The Benson hotel has established itself as my go-t...

The Benson hotel has established itself as my go-to location when traveling to Portland. The hotel staff are kind and inviting. They responded to the current pandemic with care and attention. All aspects of our room were clean, and clearly marked as sanitized prior to our stay. The remote control was even shrink-wrapped for easy cleaning.

We brought our dog with us on this trip, and they gave her a welcome gift with a toy (her new favorite!) and treat, and some baggies to clean up on walks. The hotel staff were happy to direct us to the nearby parks when time for her walks, and recommended dog-friendly dining options with outdoor seating. Although the Palm Court restaurant is temporarily "closed" the seating is still open and they welcomed us by offering a complimentary drink each evening. Most guests opted to take drinks to their room, but my husband and I enjoyed them at a table downstairs, and I'm glad we did.

Jeff in the Palm Court is a stand-out host. He greeted us, and our dog, warmly each evening. Even with social distancing and masks, you could see the smile in his eyes, and hear it in his voice. He asked warmly about our day, and gave us some wonderful suggestions for a dog-friendly itinerary walking trails near the zoo and seeing the local sights. He really helped make our trip a success.

Also, I can't say enough good things about the service and accommodations overall. Unfortunately, the first room we had developed a clog in the shower drain, and we discovered it at midnight. Despite the late hour, front desk staff responded promptly with keys to a new room so we could shower, and offered to help us relocate on the spot. We were tired though, and asked to wait until morning. After breakfast, they sent a valet to move all our bags across the hall for us, and upgraded us to a larger room. Service was exceptional, and the beds in this hotel are the absolute most comfortable that I've ever slept on. Seriously, best mattress, and best sleep in years!

When it came time for checkout we called the front desk who sent the valet to pull our car around, and another person to pick up our bags for us. He said something like, "you're welcome to head downstairs if you'd like, and I'll load the bags and bring them to you. Your car should already be waiting." I over-packed, and was getting used to lugging things around on my road-trip, but the Benson team didn't make us lift a finger. Every need was tended to during our stay. This place earned all 5 stars!