New Seasons grocery store and Alberta St. If you’re a craft beer drinker, Breakside Brewery is just a mile or two down the road.
Fourth, Jesus (aka Bob). This cat (yes, his name is Jesus) is the coolest damn cat, and we don’t even like cats that much. He’s super friendly and cuddly, even when our dog was barking at him, and by the end of trip, he hopped in our car to try to leave with us and we were very tempted to steal him (only kind of kidding...) Winston’s dog, Alsea, is also the sweetest thing on the planet and a perfect playmate for our pup while Winston was around.
Fifth, this is the type of experience we think AirBNB had in mind when the platform was first created...we saw the city through the eyes of our host, safely shared some beers and a few games of Settlers of Catan, and made a bunch of new friends in the process.
All that said, there are a lot of things about this stay that worked really well for us (and actually made our stay better), but those things might not work for others, including: this is actually Winston’s house, do not stay here if you’re looking for a manicured vacation rental with IKEA furniture; Winston stayed in the separate basement apartment for half our stay, so we got to know him (by choice) very well; we felt like we were really living in this house and keeping it in working order during our extended stay — bringing in packages, taking out trash, composting, letting in maintenance staff for service appointments, etc. To be super clear, ALL of this was checked with us first, Winston never scheduled anything without us confirming we were ok with it.
Moral of the story is that if you stay here, then you are getting a precious invitation into Winston’s life and home, please treat it with respect...if this isn’t the experience you are looking for, consider staying elsewhere to preserve this wonderful place.