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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Oakland-Airport


SERVICE & CHECKIN -- Slow checkin speed but early checkin is available for free. Accepted forms of payment include tap/electronic (+ credit/debit) which helps speed up the process.

The employee that handled our checkin had a lifeless 🧟‍♂️ demeanor & didn't give me much to work with, so there's not much I can say about customer service. Bell service was slow (requesting towels).


LOBBY, ELEVATOR, CORRIDORS -- Clean & streamlined lobby, unlike the elevators which are small & too slow for a property with even 3 floors.

Corridors were clean but tight; shuffling past a cleaning cart while carrying your luggage can be awkward/annoying.


ROOM (walkthrough) -- My first impression was positive.

The bright color scheme + spacious design put me in a happy mood & I felt comfortable settling into the room.

There's obvious signs of wear/age (tattered shades, wallpaper stains, windows overdue for a wash) but the condition was more than tolerable.

Overall feature set is strong:

functional windows with abundant natural light, generous dedicated workspace w/ergonomic chair, convenient wall hooks, clean carpet, & ample storage.

Cons: Terminal AC unit is loud & the lack of recycling receptacles is a disappointment 💔.


BED -- We slept in a single king configuration. 

I was impressed with the pillow selection: weighty with good texture.

The mattress wasn't my cup of tea. It lacked firmness & back support.

The bedding wasn't noteworthy either but it was clean & fresh.


BATH -- Small bathroom with sleek tiling & stone sink.

The shower head has a few extra spray patterns but the shower configuration is otherwise status quo: combination alcove tub w/ 3-piece (Dove) bath set.

Be prepared for the low toilet with obnoxiously loud flush.

Water pressure was strong throughout.

Cons: Towels are on the smaller side, No door stop installed for bathroom door (strange).


TV & ENTERTAINMENT -- ~50" Samsung TV on a premium mount with rotation & extension. Great for watching TV from the various seating options.

Ports are easily accessible for connecting a Google TV / chromecast if you decide not to use the DirectTV remote & set top box.

WI-FI & CELL RECEPTION -- Encrypted WiFi!

Very pleased with the security & performance. Verizon service was  also strong & reliable enough in this area for hotspots.

--Performance--

Video streaming - good

Online gaming - great

Video chatting - good

--Nerd Stats--

4-41 Mbps down

9-50 Mbps up

1.30% packet loss

21 ms latency

44.5 ms jitter


FOOD & DRINK -- DoorDash friendly.

Microwave, mini fridge, & coffee bar in the room.

Free breakfast & a snack shop are available downstairs.

NOISE -- Housekeepers' chatter is louder than the planes taking off nearby!

The parking lot & highway traffic can be noisy too.

Combined with the loud plumbing & loud AC,  this place is anything but peaceful.


LOCATION -- Just your typical cluster of hotels in an airport city. Felt safe enough.


RATING

It's a very noisy space & not for the obvious reasons, but the rooms are serviceable & competitively priced.

If you're noise-sensitivity, I don't recommend this property.

Otherwise, it's a fair low-end airport hotel.

3-3.5/5 ⭐️


@mrstaycation


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@mrstaycation

@mrstaycation

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