During our vacation to the Oregon coast recently, we decided to spend a few days in Portland on our return. Portland is such a beautiful city and even though it is close, we just never seem to have a reason to make it a destination. We discovered soon enough this had been a mistake on our part

Hopefully you have read all my blog posts regarding the beach house in Lincoln City (if not, please scroll down!). Well it just so happens that my cousin Phyllis, who owns the beach house, also travels to Portland a bit and had a definite opinion on where we should stay during our visit.

When we first began planning the trip, of course the thing to do is go on the internet and check out hotels. We had decided that The Governor was where we wanted to stay. An old hotel in the heart of the city, with fabulous architecture and a five star rating, that was our choice.

But Phyllis had other plans for us and forwarded information about her favorite hotel. The Hotel DeLuxe, also in downtown, was her recommendation wholeheartedly. Knowing us, she felt we would love the hotel, and she just so happened to have an email from them promoting a "Friends and Family" summer promotion. If you booked by August 30, they were selling their rooms at a great reduction. One look at the website and we were sold, making our reservations just under the deadline.

After our great time at the beach house, we would have been happy pretty much regardless of the situation, but we had no idea what we were going to experience. We pulled up to the curb in front of the hotel and entered a sanctuary that was hard pressed to compare to anything we have ever experienced. Phyllis told us the hotel was hip and sexy, yet old school. What a perfect description. It had been completely renovated in old Hollywood glamour with black and white photos from the 40's, 50's and 60's, along with a lot of crystal and creamy leather everywhere.

Three ready to serve, young and gorgeous, bellman met us at the car door. We did absolutely nothing but point and tell them what we wanted taken in. (You have to understand the amount of stuff we had, a ten day trip, a little embarrassing at the least.) But they didn't even blink as we pointed out everything from coolers to bags of food and shoes! It was at our door before we were.

We ended up in what they call their "Junior Suite." A beautiful corner room, two walls all windows with a view of the city, a couch and sitting area, a full walk in closet and a headboard that made me melt. I am not much on contemporary design, I feel it a little cold, but this was sleek, sexy, contemporary old style. Does that make sense? There were crystal lamps to die for (they wouldn't fit in my suitcase) and the headboard I so loved spanned the entire wall in beautiful cream colors.

We were in heaven. But did I mention the service? I realize we are not world travelers and maybe we don't have the highest expectations, but I do not know how they could have done any better. We never carried a bag or opened a door ourselves. The young doormen were ready and available for any amount of direction or guidance as far as what to see, where to go. They seemed to individually size you up and refer to the place you would most love, and every time they were dead on.

When the maid would service our room, it was like no other maid service I have ever had. She would color coordinate and arrange everything we had. Upon our return we would find our shoes all lined up in the closet like a magazine ad. Our toiletries would be arranged in perfect order, and my jewelry, which I would leave strewn all over a bureau top, would be organized by the accessory, folded and matched, and lined perfectly across the top. Are you serious? I was amazed.

The linens were gorgeous and extremely high quality, something I always use as a measuring device for a hotel. They had a pillow menu, you could select the particular type of pillow you most desired, out of a long list of types of pillows I had barely heard of. And of course the bed was one of the best I have ever slept in.

All of this at a price we thought was extremely reasonable, less than $150 a night, how can you beat that? I don't think we will ever stay anywhere else in Portland again. Also, you know those tacky card keys most hotels provide? Well this card key is probably one of the only ones I have ever intentionally kept. They are the same old Hollywood photos made into a simple key. Trust me, this hotel was a find and we highly recommend it.