In order to adequately capture how incredible our experience in Portland was, I’ll need to break this review down into 3 parts:
1) the unit itself,
2) the location,
3) the (super)host, Beau.

First off, the space. Beau’s unit is beautifully remodeled. The bottom-floor space has its own bathroom, full kitchen, bedroom and living space. From the wonderful smelling shampoos and soaps, to the cozy bathrobes and amazing memory foam bed, it’s safe to say that this stay was many times nicer than any I would’ve had at an area hotel downtown. I have even considered changing my mattress after experiencing the restful sleep I did at Beau’s! The living room area is great for a relaxing night in with the TV on, and has a kitchen that is fully stocked with all essential cookware for making a gourmet meal.

The location also makes this stay a gem. The NW district has to be one of the most ideal places to stay when visiting Portland. Easy access to the MAX lines and Portland streetcar make exploring Downtown and the Pearl District easy, but why even go there when you can walk down 23rd (which is seconds from Beau’s place) and find places ranging from serving gourmet coffee and artisanal donuts to no-frills diners and great bars. The small boutiques on 23rd also make for a great afternoon of exploring. We spent time in the Pearl district and downtown, but neither seemed to capture Portland’s true character (in all it’s awesome-ness) as did the NW district/Nob Hill area where Beau’s unit is.

Lastly, the host, Beau. I have yet to meet a host on Airbnb so amicable and good-natured. The “sharing economy” that has propped up in the last few years has caused strangers to interact in ways they may never had before, and I can say that my perspective on how to treat those who are strangers has changed for the better after meeting Beau. He was kind enough to provide our bags with a place to stay for a few hours due to our early arrival, and felt like an old friend telling us which bars and restaurants were worth checking out in the neighborhood. I found myself chatting with Beau like a friend from home about the recent rarity of Portland snow and of his time in the city. He was quick to replace our towels and washcloths with clean ones by the door each morning, and provided us with umbrellas and maps of the surrounding areas, too. Thank goodness Airbnb has a “superhost” category, because he is worthy of it in all facets!

If you are on the fence about a trip to Portland, GO! Go and stay at Beau’s and you will surely have a time worth remembering. Life is about making great memories, and meeting equally as great of people, and everyone is looking for a two-for-one deal, right?