I spent one night in a swanky hotel-apartment hybrid rented out by Sonder, the $1 billion startup disrupting the hospitality industry. Here are 6 ways it was radically different from a typical Airbnb stay.
1. The check-in process was more straightforward and secure than I've experienced in many Airbnbs.
2. My Sonder had its own separate elevator bank.
One of the best features of the Sonder I stayed in was that it had separate elevators so that short-term guests don't have to bother permanent residents.
But residents of the building I stayed in told CBS New York reporter Reena Roy after the recent robbery that despite the separate elevator banks, there is sometimes a "disconnect" when it comes to enforcement.
3. I didn't feel like I was staying in someone's home.
For me, this was a plus. While I appreciate Airbnbs that feel homey, it can be kind of weird to see family photos on the wall or a stranger's clothes hanging in the closet.
But the Sonder still felt cozy and more personal than staying in a hotel, especially with small touches like Brooklyn-made chocolate bars and a handwritten note with suggestions for places to check out in the neighborhood.
4. The apartment was cleaned to the standards of a hotel.
I've stayed in Airbnbs that had funky smells in the carpet or bedding and subpar cleanliness. But my Sonder apartment was spotless.
The bathroom, with its neatly-folded, pristine white towels and designer toiletries, felt especially hotel-like.
5. I had access to Sonder-specific amenities such as a lounge, game room, and movie theater.
While most hotels offer some form of a fitness center and a business center, in Airbnbs I've stayed at in apartment buildings, I have not been given access to the building's amenities for residents.
But in my Sonder, I had access to amenities set aside specifically for Sonder guests, including a lounge, a game room, a movie theater, and a coworking space, as well as the New York Sports Club fitness center next door.
6. My Sonder had an "essentials closet" where I could grab things like extra toilet paper, olive oil, or anything else I needed.
The Sonder building I stayed in had an "essentials closet" on the floor below me, where guests could come and grab anything from extra laundry pods, toilet paper, and towels, to mini bottles of olive oil — all free of charge.
Sonders aren't cleaned and re-stocked every day like hotel rooms, but this seemed like a straightforward and easy way to let guests grab whatever they need, whenever they need it.
After my stay in a Sonder, it was clear to me that the things that differentiate it from Airbnbs are the things that add to its appeal.
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