Jack London Inn - Oakland 37.79545, -122.27663

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We decided to stay at hotel for one night to try it out-wasn't bad at all despite what other reviewers have posted. We extended stay for one week. The price and location were great,all staff were courteous,and room was clean. The train noise was no more a problem at this hotel than at other hotels in the area at which we have stayed and spent a lot more money to hear the same trains. Our room was on the back side of the hotel which probably helped block noise. I think they should do some simple maintenance(curtains were hard to slide) and a few updates(bedspreads) but again keep in mind the good price. I've stayed in some higher rated hotels in NYC that were in far worse shape.

Definitely not fancy, but basic. It can be noisy because of a train station nearby, but i don't have much trouble sleeping, so it didn't bother me. the heater wasn't working, but they gave us a heater for the room and it worked perfectly. For the price you can't go wrong. Just don't expect much. For me it was fine, but definitely more of a place to sleep, not a romantic weekend getaway type place.

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Great location, comfy room... But the empty red plastic that smelled of Hennessey was a bit much. Also, NO TOWELS in the bathroom!!! An the front desk people were ambivilent about getting towels to us. For the low low price, I was somewhat satisfied... Guess I'll bring my own towels next time.

There is a major train line that runs (im not kidding) 20 feet in front of the front doors. It never stops. Day. Night. Never. You will get NO sleep. It's like chinese water torture. You think youre about to get some sleep, but... NO!! Another train. Oh, God help me. Other than that, it's a pleasant enough place. They should hand out earplugs and valium at check in, seriously.

...there is a train close by that is very noisy all night and there was a big noisy crash that night which cost me a lot of sleep. Staff did not seem very competent. For the price and the location it was acceptable for one night.

The Jack London Inn has three (3) floors, the entire second floor does not have bath/hand towels. The front desk clerk is very rude! The rooms smell bad and the carpets are filthy. The showers/tubs are stained with dirt, I showered with my flip flops on and still did not feel clean after the shower. I found that if you're staying in the bay area there are many hotels that are much better and still local and convenient to anything in the East Bay area.

Advertises Wireless Internet in the rooms, this is only for a few of the rooms. No Air Conditioning, solution was to open windows and a fan. Indifferent and poorly dressed desk staff.

We stayed there the previous year and had no hot water but they said that there was a problem with the hot water heater. So, we gave them another shot this year since it is only a couple of blocks from our convention. Well, we again had no hot water, the sevice was horrible, our door didn't have a working dead bolt and didn't shut all the way unless you slammed it, and there was people yelling in THEIR parking area until 3 in the morning. I know that times are tough and everyone is cutting back on stuff but did they really have to cut back on cleaning the showers? Please pay the extra money and go somewhere safer and cleaner.

This is an old hotel and suffers from that age. it has trains that run down the middle of the street right in front of it. but if you are looking to enjoy a night at Jack London square and keep your budjet under control its a graet place to stay.

The Good: Great soul food restaurant next door; Close to Lake Merrit BART station; walking distance to two jazz clubs. Surprisingly comfortable bed. The Bad: Everything else. We arrived to find NO towels/bathmat, and the previous guest's dirty towel and *a used Kleenex!* on the floor of the shower. The room stank of cigarette smoke, and there was a plastic cup on the window sill that had been used as an ashtray. I had to ask three or four times for towels--at 10:30 PM someone finally arrived, mumbling apologies. They never did come by to vacuum and finish prepping the room. Because the heating vent would only blow cold air or REALLY cold air, and because there was only one very thin blanket, and mostly because we didn't quite trust the cleanliness of the sheets, we opted to sleep in our clothes. The train (less than a block away) stopped around 11:00PM, so it was eventually quiet enough to sleep. In the morning, the desk clerk (a different one) started to try to tell me about an additional $10 charge--all the more infuriating because we hadn't even gotten what we'd paid for and we definitely hadn't done anything to deserve an additional charge. I don't know what it was for, but given the situation, I was able to persuade her to remove it from our bill. I would sooner sleep in the car than go back to Jack London Inn

I was completely dissatisfied with hotel period. I was placed in a room that even with the windows closed I could here the locals talking loudly and there was some sort of construction going on in the room across the way. A loud wedding was being observed. The front desk was not helpful at all.

