This is a small, clean apt close to downtown Oakland. It has its charms, but it also has some downsides: it’s close to a busy street where cars barrel down in all hours of the night. The shared hallway triggered my allergies even tho the apt itself is very clean. The small kitchen is awkwardly laid out-you have to open the fridge in order to get to utensils.
The worst was check in. We arrived later than expected — and then we couldn’t get into the apartment because the host provided the *wrong* lockbox code. Struggling with this in the dark, with luggage, we couldn’t get ahold of the host. Fearing we’d be stranded we opted to book a hotel room after not hearing from the host for over an hour. Finally, after shelling out for the last minute accommodations, getting ready for bed at the hotel, we finally hear from her. Apparently maintenance had changed the code without telling her. She apologized but also blamed us for checking in late. We hadn’t planned on checking in so late (it was 10 pm) but sometimes things happen. Don’t expect help from the host outside those narrow check in hours.
Otherwise the host was helpful, once we actually checked in the next day, providing an extra fan since there’s no AC (and it does get HOT in Oakland), giving a portion of the first night’s cost back, and giving us an extra hour for check out time when we asked.