Hampton Inn, Oakland Downtown City Center

SERVICE & TRANSITIONS -- 👍 good

Bright beautiful & spotless! Cleaning standards were as impressive as could be throughout the property. 

My checkin experience however proved underwhelming due to visibly unmotivated staff -- including the security guard 😳 -- tighten up folks (she was nicer than the receptionist at least)! Their preoccupation for chisme was off-putting (if not a complete ick).

Past the grandiose & masterfully-designed lobby, navigation gets really complex & unintuitive thanks to the maze-like corridors 😵‍💫. Elevators were also slower than drip-coffee but extra roomy which was nice!

Tap payment accepted.

ROOM [King, City View, Fridge Microwave] -- 👍

The layout was inviting & homey, comfortably accommodating multiple guests in seating & storage. It looked clean, felt clean, & the lighting was excellent -- as were many of the amenities. My biggest complaint with this room was its workspace. The tabletop dimensions were inadequate & the chair lacked good ergonomics.

The AC system was also a nightmare; partly on the wall & partly controlled on the terminal unit.

🤦‍♂️

They're still using the flimsy, dirty, paper DnD signs here which is a pet-peeve... 🤢🚮♻️

BED [King] -- 👍good

A recharging sleep experience.

This mattress had the perfect balance of firmness & support. Comfortable in every sleep position.

Sheets, covers & pillows were not on the same levels of quality, however... A very underwhelming set of dressings for such a fine mattress.

Bed-side utility was a notable highlight, featuring generous power access with multiple outlets and USB ports within easy reach. 

BATH -- 👍 great

High cleaning standards were on display, illuminating a perfect vanity install in this huge bathroom.

The towel staging was also a really nice touch.

Sink & shower water pressure were surprisingly weak. Otherwise it was a magnificent shower experience:

Zero Degree bath products were provided, temperatures were consistently HOT, & the exhaust system was in peak condition.

TV SOLUTION/ACTIVITIES -- 👍 ok

The room featured an impressive 55" Samsung TV with reliable cable service. Its mount was respectable for the  easily accessible ports. Yet, the overall TV solution could be much simpler, particularly regarding the dual-remote system, which was as cumbersome as the AC controls... Audio performance was also subpar, making it a struggle to hear movies at a reasonable volume.

Consider packing a Chromecast/GoogleTV.

WI-FI & CELL RECEPTION -- 👎 bad

Free & unencrypted WiFi providing dismal speeds.

The wireless infrastructure was awful, with cellular dead zones in places like the bathroom. 

I wouldn't plan on getting much web surfing/work done in the rooms.

--Performance--

Video streaming - average

Online gaming - average

Video chatting - average 

--Nerd Stats--

2-5 Mbps download 

10-22 Mbps upload

0% packet loss

15 ms latency

7 ms jitter

FOOD & DRINK -- 👍 good

Not DoorDash friendly.

BIGLY Breakfast buffet in the morning  🤤

Snacks for purchase

in-room:

✅ microwave (mini)

✅ mini-fridge (small)

✅ coffee/tea

❌ wet-bar

❌ mini-bar

NOISE -- 👍 great

Perfect sound proofing.

LOCATION -- 👍 good

Smack dab downtown with phenomenal walkability to transit, stores, & eateries.

I particularly enjoyed touring the Black Panther party museum & utilizing the nearby WeWork!

There's an active security presence, but they were mostly on their mobile 🫥.

Still the space & surrounding areas felt safe.

Valet is $30/day;$50/overnight, while the garage a block away is $24/day.

RECOMMENDATION

Final Price: $119.98/night

Was it worth it? Yes

Best part: food & drink

Minus the DREADFUL WiFi & apathetic customer service, this was a perfect stay. I seriously hope the wireless infrastructure can be tuned up (along with their training program...). 

I'd love to return & explore more room types. Its just very unsuitable for tech work.

highly recommended if you can unplug for a few days.

4/5 ⭐️

@mrstaycation