I had a great experience staying at Patricia's place. She wasn't home for the weekend but provided clear communication on how to get in and was available if we needed to contact her.
Her place was really convenient in east Oakland. The room has a separate entrance and bathroom right next to her house. There's plenty of available parking in front. If you want to take BART into the city, I would recommend driving to Rockridge station and leave your car there. Parking is $3 on weekdays and free on weekends at the station.
Patricia makes sure the room is well-stocked with everything you need. There were plenty of towels, toiletries, blankets, beverages and cereal. The wifi is super fast and she has tons of channels on demand on her cable TV. The bed is super comfortable.
I would definitely recommend staying at her place if you're looking to stay somewhere close to the city without paying high hotel prices.