This apartment has it all: lots of space, a friendly host, and access to some of the best eateries and shops in Oakland! We stayed here for two months and enjoyed our proximity to Lake Merritt as well as the Lakeshore district.
Pros:
Amazing location! Claudia, the host, also includes a list of shopping and dining recommendations in the apartment, which guided us to some of our new favorite spots! Loved the lake--great place to bike, walk, and enjoy the Saturday's farmer's market. Also recommend catching a movie at the Grand Lake Theatre--the ambiance and price can't be beat.
Thoughtful touches from the host. Claudia greeted us with breakfast sweet bread, fruit, and flowers. The apartment comes stocked with a few cooking basics (coffee filters, salt and pepper) as well as a great shelf of reading material. :)
Huge space! The apartment feels even bigger than the photos convey. Great options for seating, too.
Nice washer/dryer available. Incredibly useful!!
Private entrance to the apartment is awesome--we didn't have to worry about disturbing our host with our comings and goings.
Great parking--lots of space on the street. The apartment is located on a well cared for street--no break ins or issues you might find in other parts of the Bay Area. Friendly neighbors, too!
Cons:
The Wifi was slow and inconsistent, cutting in and out regularly. We were not able to rely on it to do work during our two month stay, but it should meet the needs of most occupants who are here to explore Oakland and not stay at the apartment all day.
The "small oven" listed is a toaster oven.
The mattress is pretty hard, resulting in a few pinched nerves for both me and my husband. Again, not an issue for short-term visits, but if you're planning on staying long-term like we did, you may want to consider bringing a foam mattress topper.