Americas Best Value Inn Oakland Lake Merritt

United States , Oakland - CA
California, 122 East 12Th Street
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100 reviews shown

2/10

Poor

08 Dec 2025

Ivy

For the price we didn’t expect much-we could deal with the area and the company around the other rooms—but no heat at night —no no no. Had to sleep fully clothed in shoes to try to keep warm! Staff was super nice. It was run down — but the cheapest

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

03 Dec 2025

Pinkie

Do not drive. Bus transportation is close by.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

28 Nov 2025

Danh

that good

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

24 Oct 2025

Fernando

Room are terrible

2/10

Poor

21 Oct 2025

Arielle

This location is infested with roaches! Staff is rude. Rooms arnt even stocked with towels or soap of any kind. Horrible experience. I would never recommend this location.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Oct 2025

Thomas

Convenient location, but a lot of work is required

Not safe. Vandalism occurred at the office before I arrived.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

19 Oct 2025

Fernando

Not a good place to stay

6/10

Pleasant

18 Oct 2025

Leonardo

You get what you pay for. Location fit my needs. Had go drive thru some skitchy areas to get to hotel. Old building with old interior. Tried to checkout for early flight and no one at front desk for an hour. OK for one night.

Business

2/10

Poor

14 Oct 2025

Cristian

Staff was very rude! Room smells very very bad. Stay elsewhere

2/10

Poor

06 Oct 2025

Jose

The front desk guy charged my debit card twice for 11$ and 100 $ said it was a mistake.that the money will be refunded in 3 days ..I had to dispute the 2 unauthorized charges with my bank which takes time to get the money back .thieves

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

04 Oct 2025

victoria

Rude staff, sat at the desk for an hour for someone to come assist me and to get my room after booking online

Self

2/10

Poor

30 Sep 2025

Jabari

The front desk clerk was rude and very disrespectful. I guess he was having a bad morning before I came, but he was totally out of line. He called me the N word and that struck a nerve with me so I responded with how I was feeling. Very disrespectful

6/10

Pleasant

27 Sep 2025

Oliver

Smelly, dirty condition including mattress.
But super low price.
So you get what you paid for.

Business

4/10

Poor

15 Sep 2025

cornelius

I found two roaches in my room had to be replaced into a different room. After being replaced into that different room, there was a privacy issue with the curtains, not being able to close. I didn’t complain about it because I felt like roaches are a bigger issue. The area outside of the hotel had a lot of garbage laying around and there’s a lot of prostitution

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

14 Sep 2025

Michael

The carpet in the room made the bottom of my feet turn black. The area is rough, and the hotel is just another rough old dirty element in the area.

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

06 Sep 2025

Erendida

habia acaros en la cama,tengo muchos piquetes y ronchas.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2025

Terraliya

Loved it very clean

Leisure

2/10

Poor

09 Aug 2025

Charles

I did not like how I was charged $100 security deposit that I still have not had returned to me even after checkout. They advised me that it should be put back on my card within 48 hours. I have never stayed in a dirtier or more unsafe hotel in my life

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2025

Martha rivera

Parking availability, bed comfort

Business Self

2/10

Poor

04 Aug 2025

Doriam

Business_and_leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2025

Anthony

Cool spot

2/10

Poor

24 Jul 2025

Princeton

Roaches

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2025

Anthony

nice stay , large comfy bed, large shower

4/10

Poor

07 Jul 2025

Christina

This property is in a sketchy area where we saw street walkers and druggies! I will never return and not recommend it! Staff was uncaring, not helpful and aloof!

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

24 Jun 2025

Aura L

To many girl from the streets

8/10

Excellent

10 Jun 2025

Anthony

It's ahright

2/10

Poor

07 Jun 2025

Mehdi

I didn’t have even small shampoo
Towels pld and less
Tv , I can’t believe who use this model and size in the world
Telephone always doesn’t work
They never pay back despite without not reson
Ice machine also beverages Mashin just for decorating
It was very expensive when I compared with Jack London inn w embarcadero
That is just 60% motel 6 but very larger cleaner a lot stuffs like soap and shampoo plus towels

