It's clean, nice and trendy, but no hot tub, pool or sauna?! Come on now!!…read more LOCATION & DECOR: In downtown Oakland on the corner of Grand avenue and telegraph avenue with a bit of street parking out front and a parking lot across the intersection. $45 a night for parking is quite expensive. The decor is colorful and trendy and modern. A very cool eclectic and youthful vibe with a bit of elegance to it. It's Urban culture meets hipster businessman or businesswoman or businessperson. FOOD & DRINK: -there is a full bar with alcoholic beverages -Pepsi Co products -flatbread -bagels in the morning SWAG/AMENITIES: -gym w/ punching bag, free weights and ellipticals -2nd floor outdoor balcony with heating lamps, a ping-pong table and ample seating -- non-smoking -arcade table -bar room games like chess, checkers, connect four and jumbo Jenga -snack bar -microwave and toaster -complimentary drip coffee and tea -stash closet for extra towels, blankets, tissue, toothbrush, toiletries STAFF & EXPERIENCE: Staff was very welcoming and friendly. I was able to check in without too much effort and they provided all sorts of info about the local life and the hotel itself. Always checking on me as I walked around to ensure I had no questions and was taking care of. There was always someone available at the front desk. This place would be much better if it have a sauna, hot tub or pool. It's location isn't the best as it's in a rough part of the city with not much to look at outside the windows. Not much they can do about that. The bar is fully stocked with alcohol, but lacking in the food department. You'll have to order out unless you can survive on some bare minimum unhealthy choices. Everything here is clean and new and up to date so definitely earned four stars but a fifth one Is it warranted when they are missing some quintessential amenities.

This is a fun updated hotel with very small square footage. The lobby is a bar/lounge integrated…read morewith the check in desk, making it unique and fun. The room was very small, but cozy and functional. We parked in a small lot across the street with chainlink fence around it. There's a lot of small restaurants and bars right across the street to check out.

This is a beautiful venue! I stopped by here with a friend to try their brunch and check out the…read moregrounds. Brunch opens at 10am. They take reservations online but walk-ins too. The server told us they operate out of a food truck. So the menu is limited. But what they make is really good! We ordered the lemonade, chicken and waffles, huevos rancheros divorciados, and the strawberry champagne sherbet. Service was very prompt! The actual menu in-person had a couple items that aren't on the sample menu including a couple more dessert options like fig ice cream. We really liked everything we tried! The portions were pretty good. If coming here for food I'd recommend getting here early since food trucks have limited capacity. You're welcome to stroll around the property both the flower farm and the inn side before or after your meal. The parking situation is a gravel lot. So it may not be the most handicap accessible place. We had a lot of fun stopping by Park Winters. They were setting up for a wedding so the inn side would have been closed for the event starting at 1pm. The check also came with a small map of the property for you to keep. This was very helpful in exploring the property. The only caveat is this is the countryside. Wear long pants or be prepared with insect repellent! Even at 10am in the summer my legs were bitten by mosquitoes. (Type O blood. Mosquito magnet here.) I'd like if they burned some citronella candles to help with mosquitoes. The rest of the dining venue was so thoughtfully designed including timed misters (like at theme parks) to help keep the area cool. Definitely check it out if you're curious or in the area.

Mother's Day brunch: The menu was very small, ran out of multiple items, and, again, it was very…read moresmall; service was all over the place. They comped the meal, and we didn't ask for it; we only wanted to split the check, which was a policy that was never discussed, but their system could do it. So they decided to comp the check, given the many issues. Then the manager calls me after we leave, leaves a message, and says, very passively aggressive, "We comped your meal, but you did not leave the server a tip." Servers live off tips. But don't worry, we took care of her tip. Have a good day." Umm, excuse me? I was a server for over 7 years. First of all, I wouldn't expect a tip after the establishment that failed me by not ensuring they had adequate kitchen supplies to keep a Mother's Day up and running. Additionally, I would have added more staff to the day, which would of course be very busy. And lastly, how are we tipped when you comped the bill and walked away, and nobody had cash? We did not ask for the bill to be comped. So for future reference, dear John I don't recommend calling your customers and bullying them over voicemail. You're the problem, not us.

