The name Sonder wasn't totally foreign to us, but not so familiar either. It was during a recent trip to South Florida that we learned what their slogan “a better way to stay” meant by staying at two of their properties. Let's have a look.

The company, which operates hotels-that-are-not-hotels in several major American cities, offers a concept adapted to vacationers who wishes to stay in the heart of the action, in hotel environments, but in a vacation rental dynamic. What does it mean ? We will explain it to you (because we found out about it at the same time as you did!)

A 100% autonomous stay

The main feature of Sonder hotels is the almost unique and overall use of the Sonder App for everything and anything. In short, we have no choice but to download it before our stay, since that's how absolutely everything is set and done. The objective is to speak to (almost) no one and waste (almost) no time - above all not to stop at the front desk at check-in. Moreover, here, staff is there for support, but there is no check-in formula as we know it. This is shocking at first, but as the concept is "autonomy" and independence, we will soon get it ...

The app allows us to make any change to our reservation or special request, to know exactly when our room is ready, to request an early check in or a late check out, but also to receive the codes to access the building and even our room. It is therefore a completely self-arrival and stay that is proposed here. We have personally stayed at Sonder The Circ in Hollywood which offers a rooftop pool and a gym and Sonder the Abbey, a boutique hotel walking distance to the beach and in the heart of South Beach.

A “pay per play” concept

Sonder resorts are built and designed like hotels and offer: a front desk and a common area, some offer gyms and swimming pools, but everything is very "basic" and should be seen more like if you were renting a condo in a residential tower that already offered all its amenities. The advantage is that you don't feel like you're staying at someone's house like in an airbnb, the level and the environment are really those of an hotel, the locations of the buildings are hard to beat, always in the heart of the action, which is rarely the case with vacation rentals, but the rates are very competitive. It's the hotel without the protocol, if you will.

Because we "only pay for what we really need" (a room, wi-fi, prime location) and everything else is à la carte and can be added only if necessary (housekeeping is in extra, but if we stay three nights, do we really need it?) and if we have a question or if we need something, the request goes through the app. The concierge is once again replaced by the application which suggests the best addresses nearby in an easy to use and tailor-made guide. The rooms vary from studios to fully furnished apartments and can be reserved for a short or long stay, as needed.

The result: it is interesting and indeed different, for us who are absolutely sold on hotels and who absolutely want to stay in the heart of the action no matter where we are, Sonder definitely offers competitive prices in cities often overpriced (Miami, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia) for a short stays it becomes really interesting. Also: the design is still very modern, simple, clean, but pretty. In short, not boring at all. We liked it.

For more information https://www.sonder.com/