Business Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Jun 2025

Anthony

6/10

Pleasant

29 May 2025

Carlos

It’s ok

2/10

Poor

25 Apr 2025

Vishal

Its terrible property in term of safety and cleanness

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

17 Apr 2025

Denise

Worse hotel ever

My first room was 308 and it was completely unhealthy. There was mold and mildew everywhere. The shower curtain looked like it hadn’t been changed or washed in years. We left the door open for almost an hour and the room still smelled like mold and mildew. I eventually had to go downstairs and ask for a new room, which she gave me with no problem. The new room was better but there was still mold and mildew everywhere. The hotel also had a lot of prostitution around it. I seen at least 7 within my time staying there. The only reason I picked the hotel was for the view of the water I seen that they were advertising, but that is not their view. It’s the hotels view from across the street. I feel ripped off and wouldn’t recommend anybody to stay here unless you’re a prostitute.

Friends_and_family Friends

4/10

Poor

05 Apr 2025

Veronica

Run down but great price

Last minute trip, needed something close to Hyland Hospital. Was clean yet run down. Shower knob was chipped and fell out so I had to Jimmy it to start shower. Area had ladies of the night working so it was difficult to stay asleep from their heels up and down the stairs!

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

24 Feb 2025

khayree

The guy who works the front door is horrible he denied me a room after i already paid for it online. He called the cops on me & lied said i threaten him. I asked him to give me a receipt or something that says hes canceling the room i booked, he refused for a 2hrs straight. He would not give me a room or a receipt that said he canceled my room. I will never book there again. Dont waste your money here

Business

6/10

Pleasant

22 Feb 2025

LaRoyas

The front desk was fine, but not positive or kind.

The rooms were incredibly worn down and the cleanliness wasn't good. There were other people's hairs all over the bathroom, and every corner was dirty.

We weren't given any towels. It was a \"you get what you paid for\" experience.

The bed was surprisingly comfortable and the air conditioner worked sufficiently.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

20 Feb 2025

Nora Rene

There was never anyone at the front desk to help. They did not have coffee or pastries in the morning. The rooms are uncapped. Much noise throughout the night coming from outside.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

16 Feb 2025

Emily

Horrible

Dirty ripped blankets, front desk person show up 15 minutes later so we can be able to check in. A lot of drug addicts and prostitution action

Partner

2/10

Poor

22 Jan 2025

Jerome

The Hotel From Hell

Worst Hotel ever. in the 1st room assigned to us the heater did not work. got a replacement room that did not have a shower curtain. Dirty towels on the bathroom floor. Unflushed toilet. only hot faucet in the sink worked not the cold. could not wash hands or brush teeth in the scolding hot water. electric outlets crooked - phones could not be charged. 3 floors but no elevator. Promised breakfast on Hotels.com listing is only a pot of coffee. 05:15am a boom box blasts outside our window for 20 minutes and wakes up everyone. We prepaid for 6 nights but we checked out (escaped) after the first night. Hotels. com got us only a partial refund. We Paid $652.79, received $417.52 so for one night we were charged $240.17 While the actual rate at this hotel was $74.79 per night.
This is the hotel from hell do not dare to stay there.

Partner

2/10

Poor

14 Jan 2025

TUPOU K

Do not charge cudtom

When I arrived there at 3:45p.m
The male front desk receptionist said that I cannot chk in until 15 more minutes.
I went to sit in my car in the parking lot.
25 minutes later. He said that their network is down and he cannot chk me in. I said but I already paid it online and I requested a non smoking 🚭 room.
He said he will give me a room but he will want to hold on to my credit card and my DL. I was very nervous about that because I have never encountered that kind of thing before. He promised that both cards will be safe. I agreed because I was tired and I just wanted to check in. He took me upstairs.
The room smelled of cigarette.
He opened the room next door but it also smelled of cigarette. I decided to take the first room he showed because it had less cigarette smell. The shower nobs were old and rusty, poor drainage. The floor between the bed and bathroom were uneven, scary walking on it. Bath towels were in a very poor condition. I will never recommend that place to anyone I know.