This was my third stay here, its a great place to stay if you want to spend money elsewhere. Excellent location. The rooms are not plush but they are clean and comfortable, the trains give the ambiance!

One of the beds was broken. The closet had no bar on which to hang any clothes hangers. We were told it would be repaired. In the 7 days we were there, it never was, so we could not hang our clothes. One of the beds was broken. We did not always get the right amount of towels. Once there were none at all, another time we got two bath towels but no hand towels or foot towel mat, another time, we got three hand towels, three wash cloths, a foot towel, but no bath towels. We got shampoo and new soap bars only 3 times in 7 days. Complementary breakfast was available on Sunday, By Monday they had run out of danishes; by Wednesday they had run out of bread, by Saturday, they had only one kind of cereal left.

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This is a great place to see real live trains close up and personal. They come at all hours and make a grand entrance. Close to the Jack London train station and the tracks aredirectly in front of the hotel. If you love trains, you will love this place

We were unable to sleep due to the train noise although our room was on the rear side. Fifteen plus trains blowing their whistles between three am and eight in the morning. The breakfast was pitiful. Leftover bread from the previous morning. Sticky floors,burned out light bulb, inoperative TV remote and the room clock alarm went off at three am too. Would never stay here again. Hotel needs major renovation!!!!

Maps show this hotel a couple of blocks off the train tracks. Alas, that's not quite true - at least in my case, my room was nearly adjacent to the tracks, and trains came through loud and clear late into the night. With earplugs, it was wonderful. Without earplugs, it would have been an issue.

The hot water didn't work, nor did the heat or air. It took the front desk staff over an hour to bring up an iron even though we called to remind them 3 times. The hotel is way too close to the train tracks, so all night we were awaken by the train. The room is suspect with the type of clientale they really receive, because the floors and chairs were so dirty and full of spots, I was afraid to lay on the sheets and blanket. However, the room was a pretty nice size, and if you are only staying for a few hours, this place would be fine.

There were no face towels in the room, but room service brought them right up and no hot water in the shower, Overall price was great, location was great and the train didn't bother us at all. I would definately stay there again

My daughter is Quad and is in a wheelchair yet we was placed into a unit with windows that didn't open and the air was not working. The shower was cold all the time due to the water heater needing replacement.

I stayed a total of 7 nights in a 10 day period. The Pool was never open. The ice machine worked some days but not others. Air conditioning didn't work in either room I stayed in. The front staff was pleasent but didn't seem to be able to get maintenance to help with any problems. Promised a refigerator on both stays and only received one for my first stay, and it took about 7 hours to get it after check in. Amtrack was very noisy, but I expected that from other reviews. I would not stay here again even for the price.

This place was gross. Burn holes in the carpet, in a non smoking room. No door knobs on the bathroom door. The shower did not drain. cracked tiles in the bathroom area. Carpet was disgusting, I would not take my shoes off. My TV was small, 13 inch. Remote batteries were dead ad when I asked for more the guy at the desk got pissy about giving me new ones. Next time, I'll stay in beach parking in my car instead!!!!

Good location for my purposes. Excellent hotel staff helpfulness.

Price was inexpensive, hotel was safe. Railroads went by at night, maybe 2 per night it did not bother me, I kind of like it. Otherwise hotel is fine for the price, had no problem there at all

you could hear the train at different hours so didn't got much sleep. told me that I could get wireless connection and it wasn't right the employee told me that I would be next to a room where I would have a strong signal. If you stay don't stay on the second floor, you are going to get the smell of the restaurant.

