The Earl Hotel Leeson Street, Sonder

We booked seven nights but left after five because the room was so uncomfortable. For two people it’s tiny, and the bed is only 140x180cm, not a proper two-person bed. There’s barely space to move around each other or even stand beside it. We had a small suitcase each, but nowhere to put them, and there was no other place for our clothes and belongings. The bathroom is just as cramped. You have to squeeze between the shower and sink to reach the toilet, and your knees still touch the sink. The room was hot even though it was 10-15 degrees outside. Street noise was super loud all day, and closing the window didn’t help. For an already expensive room of this quality, cleaning isn’t included. Each cleaning costs another 30 euros, so the towels and trash stay in the room, making it feel even smaller.

The location is the only thing going for it. I recently stayed in a Sonder in Nice and it was stunning, so this place felt like a total letdown by comparison. The stair area was dusty, the doors and bannisters had chipped finishes, and the mattress was disgusting. It reminded me of a wet hostel, with really thin sheets over the mattress.

The hotel is very clean and modern, well presented and in a good location. Self check-in was easy. The room was a tiny double, with barely enough room to walk around the small bed. The bedside table was jammed right up against it, so if you moved in your sleep you could smash your face or head into it. It was incredibly hot, to the point I felt unwell, even with the window open and fan on. With the window open, traffic started around 5am and woke me. I had to choose between boiling in the room or hearing every city sound. The mattress seemed to be made of plastic, which made the heat worse, and it was very uncomfortable. Sleep quality was pathetic. I can’t remember a worse hotel night, and after two nights we were quite ready to leave, which was a shame given the room wasn’t cheap.

Everything was clean and neatly arranged, and the stay was pleasant and comfortable. Check-in and check-out were fully self-service, which made things convenient, and the staff were friendly. There was a coffee machine and kettle, and towels were changed daily on request. The property is near the park, with everything easy to reach on foot. Thank you.