Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel

We came for the Gaskell Ball and wanted to stay near the Oakland Scottish Rite. The room turned out to be huge, with a balcony looking out over the estuary, birds, and a gorgeous sunset. It was clean and in good repair, and the bed was much more comfortable than one at a recent Marriott. It was quiet, too. Breakfast included tasty cheesy eggs and an espresso machine. The two free EV charging stations changed our morning plan from finding a charger to driving home without stopping. What a lovely find. We’d absolutely stay again.

For a longer stay, the room cleaning has been a hassle. Communication between the front desk and housekeeping seems off. I was asked by two receptionists whether I’d had a recent cleaning. The first time I said maybe two or three days earlier. The second time I asked what that had to do with my request for cleaning in a specific upcoming time slot. There’s a lot of dust in the room, easy to see when sunlight comes through the big window. I wondered if staff are reluctant to follow up because of low wages, or simply don’t care. If I can’t get room service tomorrow, I’ll drop this to three stars. There are two EV charging stalls for two hotels, which feels a bit inadequate. The pool and hot tub are shared with the hotel next door, and the hot tub jets seem to be malfunctioning. There’s a taco truck in front of the sister hotel, but it takes cash and Zelle only. It’s a decent place, just decent.

The staff are really nice and helpful, and they make the stay worthwhile. Rooms are clean and spacious, though a bit dim, and there aren’t many charging ports near the bed. It’s fairly close to Oakland Airport, but BART bypasses the neighborhood, with stops at Fruitvale and Lake Merritt. There’s a Brooklyn Basin walking and bike trail that’s lovely for a morning stroll, but after about a quarter mile you run into tents or construction. Also, parking costs $17 and isn’t included with the room. I’ve never stayed at a hotel that charged for parking in its own lot, so make sure to factor that into the price.

The rooms are large, clean, and really nice, with balconies and a great view. The young woman at the front desk was friendly and very helpful. We love this hotel and highly recommend it.