Self

2/10

Poor

05 Jan 2025

Julio

The room smelled terrible like mold, not cleaned stains on walls, cigarette stains on blankets loud music playing unit next to a smoking marijuana with a DJ speaker walls with rattling we literally lasted not even an hour. We walked out and booked elsewhere.
Drug activity all over property

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Dec 2024

Jorge Luis

6/10

Pleasant

08 Dec 2024

Anthony

I'm not trying to be petty, but our ac/heating unit didn't work, my sister in law and I are in mobility wheelchairs, so we couldn't change rooms and it was cool in the room yet we had to stay in there. They should compensate me a some of my money back. Expedia it's not your fault. Stayed at America best value inn East 12th Oakland CA Downtown

Business_and_leisure Family

2/10

Poor

21 Nov 2024

James

Worst hotel in Oakland,California

The fridge was broken and the toilet seat was broken off the toilet. Both hotel rooms definitely needed a good cleaning by a professional!! Both hotel entry doors didn't seal right and you could see outside all the way around them!! The second room we were given had burn hole in the bed sheets and blankets. It didn't smell great. The bathroom window didnt work right the ceiling in the bathroom looked like it was ready to fall down and the back of the bathroom door was broken and ducted taped. The shower handle fell off in my hand.

When I went back to the office and told the office worker I wasn't going to stay the rest of my planned stay she said it would be okay I just needed to be out before check out or i would be charged for another stay. I said that wouldnt be a problem. When i was walking back to my room I seen two hookers leaving with a guy that was staying there and also heard a drug deal happening outside my room window. This hotel was definitely not worth $69.00 or the extra $11.00 a night they also add on to that $69.00 its ridiculous! Don't stay here!

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

18 Nov 2024

Cynthia

Hadn't been vacuumed. Furniture was dusty. My top sheet had two holes, the blanket was torn. On the other bed, the springs on the mattress poked through. The bathroom was superficially clean. I saw a qtip stuck between back of toilet and the wall for example and I don't know what was stuck in the sink's drain. The plaster job in the bathroom was not yet finished. And the so called Continental Breakfast was an urn of coffee with a gallon of whole milk and a stack of tiny plastic juice cups. You get what you pay for true but a lot of false advertising on the part of this motel too. .

6/10

Pleasant

14 Nov 2024

Anthony

6/10

Pleasant

28 Oct 2024

Danilo

That's the worst property I have ever stayed at. Terrible.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

02 Oct 2024

Nora Rene

The front desk staff left because their shift was over telling me someone would be there soon leaving no one to help check people in or out. The next employee showed up 15 minutes later.

Leisure

2/10

Poor

30 Sep 2024

Joana

N/A

6/10

Pleasant

29 Sep 2024

Verified traveler

I don't normally stay at this specific location because of the

4/10

Poor

26 Sep 2024

Verified traveler

Will not stay again

Room was very outdated and not very clean. There was trash under the bed. Although it was a non-smoking room, it smelled strongly of smoke. The walls had many patches on them including around the shower. The door handle/lock was hard to use because it was sticking. We had to use extra force to get it to open. Break was a joke. Sunny D, coffee, and a prepackaged danish that was hard.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

21 Sep 2024

Michael

There was no hangers in the closet, no glasses, no cups, no coffee, nothing.
Neighbors were obnoxious and loud. The front door was barely secure. It seemed like a section 8 housing complex. And our rented by the hour. I n booked three nights and left after the second night and found a new hotel to stay at. And I didn’t even ask for the last nights fee back. I would never recommend this to ANYONE.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2024

Verified traveler

Love it here

Business_and_leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Sep 2024

Verified traveler

Love it

Business_and_leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

18 Sep 2024

Ani

The room was smoky:(it stank

2/10

Poor

30 Aug 2024

Danny

Rip off

2/10

Poor

28 Aug 2024

Danny

While I was checking in the two people in front of me were arguing about ligit claims of being overcharged. When I checked in he told me the room I reserved wasn't available and id have to pay more. He then told me to pay directly and cancel the original room with Expedia and he would okay it. The room was not only more expensive but he didn't okay the cancellation. They then refused any communication afterwards.

BEWARE

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

08 Aug 2024

aaron

The room had an odor. There were bold roaches in the room. They came out even when the light were on. Helpful and friendly staff.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

08 Aug 2024

Linton

Roach hotel

Place had roaches and bugs

6/10

Pleasant

05 Aug 2024

Carlos

I was good for a place to sleep. I liked the walking distance to Lake Merritt and to the BART station. But the room itself was questionable. The bed was so-so. The bathroom door didn't full close. The show rack was falling off. There were dents/wholes in some of walls. The walls themselves were very thin and easy to hear people outside. Again it was fine overall. I definitely think I paid too much for it. But it was still a nice place to crash considering everything else.