SERVICE & TRANSITIONS -- good Bright beautiful & spotless!…read moreCleaning standards were as impressive as could be throughout the property. My checkin experience however proved underwhelming due to visibly unmotivated staff -- including the security guard -- tighten up folks (she was nicer than the receptionist at least)! Their preoccupation for chisme was off-putting (if not a complete ick). Past the grandiose & masterfully-designed lobby, navigation gets really complex & unintuitive thanks to the maze-like corridors ‍. Elevators were also slower than drip-coffee but extra roomy which was nice! Tap payment accepted. ROOM [King, City View, Fridge Microwave] -- https://youtu.be/xEqX_8QmGHs The layout was inviting & homey, comfortably accommodating multiple guests in seating & storage. It looked clean, felt clean, & the lighting was excellent -- as were many of the amenities. My biggest complaint with this room was its workspace. The tabletop dimensions were inadequate & the chair lacked good ergonomics. The AC system was also a nightmare; partly on the wall & partly controlled on the terminal unit. ‍ They're still using the flimsy, dirty, paper DnD signs here which is a pet-peeve... BED [King] -- good A recharging sleep experience. This mattress had the perfect balance of firmness & support. Comfortable in every sleep position. Sheets, covers & pillows were not on the same levels of quality, however... A very underwhelming set of dressings for such a fine mattress. Bed-side utility was a notable highlight, featuring generous power access with multiple outlets and USB ports within easy reach. BATH -- great High cleaning standards were on display, illuminating a perfect vanity install in this huge bathroom. The towel staging was also a really nice touch. Sink & shower water pressure were surprisingly weak. Otherwise it was a magnificent shower experience: Zero Degree bath products were provided, temperatures were consistently HOT, & the exhaust system was in peak condition. TV SOLUTION/ACTIVITIES -- ok The room featured an impressive 55" Samsung TV with reliable cable service. Its mount was respectable for the easily accessible ports. Yet, the overall TV solution could be much simpler, particularly regarding the dual-remote system, which was as cumbersome as the AC controls... Audio performance was also subpar, making it a struggle to hear movies at a reasonable volume. Consider packing a Chromecast/GoogleTV. WI-FI & CELL RECEPTION -- bad Free & unencrypted WiFi providing dismal speeds. The wireless infrastructure was awful, with cellular dead zones in places like the bathroom. I wouldn't plan on getting much web surfing/work done in the rooms. --Performance-- Video streaming - average Online gaming - average Video chatting - average --Nerd Stats-- 2-5 Mbps download 10-22 Mbps upload 0% packet loss 15 ms latency 7 ms jitter FOOD & DRINK -- good Not DoorDash friendly. BIGLY Breakfast buffet in the morning Snacks for purchase in-room: microwave (mini) mini-fridge (small) coffee/tea NOISE -- great Perfect sound proofing. LOCATION -- good Smack dab downtown with phenomenal walkability to transit, stores, & eateries. I particularly enjoyed touring the Black Panther party museum & utilizing the nearby WeWork! There's an active security presence, but they were mostly on their mobile . Still the space & surrounding areas felt safe. Valet is $30/day;$50/overnight, while the garage a block away is $24/day. RECOMMENDATION Final Price: $119.98/night Was it worth it? Yes Best part: food & drink Minus the DREADFUL WiFi & apathetic customer service, this was a perfect stay. I seriously hope the wireless infrastructure can be tuned up (along with their training program...). I'd love to return & explore more room types. Its just very unsuitable for tech work. highly recommended if you can unplug for a few days. 4/5 @mrstaycation

Staff seems friendly! Room is clean and sheets are nice. The view is stunning from the higher…read morefloor. However when I walked in, there was a huge air machine that was left in the room, which was a bit alarming as it was very loud. I called the front desk and they apologized and forgot it was there. Tbh nice that it refreshes the air! I wanted to use the tub but noticed that tub was a bit dirty. Found glitter on the bathtub floor, pink mold on the grout. Once I went into the bath, I noticed that the rim of the bathtub has little specks of hair (and they certainly are not mine bc my hair is tied and I did not shower). I wiped it clean before I got in, but I would have hoped the staff would have cleaned it before hand : (

Raphael goes above and beyond for customers and their events. I have recently used them a few weeks…read moreago for a shuttle to top golf and back, and everyone had a great time. Motor coaches, mini busses, vans, limousines, they got it all and they do a great job at showing up on time and in professional vehicles. I guess only thing I can recommend is to not lose your stuff, as they aren't baby sitters who pickup after you ;) Grown adults shouldn't have any issues working with Umbrella!

