Our host was excellent with communication, made check in and check out easy and was eager and available to address anything that came up. She was kind enough to provide a cooler and ice pack for our day trip sandwiches upon inquiry. The bed was comfortable and the neighborhood quiet. Cleaning supplies were available to wipe high traffic touch points and tidy as necessary. A lovely patio to relax on for morning coffee or an evening glass of wine. We felt safe while staying there.
If you are planning on staying in this area and have not been before it would pay to do some research and to have a rental car. It’s not too far from attractions and there are a lot of great places to hike and see. The drive to SF is not too bad even with traffic. The crime rate in Oakland is high and it’s obvious when venturing out and about. We learned this quickly when stopping at an in and out burger. The warning sign on the curb about valuables in the vehicle should have been our clue and the multiple parking stalls with broken glass in them. As we ate dinner we watched as a thief broke the back window of a tourists SUV and grabbed the luggage and took off. Less then 3mins. Simply being aware of your surroundings, being street smart and leaving nothing in the car is the best option. Not just in Oakland but anywhere you travel.