Sonesta, Emeryville, San Francisco Bay Bridge [Deluxe King] (609)

[@MrStaycation]

SERVICE & TRANSITIONS -- 👍 ok
An "empty" vibe, forgettable customer service, & dreary atmosphere. I didn't get the impression anyone 'wanted' to be here. Furniture has also seen better days.
No negative interactions, just a severe case of "going through the motions".
Parking was conveniently located.
Coin-operated laundry services were available onsite.
MVP employees: N/A
ROOM [Deluxe King]-- 👎 ok
Turnover seemed rushed, or the cleaning standards just aren't particularly high: visible dust bunnies & debris on the carpet 🫤.
The layout was rather odd & the design just didn't seem to fit the space. Lighting was also weak.
tl;dr accommodations aren't as "dreamy" as depicted online.
We did appreciate the modern aesthetic & functional windows; great vantage points for people watching.
BED -- 👍 good
satisfactory.
Nothing screamed "WoW", but sheets were clean, mattresses were in good condition, & comforters were... well, comfortable.
BATH -- 👎 poor
Dimensions were generous & the space was clean, it's just woefully underutilized. Completely lacking in (any) design.
Plumbing was frustrating: the temperatures were wildly unpredictable-- ⚠️scolding hot water occasionally ran when using the cold setting⚠️.
Water pressure was weak everywhere else.
TV/ENT./ACTIVITIES -- 👍 ok
Great display; bad mount... Not a great viewing experience due to the 90 degree angle from bed to TV. This installation wasn't fully thought out & it shows. Otherwise, it's a gorgeous Samsung model, programmed with a feature-rich TV OS & streaming functions.
Clean gym facilities & a decent-sized indoor pool, open 6am-930pm, can be found in the back.
WI-FI & CELL RECEPTION -- 👍 good
Unencrypted (free) WiFi has great QoS, although speeds are meager. This was good enough for us so we didn't bother with Premium.
There's also a business center in the lobby, so plenty of options for connectivity & computing👨‍💻.
Cell reception was great (Verizon).
--Performance--
Video streaming - great
Online gaming - great
Video chatting - great
--Nerd Stats--
9-15 Mbps download
9-16 Mbps upload
0% packet loss
5 ms latency
25 ms jitter
FOOD & DRINK -- 👍 ok
Breakfast takeout was available onsite (Bowline Canteen). Their menu was accommodating for dietary restrictions, however the convenience doesn't justify the price tag (2 entrees = ~$40).
The Market sundries shop offers enough snacks to hold you over if needed (water was overpriced, use the fountains instead💡). The community microwave is located here too.
There's a Trader Joe's + a number of restaurants within walking distance.
in-room:
❌ microwave
✅ mini-fridge (small)
✅ coffee/tea
❌ wet-bar
❌ mini-bar
NOISE -- 👍 great
One thing I do enjoy about Sonesta's are the designated quiet hours. As expected, noise was not an issue.
LOCATION -- 👍 great
The height of this stay was discovery the many restaurants, clothing stores, grocers, movies, & mall nearby.
We felt safe here & the surroundings were well-patrolled at by night.
RECOMMENDATION & RATING
Final Price: $130.20/night
Was it worth it: yes
Best part: Location
An underwhelming property in a heavily underrated location. For the experience we had, this stay was overpriced & hollow. It's a great area for shopping & a movie date, so I don't regret it.
The suites & other configurations seem enticing but I don't see myself returning.
Lukewarm recommendation.
3.5/5 ⭐️