What you look for in a bus company is to safely and efficiently get passengers from Point A to…read morePoint B. Umbrella Bus barely got our passengers from Point A to Point B, did not do so efficiently, and arguably didn't do it terribly safely. We booked Umbrella for a 54-passenger shuttle to transport wedding guests from our wedding hotel to our ceremony venue, and then from the ceremony venue to the reception venue ($1050 total). I confirmed this itinerary with their staff by email and phone several times (at least three), because they kept sending me invoices that only showed a partial itinerary, but they assured me that they had the correct itinerary written down and would read off the correct itinerary on the phone when I called. On the first trip, the bus driver got the bottom of the bus stuck on a steep hill, rendering it unable to move. Guests had to walk nearly a quarter mile from where the bus got stuck to the ceremony site. The bus was also blocking the entrance to the park where the ceremony was held, meaning that park visitors and several wedding guests who were behind it were severely delayed in getting into the park. We had a couple of guests who missed some of the wedding ceremony because the bus blocked the entrance for so long. It would've been 3.5 stars if only for this, since it wasn't 100% the driver's fault, though he should really have known what the buses he drives are able to handle. On the second trip, though, despite me confirming the destinations in the itinerary with Umbrella MULTIPLE TIMES, the driver had somehow been given the wrong destination by their dispatch, and took guests back to the hotel instead of to the wedding reception venue. My family members had to argue with the driver, who insisted that he'd been told to take everyone back to the hotel, and "I'm only doing two trips, how will people get back to the hotel?" but he eventually relented and took everyone to the reception instead, but meant that most of the guests were delayed by quite a bit in getting to the reception. This definitely wasn't the driver's fault though, and was clearly the fault of the company/dispatch. He did eventually take the guests where they needed to go, which we appreciate.

I cannot recommend this CLS Global Transportation enough. Sharon was our main contact and she was…read moreawesome to work with. She is an amazing communicator who responds quick and gives timely updates, which took all the stress out of planning. We booked the 13-seater sprinter van, and it arrived spotless. The vehicle was clean and looked just like the picture! Our driver, Floyd, was incredibly professional, personable, and accommodating. He ensured we arrived to all our events safely and timely. Planning an itinerary can get chaotic, but Floyd made the bride to be feel less stress as everything was all taken care of and more. If you need reliable, top-tier group transit, book this team immediately.

My friends and I were looking for a party bus for an event in Oakland, and I'm so glad I found CLS…read moreGlobal Transportation on Yelp! Their 20-passenger party bus was the perfect size for our group. Sharon made the booking process incredibly easy and was so helpful in answering all of our questions. Their pricing was also much more affordable than other companies we looked at, so booking with them was an easy decision. We were able to schedule pickup from our friend's house, transportation to our event, and a return pickup and drop-off afterward without any issues. Our driver, Leland, provided 10/10 service. He made sure we had the best experience from the moment we got on the bus by setting up the Bluetooth before we left and making sure the cooler was stocked with ice. He even picked us up a little earlier than scheduled since our event ended ahead of time. Most importantly, he got us to and from our destination safely while making the ride fun and enjoyable. Thank you, Leland, for being such an amazing driver! We'll definitely be booking with CLS Global Transportation again for future events, and I recommend them to anyone looking for reliable, affordable, and excellent party bus service.

This is truly a once in a lifetime experience. I've experienced a hot air balloon tour before, but…read morenot like this. The company has a great system for checking in, onboarding and off boarding. The pilot is very talented, informative and skilled. The views are incomparable. The mountains, valley, sunrise and cloud cannot be explained. The ride ended with a trip to a wine tasting at a local vineyard.

What a great experience Bob was awesome, knowledgeable,…read morefriendly, efficient and great attitude

Update: To top it all off, my credit card number was stolen at this hotel the the same day they…read morecharged me for my hotel services! BEWARE

The hotel is located on 13th in Downtown Oakland. One block from BART and a few blocks from…read moreeverything else! We were able to walk to Lake Merritt a few blocks down 13th and walked to Chinatown a few blocks down Webster, which is also a few blocks away from Jack London Square. There is a $15/night fee for parking, free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast from 6:30am-9:30am. The rooms are a little tight, but it is a refurbished hotel in downtown, not some new development, so it's pretty cool for what it is.

