Oakland's BEST Kept Secret: Hawthorn Suites Alameda!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the labyrinthine world of a hotel review. Forget the dry technical jargon, we're going for the real, the raw, the "did I just spill coffee on this laptop?" kind of honest. We're talking about [Hotel Name], and whether it's worth your precious vacation time (and your hard-earned cash).
First Impressions, and a Deep Breath (Accessibility, Safety & Cleanliness, Oh My!)
Okay, so, the website promised… well, a lot. Let's get the practical stuff out of the way first. Accessibility. Honestly, I'm not in a wheelchair, but I wandered around with my friend who uses one and I have to say…it looked pretty damn good. Wheelchair accessible pathways everywhere, a good size elevator, and they even said something about facilities for disabled guests. Score one for trying, right? That's a good start.
Now, the COVID stuff. This is where things get…intense. They’re REALLY trying. I'm talking anti-viral cleaning products, evidence of professional-grade sanitizing services, and a whole army of staff trained in safety protocol. I watched one poor guy, I swear, triple-spraying the elevator buttons. They've got hand sanitizer strategically placed like little life rafts, and daily disinfection in common areas. And you can even opt-out of room sanitization, which, hey, I respect that. I want to get in and have my own mess, thank you very much. They have hot water linen and laundry washing so they should be safe, it is a good thing.
The cleanliness and safety part is definitely a selling point right now, and they know it. They use individually-wrapped food options and, yes, they have sanitized kitchen and tableware items. So, I tried to use the cashless payment service. You're given an invoice provided, and can even take your breakfast takeaway service . I felt safe, which, is probably the most important thing right now. Still, they do not have pets allowed, which is kind of a bummer. But on the bright side, there is a first aid kit, doctor/nurse on call, CCTV in common areas and outside the property, so they're covering all safety aspects.
The Room: My Little Sanctuary (…or Not?)
Okay, the room. This is where it either sinks or swims, right? Let's see. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, which, bless your heart. The Wi-Fi [free] signal was decent, not blazing fast, but hey, I could Instagram without feeling like I was living in the dark ages. A small win.
They have a bunch of stuff! Air conditioning, which, THANK GOD. Blackout curtains, a desk to pretend you're working at (I used it for snacks, naturally). Non-smoking rooms, thank you again. They have soundproofing and extra long beds. The safety/security feature were good, they had smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
The little details matter, right? Bathrobes? Check. Slippers? Check. Complimentary tea? Also check. I appreciated the complimentary bottled water. Small things, but they make a difference. The refrigerator was a lifesaver for my emergency chocolate stash.
But, oh boy, here's where things get a little…human. The bathroom situation was… functional. The toiletries were, well, they existed. The towels were… soft. And in my room? No additional toilet! I was really hoping for an extra one, it could've been heaven. I was also a little skeptical of the mirror given all the other things.
Overall impression? The room was okay. Not spectacular, but comfortable enough. It wasn't a palace, but it was clean and they put in effort so that is good.
Food, Glorious Food (or, The Great Breakfast Debacle)
Okay. Food. This is where a hotel can either become your best friend or your mortal enemy. The breakfast [buffet] was, well…it was a buffet. It had the usual suspects: Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, coffee/tea (thank God), and a lot of things I couldn't quite identify.
The good: They had a vegetarian restaurant.
The not-so-good: "Alternative meal arrangement" on a buffet is like hoping for a lottery win. They do have a simple room service [24-hour], which is nice. The poolside bar was cute, but the drinks were overpriced. Speaking of which, the food was generally overpriced.
The ugly: Oh, the salad in restaurant looked like it had been there since the last ice age. I did find desserts in restaurant to be a good option.
In a nutshell: Breakfast was… adequate. Room service was better. If you can, eat outside the hotel.
Things to Do, and Ways to Relax (Spa Day Dreams and Reality Bites)
Here’s the fun part. The swimming pool [outdoor] looked amazing. The Pool with view seemed the best. Now, I’m not a spa person, I’m more the “watch TV in my pajamas and eat chips” kind of relaxer.
But, for the adventurous souls, there's a full spa. Massage, sauna, steamroom, the whole shebang. You have access to the fitness center, the gym/fitness and the foot bath.
For the Kids Babysitting service, family/child friendly, kids facilities, kids meal so for those with kids the hotel is a great option.
The "Other" Bits and Bobs (Services, Conveniences, and Quirky Touches)
- Services and conveniences. They have a great concierge, and good daily housekeeping, and the elevator.
- Meetings. They have meeting/banquet facilities, indoor venue for special events, outdoor venue for special events, and more.
- Getting around: They have airport transfer, taxi service, valet parking and car park [free of charge]
- They have a gift/souvenir shop, which is dangerous for me.
- They had a shrine, how cool is that?
The Verdict: Should You Book?
Okay, final words. [Hotel Name] isn't perfect. It’s got its flaws (the food, the slightly-blah room). But it's also got some serious strengths: the effort they put in for safety, the accessibility, and the generally pleasant atmosphere.
Ultimately, it's a solid choice. If you're looking for convenient and safe, [Hotel Name] is a good, affordable option. Book if you want to feel safe, the accessibility and the swimming pool are pretty good too.
Final Grade: B+
SEO-Boosting Keywords:
- Hotel Name
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accessibility
- Safety
- Cleanliness
- Restaurant
- Spa
- Pool
- Wi-Fi [free]
- COVID-19 Safety
- Family-friendly
- Budget-friendly
- [City/Region Name] Hotels
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously color-coded itinerary. We're doing this Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Oakland - Alameda, United States thing, and believe me, it's going to be a wild ride. Prepare for the chaos.
