Hotel Grand Stark

It was wonderful

I absolutely loved this hotel. Just gorgeous and clean :) The room was gorgeous. The only downside is the area outside wasn't the most comfortable to walk around. Some nomadic people around. It was no problem to just jump in the car to go to the next location. Again, I'm planning to stay there again. It was so cozy.

Although the building appears to be an old building, everything was very clean. The rooms are pretty small but because it was for business it worked fine for me. Facility was fine but I was more irritated at my arrival. I was early and was hoping to check in early. When I asked the front desk about checking in, the individual responded to me very negatively. Maybe this is the policy, maybe they were full and unable to I don’t know but the response seemed like it was unwarranted. Usually the term “hospitality” means just that, being hospitable to the patrons who are paying for their service. Treat everyone with respect. Unfortunately, for this specific reason, I will most likely never return to this hotel. In fact if there wasn’t a cancellation fee I would’ve changed hotels that day.

I quite like a quirky hotel and this is certainly quirky. Has a funky but retro vibe. Good open meeting areas and bar in the foyer space. Nicely reburbished building with especially nice timber floor boards and cute old fashioned phone in the room. Staff were friendly. Bed was slightly saggy but I found it comfy. (Might not suit all with bad backs.) Shower was outstanding with a huge shower rose. Great selection of snacks and drinks in the cute Smeg fridge.

I am willing to forgive a lot for quirky, but it felt like a pretty dangerous area and the room had the absolute worst layout ever because it was too small. The bed was in the middle of the room! No wall contact at all and the TV was on a side wall so you had to look sideways at the TV if you were in bed. This was because the room was too narrow for the bed to fit in any other configuration and it was a double bed, not a queen. The lighting was terrible! Both for working and for makeup. The window looked out on a neighbouring building wall so it was impossible to even know what the weather was like from inside. The aircon was either freezing or too warm but always noisey. A really annoying thing was the fact that the cold faucet turned on the wrong way! That takes some getting used to. The sink was not in the bathroom which was also inconvenient. The tiles in the shower recess were mouldy. The last person's pile of rubbish was still in the room when I arrived which was gross and when I left the bin out to be emptied they took it away and didn't return it for 2 days. There was no kettle, but they provided one on request. No tea bags, only coffee pods. Horizontally ridged hall carpet made for very noisy luggage rolling past. Oh, and last but definitely not least, the owner of the hotel chain apparently won't allow any milk of any kind in any of his hotels so good luck if you take milk in your tea or coffee. I kid you not! For that reason alone I will never stay in one of his hotels ever again.

Hotel was great to stay in. A few minor things that I noticed, only like a 3/4 left of TP, coffee in room okay but no sugar or cream and we only had 2 towels- which again minor things. Highly recommend water and or coffee/tea in lobby for guests.

restaurant in hotel and next door were both excellent

A great hotel with excellent staff, very comfy beds, and a calm and relaxed environment. We found that the people in Portland were so friendly, it almost felt as if it wasn't real, but after a few days in the city we realised everyone was just incredibly kind and genuine! The hotel staff were no exception - very welcoming and helpful; even after we left some of our belongings there and had travelled 700 miles down the coast, they were kind enough to reach out to us to advise of the error and support with having the items shipped to our next hotel ahead of our departure from the USA, which was a very time sensitive situation. The valet team were also brilliant! We also stayed in a Palihotel in San Francisco, another of the 'Palisociety' hotels group which Grand Stark is part of, and found that the in-room amenities were better at Grand Stark, and the staff were levels above. We had a wonderful time and would stay again!

Awesome place to stay

I stayed in this hotel for 3 nights, the hotel basically is good clean. I made the reservation by phone and they charged me $29.99 to book the room. When l arrived in the hotel, they said you don’t have any balance, what shocked me l was charged, when l asked to connect me with reservation team they said we don’t have a reservation team !!!! Ooh So who booked the room for me ?? The service is not impressive, is not even enough. I asked for housekeeping to make my bed at around 11h and they said it’s too late. That was wired, also in the room there’s a fridge but it’s for them, it’s not for the guest so if you have food or drinks, it will end up in throwing them because no space in the fridge. Putting things in a guest fridge it’s inconvenience, not all the guests like what you offer. What would be convenient is leaving the fridge empty for the guests and get a vending machine this is what the Hotels do. Also no early check in. You have to pay even though it’s 30 minutes or 40 early. The bathroom door can’t be locked, is broken:(