11 Benefits of Staying with Sonder
/
The view from the ‘Eiffel Tower King Suite w/ Balcony' At Sonder Atala in paris, France
Sonder is a tech-driven hospitality company on a mission to redefine what it means to have an exceptional stay. As someone who likes to travel for extended periods of time but still enjoys the occasional getaway, I’ve found that Sonder has something for every type of traveler.
My first stay with Sonder was at Park House in Amsterdam- I was first drawn in by its location, design, and reasonable rates, and left highly impressed by the overall experience. I most recently got to stay in one of Sonder’s Paris locations, the beautiful Atala near the Champs-Élysées, and am looking forward to my upcoming reservation at another one of their Paris locations, Le Frochot.
This article lists many of the benefits of booking a stay with Sonder, and describes what sets it apart from other types of accommodations.
1. Sonder has the flexibility of a hotel but can also accommodate longer, extended stays
The first time I read about Sonder I was struck by the phrase “stay for a night, stay for a week, stay for a month, stay for a year”. Though their properties technically operate like hotels and can be booked for one or a few nights, Sonder also offers guests a very easy and simplified platform for booking extended stays, in which case their properties function as furnished rentals. What sets Sonder apart from other hotels is that it offers considerable discounts for longer stays- which I describe in more detail in point #7 of this article. For stays longer than 30 days, you will also be charged in monthly installments more similar to rent payments, rather than having to pay for your entire stay up front.
2. Sonder properties are professionally managed and design-focused
When you book a stay with Sonder, you will know exactly what to expect. As opposed to Airbnb where most listings are managed by different types of hosts or individuals, Sonder properties are professionally managed and operated, meaning you can expect a higher standard of service and higher quality amenities and furnishings. Sonder also places great importance on the design elements of their properties, creating environments that are inspiring regardless of whether you are there to work and be productive, or are there to relax and take it easy.
3. You can easily search availability and book your stay in their app
Sonder’s app is convenient to use (as is their website), and you can search availability, see their rates, and discover their locations with ease. I’m not usually one to be excited about having to download yet another travel app, but considering how well-integrated Sonder’s app is to their whole experience, I did so gladly and have been thoroughly impressed.
4. You can manage your reservation, discover the neighborhood, and even request cleanings in their app
Once you have your reservation booked is when the capabilities of the Sonder app really shine. You can request early check-in or late check-out, modify your dates, read recommendations of restaurants and markets near your Sonder, request cleanings, and chat with a customer service specialist, all from within the app. Even after you check out, the app keeps track information like your room number, so if you were to return to that location and loved your view or specific room layout, you could potentially make a request for your next stay.
5. Customer service is wonderful and available 24/7 by chat
I’ve only had to reach out to customer service for minor requests, but each time I have done so the representative has been very friendly, quick to respond, and helpful. It’s also nice that Sonder’s customer service is available 24 hours a day, because there will always be someone that can help you even if you are traveling across time zones.
6. Membership is free (and all you need to do is sign up)
Signing up for a Sonder account is a practical way to keep track of your past, current, and future reservations, keep a wish list of your favorite properties, and keep your information on file to make future bookings seamless and easy. And just by being a member and booking your reservation directly Sonder’s app or website, you get a 15% discount off the normal rate.
7. Sonder offers major discounts for longer stays
The 15% off discount for members is applied to short stays, but if you’re a member and you stay longer you’ll benefit from even bigger discounts. Depending on the property, members can also get a 20%-30% discount off 7+ day stays, a 25%-35% discount off 14+ day stays, or a 30%-40% discount off 30+ day or 45+ day stays. These discounts are considerable and make their rates competitive when comparing to alternative furnished rentals, even though the experience that Sonder offers is much more than what alternatives tend to provide. If you are signed into your Sonder account on their website or their app, simply select your travel dates to browse properties and the daily, weekly, and monthly discounts will be automatically applied to the rates shown.
8. If you’re researching options for a future extended stay, you can “test it out” before committing
This is one of my favorite benefits that is unique to Sonder. If you’re looking for a long-term rental in a destination where Sonder operates and are able to travel there ahead of time to conduct your research or decide on a place, you can simply make a booking at the Sonder property to test it out. Because you can book a Sonder property like a hotel or a furnished rental, you can first book a few nights to experience the property to see if you like the space and the neighborhood, or develop a preference for a specific room type or category. Once you’re familiar with the property, you can confidently book your extended stay and rest easy knowing exactly what you can expect. It’s rare that other options or alternatives for extended stay accommodations can offer this benefit, because most other properties usually strictly operate as a hotel or strictly operate as a long-term rental, and not both.
9. Their cancelation and change policies are actually flexible
When booking a reservation under Sonder’s flex rate (which in my experience, seems to be the standard across their platforms), you can cancel or modify the reservation more than three days before and receive a full refund. For longer stays, they understandably ask for at least 30-days notice to cancel or modify without fees. You can book your stay with Sonder and have peace of mind knowing that in the event your plans may change, you won’t risk losing your entire payment. This is certainly a major benefit when comparing Sonder to alternatives for extended stays like Airbnb, whose hosts rarely offer flexible cancellation, or local agencies, which don’t always have a formal policy nor a set standard for returning your money to you if you need to make a change and are due a refund. To read more about Sonder’s cancellation policy, you can visit their website here.
10. You can stay with Sonder in 40+ cities around the world
With locations in dozens of cities across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, you can experience Sonder whether you’re planning a quick getaway or city break, a longer trip for a work assignment, or fully planning to relocate. If you find that you frequently travel between destinations where Sonder has properties, you can also book in both places to have a seamless, familiar experience while traveling. In some cities, Sonder has multiple properties, so if you are booking a last minute stay and are limited by availability, you can potentially split your stay between different locations within the same city.
Though I’ve been a fan of Sonder since last summer when I stayed at Park House in Amsterdam, I only recently started following along their Instagram account a few months ago- and within that time they’ve continually announced openings in several new cities. To keep up with their announcements and learn more about their properties, you can find them on Instagram @sonderstays.
11. If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve* card, you can earn 10x points on your stay with Sonder
Because Sonder can be booked like a hotel, you can also find their properties on platforms like Expedia. Expedia is also the booking platform that services the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, which rewards Sapphire Reserve cardholders with 10x points on hotel stays. Sonder’s member discounts are only offered when you book directly through their app or website, so the rates will likely be higher if you book your stay through Chase Ultimate Rewards- but you can calculate if it’s worth more to you to take advantage of Sonder’s discounts, or more worth it to earn Chase points which can be redeemed for even more travel. You may find that it’s more advantageous to book a short stay (less than one week) through Chase Ultimate Rewards when the membership discount you would receive by booking directly through Sonder would only be 15% off- but again, I invite you to complete your own calculations.
I should also note that in my experience, I was still able to access my reservation through my Sonder account in the app and website even if I booked my stay through a third party. If you have any issues in this regard, you could likely reach out to their lovely customer service specialists for help.
The view from a ‘Spacious King Suite’ at Sonder Atala in paris, France
Overall, my stays with Sonder have all been positive, and I look forward to discovering more of their properties in the future. Are you considering a long or short stay with Sonder and have a question about my experience? Let me know in the comments below!
*If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmember, you can read the terms, conditions, details, and rates on their website here and decide if the program is right for your lifestyle, financial goals, and spending habits.
This post contains affiliate links and at no cost to you, I may earn a commission which allows me to keep this site free for all readers. I only recommend products, brands, and services that I personally use and believe in.