Self

2/10

Poor

05 Aug 2024

Menachem

They gave me the room closest to the office & when I said I'd like another, they charged an additional $50 per night! Then they brought me to the new room - is reeked of some type of smoke but I was tired & thought I could get used to it. I then took a shower & the smell of fecal matter was overwhelming! NEVER AGAIN! Plus, there were 'Ladies of the Evening' & their 'Handler' hanging out in the parking lot. Just a really big NO on this place!

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

25 Jul 2024

Gabriel

Walked in to find dirty socks on the floor near the bed. Upon opening drawer there were clothes from what I’m assuming were the previous guest. Sheets had cigarette burns. Toiled did not flush shower had no curtain.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

09 Jul 2024

WILLIAM

Comfort and great location

Economical and comfortable. Great location

Self

6/10

Pleasant

08 Jul 2024

Michael

Breakfast should not be reflected in their offer.....coffee and a over coated white sugarly \"cake\" ... it is handed through a glass window..i think due to security but even.... no breakfast

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2024

Josh

Room was fine and staff was helpful

Leisure

4/10

Poor

03 Jul 2024

Verified traveler

Very basic needs motel

It's a very basic unit to stay over night.do not expect anything more at all. Door locks for you at night , you get warm water to shower & a decent bed to sleep at night is all that you can get in this place. If one has to find faults there are numerous numerous. But looking at environment, location in the surroundings, we only hoped to get bear basics . Which we got , so we were satisfied. Cost is still high,but what we thought, was our car wasn't BROKEN INTO, we didn't ran into huge rude dramatic behaviour , so just stayed put !! There are no eateries very much closer , but in 10 minutes of driving distance , u can find decent ones . Walking around the motel IS NOT ADVICED AT ALL.
WIFI is NOT GOOD AT ALL. table lamp is broken in terms of wire being literally CUT INTO PIECES! Just lamp structure is kept for showcase . No room service , but we did not at all want any , either . DO NOT LEAVE ANY valuables in your ROOMS .

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2024

Rito

Sure

Leisure Self

2/10

Poor

21 Jun 2024

Gaynell

The non smoking rooms the curtain has cigarette burns

2/10

Poor

11 Jun 2024

Victor

El peor hotel de la vida

Business_and_leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2024

Josh

Bathroom didn’t have a shower curtain

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

29 May 2024

Robert

The shower had no pressure , no shower head , just a string for a stream, no towels , phones not working

Business Self

2/10

Poor

27 May 2024

Verified traveler

Immediately left.

Checked in and changed clothes and then immediately checked out. Stains everywhere, unfinished \"fixes\" throughout the room. Smells bad. Terrible surroundings around town and in the parking lot.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

20 May 2024

Gurdeep

No microwave , for drinking water there is no cups , near bed lamp is not working room is not clean properly, no bath tub no soap , we go to another room to use microwave to warm my food that looks so bad .

2/10

Poor

02 May 2024

Shawana

Lack of Service

I did not arrive to the property, as I had a family emergency which prevented me from making my planned trip.

The problem I have is that though I spent an exhaustive amount of time trying to reach the property by telephone, the telephone line was never answered, and I was prevented from canceling the reservation, therefore, my resources were usurped.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2024

Josh

Staff was great!

8/10

Excellent

23 Apr 2024

Kent

It was a short and nice walk to and around the lake and park.

4/10

Poor

15 Apr 2024

Erika

The lovely black lady who checked me in was the highlight of my stay. I was sick and she gave me a blanket from the dryer and helped me unlock my room. Otherwise was one of the worst hotels having worked at one rated and priced the same i was astonished at the bad quality. But only stayed a nigjt thankfully.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2024

Jenaiah

Nice

6/10

Pleasant

18 Mar 2024

XiaoMing

Really bad condition and bad smell, noisy

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

25 Feb 2024

Diego

The staff was rude sometimes and not willing to help

Business_and_leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

07 Feb 2024

Geoffrey

Good Enough... 👍

The room was adequate... clean and near the office... my only minor complaint was the noise of neighbors... throughout the night... even up to 3am. It's central to several restaurants and a grocery store, also within walking distance of a nice lake.