ITINERARY: Alameda Adventure (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Mini-Fridge)
Day 1: Arrival, Annoyances, and Alameda Angst
1:00 PM (ish, who's counting?): Arrive at Oakland International Airport (OAK). Okay, the flight was delayed. Seriously, what IS it with delayed flights? I swear, they're just toying with us. That existential dread of "am I ever going to land?"… it's a real thing. I'm hungry. I'm grumpy. I'm already questioning my life choices.
2:00 PM-2:30 PM: Finally get the rental car. This is where it REALLY gets fun. The rental agent seemed to have a personal vendetta against me. Papers? Check. Insurance? Check. The agent asked if I had a specific size car. I said "big", and she assigned me a tiny hatchback! I went full-on Karen on that, even though I'm usually a people-pleaser. Okay I'm not sure if I had a valid complaint, but I was not giving up. Finally received a bigger car.
3:00 PM: Arrive at Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Oakland - Alameda, a little bit worse for wear and tear. The hotel. It's… well, it’s there. The lobby smells vaguely of chlorine and… ambition? I can't place it. Check-in took an eternity. The front desk person, bless her heart, seemed to be simultaneously managing a toddler, a broken printer, and the existential dread of working a thankless job on a Tuesday.
3:30 PM: Okay, room unpacked. The mini-fridge. It's the size of a shoebox. This is a problem. Snacks and drinks are a necessity when traveling! I silently vow to find a grocery store immediately.
4:00 PM-6:00 PM: Alameda exploration time. I'm off to see the world-famous Alameda Naval Air Museum. Oh, did I have the wrong expectations? The museum was, well, it was smaller than I expected. But I really loved the historical planes. I found some great photos. Okay, maybe it wasn't mind-blowing, but it gets you thinking about the history and the human spirit. It's something.
6:30 PM: Dinner at whatever place I can find that's still open. It's a seafood place, I think. I think I saw a sign indicating it, at least. I'm starving. I hope the food isn't from the bottom of the sea.
8:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Netflix and chill (with the tiny fridge). I managed to find some overpriced bottled water at the vending machine. Sigh.
Day 2: Alameda, Oh, Alameda (And Its Many Quirks)
8:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Okay, the "continental breakfast" is a strong contender for "most depressing meal ever served." I'm starting to seriously consider smuggling in my own food. On the plus side, there's a waffle maker. I'm a simple woman. I love waffles.
9:00 AM: A stroll around Alameda. I mean, it's scenic. I can see the water. The wind is biting. There are some gorgeous Victorian houses! I'm trying very hard to appreciate this. I think I'm succeeding.
10:30 AM: I'm going back to the grocery store for the mother lode. I will have snacks. I will have drinks. I will conquer this tiny fridge!
12:00 PM: A very long lunch, and a very long walk. I went to a brewery. They had a fantastic IPA. I'm a beer person.
2:00 PM: I'll be honest, I'm getting a little bored. I may or may not have spent an hour staring at a squirrel. It was a very persistent squirrel. He was mocking me. I'm pretty sure.
3:00 PM: A deep dive into Yelp. Okay, this is where I get serious. I need something engaging. I am going to find some kind of activity.
4:00 PM: I decide to go to this weird vintage shop. It's the size of a shoebox, but it's packed with… stuff. Half of it is junk, half of it is charming. I buy a vintage postcard. Now, I'm happy.
5:30 PM: I'm back to the hotel. The tiny fridge is full. Success!
6:00 PM: Dinner. I ordered in. It's pizza. I'm happy.
7:00 PM-10:00 PM: Hotel room chill time. I'm watching a bad movie and eating cookies again.
Day 3: Farewell, Alameda (Maybe?)
8:00 AM: Continental breakfast. I’m skipping the waffle maker today. I’m on a quest.
9:00 AM: A last walk: I'm gonna try to make the most of this. I have this weird feeling that the Alameda I'm seeing today is different to the Alameda I saw yesterday. So I'm enjoying it.
10:00 AM Final check out. I leave feeling… well, I'm not sure what I'm feeling. It could be a mix of disappointment, relief, and a vague sense of having left a little bit of my soul somewhere in the Alameda Naval Air Station.
11:30 AM: Head to the airport. It's time to go home.
In Retrospect
Would I come back to Alameda? Maybe. It has a certain… charm. But honestly, I'm more likely to remember the tiny fridge and the stubborn squirrel than any specific landmark. And you know what? That's okay. That's the messy, glorious, imperfect reality of travel. It's about the memories, the frustrations, the tiny moments that make you laugh, and the sheer absurd joy of being somewhere different, even if it's just for a few days.
Indonesian Paradise: Your Private Pool Villa Awaits! (AN82A)
Okay, fine. What *is* this thing we're supposedly asking questions about? Because I'm already lost.
So, why pickles? Are you some kind of pickle whisperer?
What's your *favorite* kind of pickle, then, oh Wise Pickle Oracle? Seriously, I need to know this.
Is there such thing as too many pickles? Be honest.
Okay, pickle-induced coma aside, what do you DO with pickles? Besides, you know, *eat* them?
- **Made pickleback shots.** (Regretful, but a rite of passage.)
- **Chopped them up and put them in potato salad.** (A classic, and delicious.)
- **Used the brine to marinate chicken.** (Surprisingly good!)
- **Even considered making my own fermented pickles.** Which, by the way, is a massive undertaking. Still pondering this, but I'm a bit terrified of the botulism thing. So, may be a no go.
What about *bad* pickles? Do you have any pickle pet peeves?
Final thoughts? Did we get anywhere with this?
- Eat pickles.
- Embrace pickles.
- Just don't pickle TOO much.