This Review is for the Bin415 Tasting Room at the Fairmont:…read moreWe started my birthday evening off here before heading to dinner at another venue. I love wine and always look forward to learning more about the varieties, I was really excited to try some of wine country's best, all while avoiding a drive into the valley. Upon arrival, the doorman directed me to Bin415; which was just a short walk through the hotel lobby. The ambiance was luxe, set in a most beautifully decorated lounge: this felt so ideal for the special occasion, the vibes were amazing. Our host and Sommelier, Kelly was super knowledgeable on the wines, sharing the rich history on each bottle as he poured and we tasted. The selection of wines was delicious, super "safe" and palatable- nothing was overwhelming, or too "young" and we really enjoyed the Cabernet above all. We wanted to purchase the Cab, but they had unfortunately ran out. Kelly was nice enough to offer his open bottle, however we insisted on coming back after a restock. This is a place you must try if you'd like to learn more about wine, don't feel like going all the way to wine country for a tasting, or if you're simply looking for a tasteful night out to enjoy fine wines.

My wife and I were staying in San Francisco for the weekend so we decided to see if there were any…read moretasting rooms in the city. We found several listings, but Bin 415 looked like the most promising one so we made a reservation. We had an amazing tasting at their San Francisco tasting room in the Fairmont Hotel. We opted for the "reserve" tasting and all of the wines were excellent. The sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable, which made it a very educational experience as well. The room was very pleasant as well, with a nice view of San Francisco.

I give it a 4.5. We had to arrive super early and wait for them to set up everything. It was cold…read moreoutside and they did provide coffee, hot chocolate and snacks. We the weather being so unpredictable we had to wait. I was fine with wait because i do value my life. I had the chance to cross off a major item from my bucket list. A hot air balloon ride and wow, what an experience! The views were absolutely breathtaking. Floating high above the landscape, seeing everything from a completely new perspective, was truly magical. The sunrise was especially beautiful as we drifted along, and the silence up there, broken only by the loud occasional burst of the burner, was unlike anything I've ever experienced. That said, there were a few things to consider. The heat from the burner can be overwhelming, especially if you're not prepared for it. I didn't wear a hat, and I really wish I had and i am short 5'2 those blasts of hot air can get pretty intense when they hit you directly! So, if you're planning this trip, definitely bring something to cover your head. The landing was a bit of a wild ride, too. The ground was much harder and more uneven than I expected, and we didn't quite know where we'd land until we were almost on top of it. Also getting in and out can be extremely challenging. It's hard climbing into and out of the basket and it's very tightly packed. Not a lot of space to move. I knew the risks going in but the whole experience was so worth it. Even with those little surprises, it was absolutely incredible. Would I do it again? Definitely not! Despite the heat and the bumpy landing, the beauty of the experience makes it all worthwhile and a one timer for me. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something unique and unforgettable to add to your list of adventures. Just don't forget your hat!

Amazing first time experience with a friendly crew. The ride was so smooth it felt like the world…read morewas moving around us. We had to go to a different location due to weather, which is fine. A change in location is preferred than cancellation.

Great trip with a very friendly crew - safety and comfort conscious…read more We were on the racing yacht, sailing with only the jib (front sail) - while it cruised along pretty well (and smoothly) in good wind with just the one sail, I'd have liked to use the main sail and seen what she could do, but we had a few members who were beginners and worried about getting seasick. So I understand the captain for playing it on the safe side. Not cheap for 3 hours, but then sailing isn't a cheap pastime. Everyone had a very nice time, even the beginners (who didn't get seasick).

Five family members gathered in Sausalito to bid our final farewells to my brother Lanny. His son…read more(my nephew) and I researched the services available for this need, and we feel very lucky to have found Captain Kirk's. Every detail was handled with utmost care and sensitivity. Our captain, Rowan, was personable and pleasant, and gave us space to say goodbye as we needed. I know Captain Kirk's couldn't control the weather, but if they did, it couldn't have been a better day. Beautiful sunshine, the water was sparkling, and our loved one had the send-off he wanted. Many thanks to everyone at Captain Kirk's for a pretty much perfect experience. We highly recommend them for anyone looking for a comfortable and sensitive voyage when scattering a loved one's ashes in the Bay.