Hampton Inn Oakland-Hayward

The bed was comfortable, breakfast was good, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The place is decent and clean, with several fast-food and takeout spots nearby.

The highlight was the Hayward Plunge trail, which starts across the street. As a runner, I have a hard time finding scenic routes in very urban places. When we pulled in, I expected a rough run through some rough neighborhoods, but the park and trail surprised me in a good way. It was about 3.5 miles uphill with roughly 1,500 feet of elevation gain, then about the same distance downhill. That made the whole stay an awesome experience and brightened my day! The location felt a bit sketchy, the towels were like sandpaper, and the staff were pleasant at check-in but angry when we checked out at 5 a.m. The rooms were fine.

Good for a couple of days. There are no bath mats, so expect some wet spots. Breakfast changes every day, but it’s subpar. Free coffee and tea anytime is a big plus for me.

It’s a decent hotel for quality and location, but service wasn’t great. I passed the front desk several times and nobody was there. I also didn’t learn until the next day that guests need parking passes. I’d checked in online, and there were no parking details. When I went to the desk on arrival and mentioned checking in online, the woman working just waved me on.