Thursday, January 24, 2008

Travel, lodging and local transportation

DO NOT rent a car. SERIOUSLY. If you think that we just don’t understand and you do, in fact, need a car, talk to us about it first.

Portland has great public transportation. The hotel is right on the MAX line – Portland’s clean, safe, cheap, convenient light rail – and the MAX line at the airport is easier to get to than any rental car. And the hotel is right downtown near theaters, restaurants, bars, parks, shops and more! It would be ridiculous to try and drive anywhere!

Yes, you need to get to and from the wedding. Our plan is to have locals pick up out-of-towners at the hotel before the wedding and then out-of-towners can hitch rides and/or take cabs back to the hotel. The cost of a cab will be about the same as the cost to park your car at the hotel for one night.

So don’t rent a car!


The hotel: Hotel deLuxe is the former Mallory, an old classic Portland hotel. Recently the Mallory got a complete renovation so it is swanky, chic and very comfortable. Brooke has used them in the past for group bookings and it has been great. They are also just about the most reasonably priced hotel downtown, particularly when considering how comfortable it is.

Some things to know:

  • When you book, mention you are with the Matschek/Landon wedding group and you will get a 15% discount on the best currently available rate.
  • Book soon as the hotel doesn’t actually “block out” rooms – they just offer the group discount.
  • Book soon! As the hotel has less space available and as we get closer to the summer, prices go up! Right now the best available rate on the single queen room is about $144 with the discount.
  • Book soon!! Summer is a busy season in Portland and there are several other wedding blocks at this hotel already!

Some of the hotels amenities:

  • "Make it so" button on every guest room phone (anything that you might need? We will make it so!)
  • Pillow Menu
  • iPod music menu and iPod stations in every room
  • High-speed wireless Internet
  • LCD flat-screen televisions (the ONLY Portland hotel with HDTV)
  • 24-hour room service
  • 24-hour fitness center
  • Gracie's restaurant (serving organic NW cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Driftwood Room (Happy Hour 3-6pm)
  • Located on the MAX Light Rail
  • Closest downtown hotel to Nob Hill and Pearl District

Budget Alternatives: Especially for those who want to come to Portland for a few extra days, let us know if camping, Craig's list, or less-swanky hotels seem more up your alley.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Our wedding blog

Hi. There are a slew of stupid "create your own wedding website" wedding pages. I found them limiting and annoying so we are making our own little wedding website via blogger! Yay!