Karin lives in a beautiful 1930's Spanish home nested in the Oakland hills. The location is about 3 miles from the epicenter of Oakland and thus boasts a more quiet, serene and calm atmosphere. Travelers looking for a comfortable home-base after daylong excursions will be happy with the location; adversely this may not be ideal for those who wish to be walking distance from all of Oakland's myriad attractions and nightlife scene. Some restaurants, coffee shops and bars are within walking distance and I enjoyed getting to know the neighborhood on foot.

I found Karin to be very kind and hospitable. She has many rules for the house and guests that aim at keeping the home orderly, clean and safe. To this end, the house is very well organized and well kept. The requirement for house keys to be placed in a tray at the front door, and house alarm alerts sent to her phone means she knows when you're coming and going. She is very mindful of her guests and reached out to me on a few occasions to inquire about my stay.

As an East Bay native, I can say that this is one of the better deals you're going to find on AirBnb.