Guest User
September 19, 2022
The Marina Village Inn is a property whose architecture suggests it was built around 1960. Surrounded by centenarian yacht clubs and a high-rise luxury condo, it overlooks a sail-craft marina and beyond, the Oakland Hills. The pool looks like it has been decomissioned since the Obama administration, and given water problems in Ca, will probably remain so. My second and top floor room was airy and sparkling clean, albeit scarcely renovated since construction. A very large single-pane picture window opened with some encouragement and allowed in light, sea air, and a view of bobbing masts at hand and a Coast Guard cutter in the distance. Mattress was firm, the linens fresh and soft, and the full size desk had a sturdy office chair. The microwave, safe, and drip coffee maker I did not use. There was some noise in the bath from an adjoining room, but I heard only a foghorn from the bedroom. The pool and inner court are brightly lit at night -- if your room overlooks them you will want to draw the blackout curtains in order to sleep. All in all a remarkable room for the price : I will trade light, a window that opens, and an honest desk with a view for cookie-cutter amenities any day of the week. The 24 hour front desk answered the phone with a human voice and I enjoyed talking with the employees who were kind and helpful, including the cleaning staff. I enquired about security for my car parked a few steps from the room because the Alameda police dept had posted a sign at the entry warning guests to not leave goods in their car. After all, Alameda is situated betwixt Oakland and San Francisco, arguably the car smash and grap capitals of the US. The night desk person told me that in the two years he has been employed there had never been a car break-in, so I left my bike in the car and slept like a baby.