Business Self

2/10

Poor

30 Jan 2024

Firelight

The dirtiest, most run down motel I've ever stayed in
The phone wasn't even plugged in or working and the room hadn't been cleaned. The staff was far from friendly. Homeless staggering around the property. If it had been cheap, it may have been ok. But it cost me $84 for one.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

15 Jan 2024

Estevan

The non smoking room had smoke odor. Also there was still mold and grime on shower curtain. Looks like they clean the minimal needed.

Leisure

2/10

Poor

02 Jan 2024

Timothy

Nightmare

Bathroom flooded from broken tap knob
Second room tv didn’t work third room had no heat or air and no security lock
Lady at front desk was very nice but couldn’t do anything to help

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2023

Leobardo

Bargain

It was a good deal and a clean hotel

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

13 Dec 2023

Anatolios

The sheets had stains, the bathroom vent did not work, there was mold on the bathroom sealing, there were no screens on the windows and there was police action at the front office.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

10 Dec 2023

Yvonne D

The roof had a horrible mold smell that I had to use Lysol disinfectant. The air and heating system was dirty. Looked like the vent hadn’t been cleaned for months. No screen on bathroom sink so one of my lotion top accidentally fell into sink and it went down the drain. To,d maintenance and nothing was done. The one nice feature was the nice lady at the front desk.

4/10

Poor

28 Nov 2023

Wilton

Smells like they smoke in there

Business Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Nov 2023

Duane

Responses from staff were quick, and it was secure at night.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

16 Nov 2023

Anthony

Beyond disappointed

It was disgusting from the moment I walked in. Floor boards dirty. Light switch dirty. No tv in the room. Toilet disgusting. Side table lamp disgusting.

This is not a hotel it’s a stay-in-live hotel. They restrict who can come to your hotel room.

None of the vending machines work. The employees are rude and disgusting and not polite.

I found a cockroach in my room climbing up the walls.

The walls are too thin and you can hear people using the restroom and their conversations.

Business Self

6/10

Pleasant

13 Nov 2023

Kenneth

Door locks was a problem

Business

8/10

Excellent

13 Nov 2023

ZINABUA

I don’t like the smell

8/10

Excellent

08 Nov 2023

DeYoung

Not much else to say. Try it for yourself.

2/10

Poor

08 Nov 2023

Carlos

I stayed in this hotel of the Oakland location I will start double even though I have already paid through Expedia when I talk to the manager I receive no empathy no apologize even though they left me with no money I tried to get a room for another night which was more beneficial to me than to wait the whole fight businesses but they told me that they have to check out no remorse no empathy on top of that they forgot to give me my ID and because I was so pissed I forgot it too I'll feel it should be compensate for my wasting of time inconvenience .

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

07 Nov 2023

Janea

It's good

2/10

Poor

24 Oct 2023

Antya

The room was very run down and needs renovation. The ceiling had been re-done, but the whole room should be redone. Management should completely remodel certain rooms completely and only rent those out until all are redone.
The sink's hot and cold were reversed, no soap dish in shower and very slippery, toilet plugged up, no face towels, wash cloths or bath map, etc.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

23 Oct 2023

JodiMonet

Not at all as it seems in listing

2/10

Poor

27 Sep 2023

Ping yueh

Bad place

Business Family

4/10

Poor

19 Sep 2023

Aaron

I liked that it was within walking distance to the Lake Merritt BART station. I did not like that the hotel is in dire need of being updated and cleaned.

Business Self

6/10

Pleasant

10 Sep 2023

Rodolfo

Lugar está súper feo
Nada limpio
Horrible para hospedarse ahí

Self

2/10

Poor

27 Aug 2023

Samantha

Thin walls, probably has never undergone a renovation since it was initially built. The AC didn’t really work, smelled like a GoodWill so strong it was difficult to sleep. Manager wouldnt let me check in early, which I’ve never experienced.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

24 Aug 2023

pedro

Stay away from this hotel, unsafe, dirty very poor service

Leisure Family