My Second Sonder
Is the first time really the best?
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This week, I’m at work in Washington, DC.
I came up (from Nashville) a few weeks ago to get acclimated to a new client.
Instead of a hotel or an Airbnb, I chose Sonder.
As I noted then, it was a great experience. Cheaper than a hotel OR an Airbnb. No list of fees.
It’s like a hotel in an app.
There is no on-site staff. You enter and leave based on codes/mobile keys on your phone.
Yes, people clean — when you leave.
I actually stayed in the same Sonder but in a different unit.
This one was smaller than the previous one — but had a larger bathroom and a window with a street view.
Missing: A couch near the TV.
Included: A full kitchen, a generously sized bed, and all the comforts of living in your own apartment.
I mean, the place is great.
I haven’t stayed in Sonders in other cities, but if this is how they are, I’m in.
Hotels are nice but often cramped and Airbnb often ends up with “surprise” fees — or, if not surprising, at least a long list.
Sonder is straightforward — you know you’re going to a hotel without a staff.
There are self-serve amenities — soap, towels, etc. — and in some Sonders, there’s a washer/dryer. Great if you’re in town on work or for a longer stay.
Plus, this one — and many I’ve seen — are in older buildings in town that have been renovated. This means they are keeping the community character while offering the customer an interesting experience.
Have you Sondered?
