Jack London Inn

We were upfront told there was no heating or A/C, but nobody mentioned the windows wouldn’t open or that the room smelled like a high school gym locker. There were stains across the floor, walls, couch, and bed, and the bathroom looked unhealthy. Water in the unflushed toilet had a film on it. We passed at least four “wet floor” signs on the way in. A doorless closet held a stack of filthy industrial box fans, but there was no real air movement in the room. We gave up and left for another hotel after less than 15 minutes. The desk refused any refund or compensation. For over $100 a night for a “suite,” it was a ripoff. Take the one-star reviews seriously. Save your money and stay somewhere else.

The breakfast staff were friendly, and the location was convenient for the ferry. A girl at the desk complimented my shirt and offered to move us after we found stains on the pillows and sheets. I declined because we’d unpacked four days’ worth of luggage and didn’t want to be a nuisance. But this was a horror hotel, far beyond the run-down place I expected, and I’d never stay or recommend it. The building reeked of smoke and weed when we came in. The man at the desk was serious, asked for ID and a card without greeting me, and didn’t explain where our room, the ice machine, or breakfast were. Not huge by itself, but I work in hospitality and would never greet guests that way. The room smelled strongly of pee and stale food. There was black mold on the shower ceiling, and the water came out nearly orange. I don’t know if that was the pipes or the water in Oakland. The surfaces were sticky and dusty, so we went to the nearest Dollar Tree for cleaning products and wiped them down ourselves. I rarely leave reviews and I’m not picky, but this was the dirtiest hotel I’ve ever stayed in. I wish I’d taken more pictures.

The price was great and the location is perfect. The staff were fantastic, and I’d definitely stay again. The rooms weren’t especially clean, though, and the whole place felt a bit grimy.

I’m asking people to take this seriously: don’t stay here. I never got past the lobby, so I can’t comment on the rooms, but the front desk service was unacceptable. The man who checked me in was dismissive and extremely rude from the start. They said the room I’d reserved online had already been sold, yet charged me a “no-show” fee because there wasn’t a credit card on file. That doesn’t make sense. Most hotels won’t let you reserve online without a card, and if that were their rule, they shouldn’t have accepted the reservation. I also had proof that I’d requested a later check-in, an option their system clearly offers, but I was told they “don’t do late check-ins.” The poor communication, lack of accountability, and disregard for guests were shocking. If this is how they treat people before they even see a room, I can’t imagine it gets better. Save yourself the frustration, they don’t care about customers.