Exiting the highway at Vaughan Street and driving the short distance to the Silver Cloud Inn, I thought, "Oh no. *This* is the neighborhood where I chose to stay?" It's not that the scenery looked unsafe or downtrodden -- just very industrial.

Good thing I didn't judge a book by its cover, because the neighborhood, AND staying at Silver Cloud, is lovely.

The hotel is not much to look at from the outside, but on the inside, it is nicely appointed (even if not sleekly modern) and meticulously clean. In addition, I found the staff to be very friendly and extremely helpful. It was my first visit to Portland, and each desk clerk I spoke with was eager to help with tips that would allow me to get the most of my visit (neighborhoods to check out, using public transit, etc.)

The rooms were reasonably spacious, and the climate control worked very well. Good thing, too, since I was there during an unusually cold week!

From the hotel, it's a very easy walk to the nearest Portland Streetcar stop -- just a few short blocks from Silver Cloud. Riding the Streetcar in the loop on my first day in Portland was a great way to get acquainted with the various neighborhoods in the city.

That said, Silver Cloud is in an adorable neighborhood, full of charming shops, alluring bars and good restaurants. Long story short, the area is a far cry from my initial impression. Give it a chance.

With breakfast included -- and a nicer breakfast than the typical free breakfast you'd see at a hotel -- Silver Cloud is an exceptional value, with room rates that are well below some of the better known chains I'd looked into.

I'd definitely recommend giving Silver Cloud a try. You may be pleasantly surprised, like I was!