Hotel room and gym review: Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown-City Center
Located in downtown Oakland near Chinatown, the Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown-City Center recently opened about a year ago. Since I had a 2-day work conference to attend at the Scottish Rite Center next to Lake Chalet, I decided to book with the Hampton Inn, which is about a 15-minute walk away. But I was moreso inclined to using the gym as newer hotels tend to invest slightly more in their fitness centers. And based on pictures I saw on TripAdvisor, the gym had heavy free weights and a spin bike.
The gym
I arrived at the hotel at around 7 am to have my car valet parked so that my agency would only need to pay for one night of parking, which came out to $30. Parking near the Scottish Rite Center and then valet parking at the hotel would have doubled the cost, and I was perfectly content with the <1 mile walk to the Center. Because no rooms were available that early in the morning, I asked if I could use the gym, and the front desk gave me a temporary access card to enter the gym.
The fitness center wasn't oversized or anything, but I was happy that the dumbells went up to 75 lb, which is more than enough for a good shoulder and arms workout. The coveted cable cross also allows for good variation, and the spin bike is killer (literally) for HIIT. After hitting the free weights, I had my bags held at the hotel and walked to the Scottish Rite Center.
The room
I officially checked into the hotel in the afternoon after the conference ended for the day. Since the hotel doesn't have any suites or "upgraded" rooms, I was given just a 2 queen standard room as a Hilton Honors Gold elite member.
The room has everything you need for a comfortable stay, including a microwave and mini-fridge. I was surprised that there wasn't a closet, but only clothes hangers. The Hampton Inn did do a good job in making power and USB ports abound, which many hotels often neglect and you find yourself digging for convenient sockets.
Bottom line
Though basic, the Hampton Inn is a convenient and suitable hotel in downtown Oakland. The fitness center has a good selection of free weights and a spin bike, and the room is comfortable. The hotel does offer free breakfast, which I normally don't eat as an intermittent faster. Restaurants, particularly Chinese food, abound nearby as the hotel is right on the cusp of Oakland's Chinatown, so you definitely won't need a car if you're attending meetings or conferences in the downtown Oakland area.
The gym
I arrived at the hotel at around 7 am to have my car valet parked so that my agency would only need to pay for one night of parking, which came out to $30. Parking near the Scottish Rite Center and then valet parking at the hotel would have doubled the cost, and I was perfectly content with the <1 mile walk to the Center. Because no rooms were available that early in the morning, I asked if I could use the gym, and the front desk gave me a temporary access card to enter the gym.
The fitness center wasn't oversized or anything, but I was happy that the dumbells went up to 75 lb, which is more than enough for a good shoulder and arms workout. The coveted cable cross also allows for good variation, and the spin bike is killer (literally) for HIIT. After hitting the free weights, I had my bags held at the hotel and walked to the Scottish Rite Center.
The room
I officially checked into the hotel in the afternoon after the conference ended for the day. Since the hotel doesn't have any suites or "upgraded" rooms, I was given just a 2 queen standard room as a Hilton Honors Gold elite member.
The room has everything you need for a comfortable stay, including a microwave and mini-fridge. I was surprised that there wasn't a closet, but only clothes hangers. The Hampton Inn did do a good job in making power and USB ports abound, which many hotels often neglect and you find yourself digging for convenient sockets.
Bottom line
Though basic, the Hampton Inn is a convenient and suitable hotel in downtown Oakland. The fitness center has a good selection of free weights and a spin bike, and the room is comfortable. The hotel does offer free breakfast, which I normally don't eat as an intermittent faster. Restaurants, particularly Chinese food, abound nearby as the hotel is right on the cusp of Oakland's Chinatown, so you definitely won't need a car if you're attending meetings or conferences in the downtown Oakland area.
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