Empire Holidays

This place is a total dump and I did not feel safe there. Homeless encampments on the property and active prostitution going on. As soon as daylight arrived, I packed up and went to a better place outside of Oakland. Too bad. I have stayed at some pretty decent Motel 6's in the past.

We were here to visit family in Oakland, so we were familiar with the area. Starting with the positives, the hotel is located near the freeway and just a few minutes from Alameda where we like to go to Ole's for waffles. Downtown Oakland/Lake Merritt is about 20 minutes. The waterfront room is lovely as the view is peaceful and quiet, the breakfast/bar area is very nice with additional views. Sitting on the balcony of our room watching the paddleboarders was very peaceful. The staff was exceptionally nice and friendly which is always appreciated. The beds and pillows were comfortable and housekeeping was very helpful and kept our room neat and with fresh towels. The mini fridge and microwave were great for a longer stay. The rooms are a little worn in terms of the bathroom tiles and carpeting, but it's not terrible. Walking along the waterfront was peaceful, however, there's definitely a homeless element if you venture out along the waterfront trail, but being from LA this is nothing new for us. The closest "encampment" consisted of a tidy tent, items kept neatly in milk crates, and their dog. Clearly someone just really down on their luck and not trying to be dirty and disrespectful to the surroundings, so it really did not bother us, but noting it here as it might bother some people. We walked about 20 minutes to the Port building and the Brooklyn area, where there is a very nice coffee place (Zocalo Coffee).