We were given a key that opened someone else's room and walked in. Fortunately no one was in it. Went back to the desk and waited again for someone to help us. Receptionist did not seem too concerned. Got another key.Only one elevator that was dirty and smelled like grease. A big party down the hall had loud music and a dog that was loose in the hotel. Went to the fitness room. No water in the fountain. You have to walk quite a few blocks to get to grocery store. Mostly Indian restaurants nearby. Not a nice neighborhood.
I would spend the extra money and stay closer to the campus. Breakfast was the only thing that was OK. We have stayed at La Quinta before and this one does not measure up to the standards of the others. It desperately needs updating and renovation.

I wanted a accessibility room and staying with my parents. They only had rooms with one king bed that was so high my mom could not climb into it. How high? 32 inches and too thigh in the room for moving around in her wheelchair. Her option was to sleep in a rollaway bed that was too low, that blocked our exit and access to the bathroom.

WiFi required us to go through a log in SLOW log in process again and again, despite testing fast in a speed test, they seem to throttle usage. I gave up and it was easier to use my 3G phone for internet access.

We had trouble with our access card and had to stand outside the building for a long time one night until someone coming out let us in. We would spend 5 mins. trying to open our room door before we got in.

If it wasn't for the following amenities, then this hotel would've gotten a lower rating (half star)

Located on busy University Ave. right near the 80 freeway, a couple miles from UCB, if you're facing the front, be prepared for noise. We requested a room facing the back so we didn't have to deal w/ street noise...just stupid barking dogs and screaming kids :(

We've stayed at several types of hotels from first class to budget hotels and I have personally found that when confronted w/ an issue, it's soooo much more effective to be NICE to the workers and you'll get treated nicely, but w/ this hotel, their service is terrible w/ a capital T even if you're nice to them!

If you have any requests/needs to be accomodated, forget this hotel. From corporate end, they don't even really respond to you. I tried several times to contact the hotel and couldn't get any help from any worker. The "lady" that checked us in had no personality and wouldn't help us w/ anything.

Just to get towels I had to wait over 3 hours and make 2 calls to her and when finally getting towels she calls me and tells me to come downstairs to the front desk to get them! Even in the worst hotel I've stayed at, I've never had to get my own towels!

While the workers aren't directly "rude" to your face, they're not overly helpful, is the best way I could describe this hotel. They're lazy and couldn't care less about setting a good impression. The guy who checked me out was much friendlier.

Thank God it was just a one night stay (to visit UCB). The Berkeley area is disgusting, scary and smells like pot, urine & smoke. Yuck! Couldn't get out of here soon enough!!! It was not a safe feeling.

Having said that, they provide 2 perks which provide for a cost saving stay if you do have to stay there.

Therefore, if you're a practical type of frugal traveller, who wants "the comforts of home" (which we are) then you'll really appreciate these amenities:

1. Free parking
2. Free breakfast every morning until 9:30 am. They provide juice, coffee, tea, milk, waffles, toast/bagels/pastries, instant oatmeal, dry cereals. Bottled water dispenser in gym & dining room

They also have on site laundry room if you need it (we didn't use, so I don't know how much it cost).

Now here are the features/our experience that would lower our rating:
1. No pool for use (under construction), which wasn't a big deal since it was just overnight. I don't think they have a jacuzzi either.
2. Walls are thin so yes, you can hear your neighbors- screaming kids and barking dogs. But we just kept the AC on the entire time in our room to drown out noise. Plus I always use ear plugs.
3. fitness room is useless
4. Bad customer service/not helpful employees, even when you are very nice to them (which I always am).

We got this on priceline (it was 2 star rating hotel, which I think is too high). Compared to other priceline deals, this was way over priced.

The room we had were 2 double beds

Housekeeping/front desk was terrible.

If you want pool/jacuzzi, entertainment, nice gym, fancy hotel, you'll be disappointed. If customer service is important to you, then you'll hate this place. I would really try to avoid La Quinta hotels in the future (although we had a decent experience @ LQ in Santa Ana, which is under a separate review).

Have safe & happy travels!

The La Quinta Inn is located on University Avenue, near Rt. 80. The property is well fenced, but the area is a little worn. We stay here every two years for a business conference. The carpeting is the same as what we saw two years ago, and is showing its age - it's dirty and looks as if a good shampooing won't make a difference any more. However, the staff are very nice and friendly, the breakfast is very reasonable and the room where it's served is nice. The room itself is large, and the bathroom is well lit and ours was quite clean. When asked for a quiet room, we were put at the end of the hall facing the back of the hotel, ideal for us. There were plenty of towels. The room includes a small refrigerator and microwave, along with a card table sized table with two chairs which make eating in the room convenient. Trader Joe's has just opened a little over a mile away. So... the room itself it nice, except for the carpet. The hotel staff are helpful. It's not a bad choice for the price, but a long way from plush.