On the flight on the way into Portland we spent the final 15 minutes of our descent passing over endless expanses of water: lakes and tributaries of the mighty Colombia, the river to which Portland owes its existence. Glistening in the afternoon light, even as dark clouds massed, the waters were also free of development, with only occasional buildings and boats visible. By the time we landed though, very little was visible because the rain had arrived, and what a deluge.
It had been a wet June before we arrived on BA267 into Portland International, but by the time we took the bus from the airport, it was torrential. Standing water on Interstate 84 turned the road surface into a giant lake with vehicles seemingly water-skiing their way into the city. Closer to the city and by the side of the road, bedraggled tents were the first sign of Portland's appalling homelessness problem, though not the last. A brief dash from the kerb to under the awning of our hotel - The Heathman gave us the first of several soakings in the coming days. Up in the room, the local TV news was reporting road closures and the possibility of localised flooding, and by the next morning the weather update was that this was the wettest June on record, and we were only halfway through the month.
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Business Traveller UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Business Traveller UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
A highlight is the rooftop pool, which is a tropical oasis for post-meeting R&R
The Peninsula London
The design is all about natural light, greenery and open-plan spaces
Raffles London at The OWO
A stay at Raffles London at The OWO is bucket-list worthy
Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 business class HO CHI MINH CITY-LONDON
The bedding was nice - with pre-attached seat protector plus soft pillow and silky duvet
Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800 business class CASABLANCA-LONDON GATWICK
The service was great throughout the flight and the cabin crew were very friendly
Istanbul
Mosques, subterranean reservoirs and waterside attractions in the cosmopolitan Turkish city
Barking mad
Hoteliers worldwide are reaching for their dog bowls to meet the increasing demand of business travellers bringing their pets
BANGKOK RENAISSANCE
Whether it's extended metro lines, the huge number of new hotels or the parks springing up in the heart of the city, Thailand's capital is so much more than a stopover destination
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS
Discover the best wines available in the sky - and why you should avoid bold tannins inflight
RISKY BUSINESS
Business travellers need their wits about them more than ever these days with strategies in place should the worst happen