Berkshire Motor Hotel

There are lots of walkable places to eat nearby, and the location is handy: Hillcrest is about 10 minutes away, with most of North Park’s fun spots close by. The room was clean, though a few things could use updating. Our AC worked, but started leaking water on the last night. Parking is limited, so keep that in mind if you’re deciding whether to drive or use Uber. I enjoyed my stay.

I booked through Booking for $58 a night, but the hotel said it had tried to charge two of my cards and couldn’t. I checked with my banks, and both cards were working fine. They canceled the reservation, saying the cards were invalid, then told me I could book the same room again for more than twice the price without the discount. Whenever I call to sort it out, they hang up on me. For $120, I can stay at a reputable chain. This felt unprofessional, and I’m angry they wouldn’t honor the reservation. I hope the room stays empty.

The sheets and pillows were clean, and the cleaning lady was very nice. But the headboard was really dirty, and the noise made it hard to relax. We were put on the first floor beside a busy road, and could hear every footstep and nearly everything the person above us said. There was another couple upstairs too, so you can guess what else carried through. After a day out, I dreaded going back to a room we’d paid for, knowing I wouldn’t be able to unwind. It almost drove me mad.

We asked about parking before our stay because we wanted to avoid a hassle, but it turned out to be scarce and competitive. The motel lot has maybe six very small spaces, and nearby residents take the street parking, including the spots in front of the hotel. They advertise free parking, which I found misleading. Even on the one night we managed to get a space in their lot, we got a ticket because our car stuck out over the sidewalk.