Swantown Inn

Better than most flops

Our room had black mold and active condensation on the ceiling along with water damage. The health and structural issues are not acceptable for a place that is meant for habitation.

First of all, this is a budget accommodation, not a 5-star hotel. It is best not to expect too much. If you booked this place, you surely looked for a budget place to stay, right? While it wasn't perfect like a 5-star hotel, there were no issues with dirtiness or inconveniences as mentioned in the reviews below. The room was spacious, the bed was large and comfortable, and it was clean. In fact, from a Korean perspective, you can witness the rare sight of an Amtrak train passing slowly right next to the motel. The neighborhood has a quiet atmosphere, with a ferry terminal right in front and plenty of restaurants nearby. I hope you don't just complain and consider the good points of a motel. The sunset near the terminal is spectacular. Don't forget breakfast, either!

I could put up with the terrible service and ugly rooms, but having 0 drinking water to offer is actually criminal. 0 drinking water is available nor provided nor around locally. No stores near the area are open.

Didn’t think the bed would be so comfortable at such a gross place.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2/5… only because we survived) Jack London Inn – Where your immune system goes to boot camp If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to vacation inside a crime scene mixed with a biology experiment, congratulations—Jack London Inn delivers that experience with unsettling consistency. Let’s start with the highlights (if you can call them that): 🪳 Cockroaches: Not just guests—tenants. These weren’t shy either. They moved around like they had a lease and we were the intruders. At one point I swear one paused, looked at me, and silently judged my life choices. 🚪 Elevator Experience: Nothing quite prepares you for stepping into an elevator that smells like someone lost a long, hard battle with hydration. Yes—urine. Not a hint. Not a suggestion. A full, immersive olfactory experience. Honestly, I held my breath so long I considered it cardio. 🧼 Cleanliness (or lack thereof): “Filth everywhere” somehow feels too polite. Floors looked like they’d been cleaned once… during the Clinton administration. Sticky spots, mystery stains, and a general vibe that said, “We gave up, and you should too.” 🪵 The Floors: Shifting, broken, uneven—walking across them felt like playing a real-life version of Jenga. Step wrong and you might unlock a new level. Bonus points for the parts that looked like they’d been through several emotional breakdowns. 🧽 Overall Ambiance: Imagine combining: * A forgotten gas station bathroom * A haunted house * And a low-budget survival show That’s the aesthetic. ⸻ Pros: * You will deeply appreciate your home when you leave * Builds character (and possibly antibodies) * Great place if you’re trying to scare off uninvited guests Cons: * Everything else ⸻ Final Thoughts: We stayed 3 days, which is approximately 2 days longer than any reasonable person should. If you’re into extreme experiences, questionable hygiene, and sharing space with wildlife that pays no rent—this is your ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2/5… only because we survived) Jack London Inn – Where your immune system goes to boot camp If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to vacation inside a crime scene mixed with a biology experiment, congratulations—Jack London Inn delivers that experience with unsettling consistency. Let’s start with the highlights (if you can call them that): 🪳 Cockroaches: Not just guests—tenants. These weren’t shy either. They moved around like they had a lease and we were the intruders. At one point I swear one paused, looked at me, and silently judged my life choices. 🚪 Elevator Experience: Nothing quite prepares you for stepping into an elevator that smells like someone lost a long, hard battle with hydration. Yes—urine. Not a hint. Not a suggestion. A full, immersive olfactory experience. Honestly, I held my breath so long I considered it cardio. 🧼 Cleanliness (or lack thereof): “Filth everywhere” somehow feels too polite. Floors looked like they’d been cleaned once… during the Clinton administration. Sticky spots, mystery stains, and a general vibe that said, “We gave up, and you should too.” 🪵 The Floors: Shifting, broken, uneven—walking across them felt like playing a real-life version of Jenga. Step wrong and you might unlock a new level. Bonus points for the parts that looked like they’d been through several emotional breakdowns. 🧽 Overall Ambiance: Imagine combining: * A forgotten gas station bathroom * A haunted house * And a low-budget survival show That’s the aesthetic. ⸻ Pros: * You will deeply appreciate your home when you leave * Builds character (and possibly antibodies) * Great place if you’re trying to scare off uninvited guests Cons: * Everything else ⸻ Final Thoughts: We stayed 3 days, which is approximately 2 days longer than any reasonable person should. If you’re into extreme experiences, questionable hygiene, and sharing space with wildlife that pays no rent—this is your

Booked online got there at 2:30 front desk lady was rude I told her I had booked online she said other people have to check in first and I will be last if there was any rooms still available what’s the point of booking if they won’t except it they take walk ins first people out there just hanging out front desk lady rude

One star motel. One star stay. This is the cheapest motel in Oakland and you definitely know once you check in. I don’t know what I was expecting for the cheapest place in Oakland but whatever it was. I didn’t get it. For twelve hours music was blasting four doors down. (Must’ve been one of those $400 jbls) I mean we were invited so that was cool but we preferred to have our stay in a more controlled environment. (We bought ear plugs.) The train is feet from your room and goes by allllll night. Blaring its horn there is no silence at this hotel. Cockroaches in the bathroom but no bedbugs so there’s that. Also where’s the outlets? But really guys, just be careful staying here. We made it through the night and slept fine but that’s probably because we can make anything work. Just don’t be surprised if you can’t. This motel makes you feel better about your life. :)

Hourly motel, open drug use in the hallways, no one answered when I called to report.

The Jack London Inn / Jack London Square area sits very close to active rail lines and transit corridors, so trains passing by—especially at night or early morning—are often mentioned in reviews as a source of noise. You can usually hear horns, rumbling tracks, and occasional freight movement, and for light sleepers it can be noticeable because the sound carries through the waterfront area. That said, not everyone experiences it the same way. If you stayed there and slept well, that’s actually pretty common too—many guests say the noise becomes background “white noise” after a while, especially if you’re tired or staying on a higher floor or facing away from the tracks. So while train noise is a real factor people warn about, it doesn’t bother every visitor, and your experience of sleeping fine fits with the mixed nature of reviews: it’s present, but not necessarily disruptive for everyone.

I booked this hotel online and arrived from another city and was greeted by a red-haired, very rude, cold, and unfriendly female receptionist. I provided a confirmation number when I made a reservation on booking.com. After booking online, when I arrived at the hotel, the receptionist said that the reservation was not made, so I made a new reservation. I paid the hotel again and also paid the deposit. However, on the day of departure, the hotel said that the deposit I paid would be transferred the next working day, but it was not transferred. It has not been transferred to date. I wrote an email but have not received a response. Do not choose this hotel with such rude and bureaucratic don’t service culture.🤮🤮🤮