Coral Reef Inn & Suites

We ended up canceling the last 4 nights because the room felt unsafe and poorly kept. My son started sneezing and seemed uncomfortable as soon as he walked in. The strong, nasty smell was immediate, and the stained curtains and worn-out, sunken bed made it seem like the room hadn’t been properly cleaned in a long time. Neither the hotel nor Agoda would refund us for the four nights we couldn’t stay. That’s unacceptable given the hygiene and health problems. I wouldn’t stay here again.

For the price, with free parking and large rooms, it may work if cost is the main concern and your stay is short. Go in with very low expectations. I’d previously stayed at Coral Reef Inn and thought it was basic but acceptable. It doesn’t meet that standard now. The bathroom floor and carpet were disgusting. Sink hot water was fine, but the shower temperature was unreliable. Wi-Fi worked okay in the room and was spotty in the lobby. We had to ask for washcloths. The cereal buffet was okay, not great. The front desk agent was mostly sympathetic, but there wasn’t much she could do to improve things. The area was quiet and close to Otis Drive, which follows the bay for about 2 miles. Across the street, South Shore shopping center is one of the best city or suburban shopping centers I know. Trabocco Restaurant is an outstanding Italian spot there, with an Italian owner and head chef, so don’t be put off by the shopping center setting. Park Street downtown is about five blocks north, an easy walk, with restaurants, bars, and shops. Alameda’s city hall and library are nearby too. If you can pay a bit more and want to stay in Alameda, one of my favorite Bay Area cities, consider Hawthorne Suites or Extended Stay America on the west end. The Alameda Hotel, a few blocks east of downtown Park Street, is a handsome old building that was converted into apartments in the mid-1960s. And while a couple of chain hotels near Oakland airport have Alameda addresses, they feel like generic anywhere-USA properties, not the real Alameda.

If sleeping matters, I’d sooner park beside the busiest train tracks I can imagine. You can hear people through the walls at all hours, with constant screaming, crying, and arguing, plus kids running around the concrete lot making noise. Around 1 a.m., a woman was yelling expletives at what sounded like an ex partner and crying hysterically, as if she might have been seriously hurt. I debated calling emergency services. Other guests ran to her room to try to comfort her, and it went on for about two hours. This was the loudest hotel I’ve ever heard.

The front desk lady was lovely and super sweet, the only nice thing about the place. The room stinks and has stains. Just look at the carpet on the stairs and you’ll get the idea.