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In spite of the railroad being their, we love trains, did not bother us. It's convenient location for our work during the boat show. Personal are very nice and friendly and helpful. Glad they gave us the nice quick breakfast as well, and the fresh fruit. Thank you. C. Kanter

Considering the price, this hotel is good. We have stayed here for 5 years, once a year. The hotel has not been upgraded in that time, but knowing the situation, we understand this and do not expect anything in that respect. The room is comfortable, and clean. No frills, but then you don't pay for them! Small but complete exercise room, with functioning equipment. Very simple continental breakfast, but fresh daily. So convienient to Jack London Square, it's worth the sound of the trains. Always ask for a room on the back side of the hotel to eliminate the train noise. Courteous and Friendly staff, willing to help-but only if asked.

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Even though I made reservation online, and I also called several times, when I arrived there was still a problem with the reservation, the wrong day was put in the book. I had my printout to prove that I made the reservation on the particular day. I felt if I didn't have my printout concerning this issue, would I be rejected my room. Everything was then cleared up. I just have to make sure I keep my printout everytime when I make reservations at this hotel and I hope in the future that I will be able to stay at this hotel without someone putting the wrong information in their book. Other than that I had a wonderful stay. I do look forward to staying again very soon. Billie and Mark.

The hotel would have been nice if it weren't for the people living there.... Music played loud at all hours and people knocking on the doors all night..Do not recommend this hotel.

This hotel is terrible. The only benefit is its location. I probably would not stay at this hotel even if it was free.

I stayed at this hotel because it was the cheapest hotel reasonably close to the interview location. If I can come for another purpose, I am not sure that I would have been terribly satisfied with my choice. The room was spacious, though it was obvious that the hotel has not been renovated for some time. I was surprised that water in my shower was running cold, until I turned it to the cold setting and it warmed up. The continental breakfast was underwhelming, consisting of three cereal dispensers, Sunny Delight, and some coffee. If one wanted to use the Bay Area Public Transit system, it was about a 15 minute walk away, or a 3 minute bus ride.

Went for a night stay and although the receptionist was very upbeat and congenial, the hotel itself seriously lacked. The room was somewhat clean although there were fixtures in the bathroom that were broken, cracked tiles all around the shower and plenty of grout. In addition, though they ultimately changed it out, the coffee maker had the wrong size pot for the maker itself and spilled all over. Additionally, when asked, they did not bring up new coffee with the maker. Sleeping was okay though there is a train that passes by several times over the course of the night blowing it's whistle.

Oh my. I could sleep in a cardboard box and be fine, but I would not go back here.

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Easy In and Out Close to the freeway Meets my needs You have to enjoy trains

My experience with the hotel was unexpected, for someone that was for the first time in this area for a football game . I was very disappointed with the employees of this hotel. They were very unprofessional ,to say the least, and just very unstatisfied.

Front desk people freindly, but not the sharpest tool in the shed. They messed up on my reservations & put one of our group members in the wrong room. That room was tore up & should of never had any one in it. They moved her to another room. Another person in our group had dirty towels on the floor when they arrived. My brother requested a wake up call on Saturday night & never got it Sunday morning, so he was late for work. Some body had called the hotel earlier in the week for a reservation & she was put on hold for a long time, while listening to the hotle clerk talk to friend.

The good: Generally convenient location. Good price (for the bay area) thanks to HOTELS.COM. The bad: Hotel is 15 feet from the train tracks. Passenger and freight lines run constantly, blazing the horn as they go. Our room was not ready when we tried to check in around 6pm (staff was apologetic). Parking is $10 extra.

This hotel is very convenient when visiting Oakland. It is an easy walking distance from nice restaurants, the ferry, and the BART station. The hotel personnel are very friendly and helpful.

If you love trains, this is the place to stay. They ring, rattle, and roar all day and night. This reminds me of the old "I Love Lucy" episode where the Mertz's and Ricardo's shared a room on the way to Hollywood and the trains shook the beds accross the room! Hotel was dark and a bit worn, but very nice staff and clean room. Bring your earplugs!

Continental Breakfast consisted of WHITE bread, cereal and juice, of which they were OUT OF. Extra charge to park IN THEIR LOT?? Rooms questionable, sheets old, dirty, GROSS. Pay a few bucks more and stay somewhere else. Management DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMENTS OR CONCERNS so don't waste your time with their staff.