I had a lovely stay at Marlene's place. It was very private and tranquil...just what I needed when I was relocating. The garden is really beautiful! The space had everything I needed and allowed me to settle in to living in East Bay easily. It really felt like home for the three weeks I was there. While I didn't get to interact with Marlene very much she was always quick to respond to questions and was very accommodating. She was around a lot (I could hear her walking softly upstairs sometimes) but we didn't chat much. That was fine with me as I was looking for a private space and she gave me that privacy (much appreciated!). She seemed very willing to interact if that is what you are looking for, though.

I really appreciated having access to laundry and a parking space. The kitchen was essential for me and had everything I needed. I had my car with me so I didn't use the bus but it was very very close to the house. The BART is a quick drive away and I did use that at times. Very convenient! I will say the neighborhood isn't really walkable (as far as having stores and restaurants closeby) if that's what you're looking for. It's a quiet residential area with easy access to surrounding areas by bus/BART or car/highway. A nice quiet getaway!

All in all, I loved my stay at Marlene's Charming Garden Oasis! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful place to stay in Oakland.