Midtown South

The property was nicely maintained, but we kept dealing with smoke smells throughout the building. Pot and cigarette odors seemed to come from nearby units, even though staff tried to keep things clean and fresh. With few or no attendants around after hours, some guests seemed able to ignore the no-smoking rules. I wouldn't recommend it for families, especially anyone sensitive to smoke or looking for a more conservative, smoke-free environment. We had booked a Superior 2 Bedroom Suite at Sonder Midtown Atlanta. On check-in day, our suite, #511, was assigned before the regular check-in time. I asked about paying extra to get in early, and they were accommodating. But when we entered, the suite smelled strongly of pot and cigarettes, a real problem since my husband and daughter both have asthma. We aired it out for 24 hours, and the power went out during that time. When I asked Sonder to move us, they offered a lower-level suite first and another move the next day. We didn't want that hassle during a short stay, so we stayed put. The odor eased a little, then came back by nightfall.

I still plan to come back because the space and price suit my needs. I prefer the apartment setup to a hotel, and the rooms are nice, spacious, and clean. The halls and garage often smell like weed, though, so keep that in mind. The price is usually good, but parking can add up to a big bill and eat into the savings compared with a more centrally located hotel. It would be nice if parking were cheaper or discounted for repeat customers or longer stays. I also had a bad check-in problem last time. I couldn't get my room assignment and had to upload my ID, which still wasn't enough. I spent over an hour in my rental car outside Sonder, around 10 or 11 at night, trying to sort out access with support. I swore I wouldn't stay again, but had existing reservations. That was a major miss and the first time I'd questioned staying with Sonder. This stay, the dishwasher didn't work and beeped every 1-2 minutes for all 12 days. People upstairs also walk heavily, which can get really annoying.

The apartment-style setup was a welcome change from a standard hotel room. I liked the homey feel, full kitchen, comfortable living area, spacious walk-in closet, and balcony. The location was great too, within walking distance of Midtown hotspots and Beltline neighborhoods. Check-in was frustratingly cumbersome if you hadn't downloaded the Sonder app. I wish there were a traditional check-in option like at most hotels. The stained carpets also made the space feel less clean and well kept. I enjoyed my stay overall, though there's room to improve cleanliness, amenities, and check-in convenience.

Our early arrival got off to a good start once I called the listed number about the front-door code not working. They gave me a new one, and I was inside within minutes. We could leave our luggage in the storage lockers and wait in the lounge until check-in, which was really nice. I was nervous about booking an apartment instead of a hotel, but Sonder turned out to be perfect for us. It was clean, spacious, safe, and comfortable, and I thought the price was very reasonable for what we got. The room looked just like the online pictures. The mattress felt new and was nice and firm, and the sofa-couch mattress was comfortable too. We also had cups, bowls, plates, and cutlery for food we bought to eat in the room. The only small flaw I noticed was marks on some white walls behind the doors, as if they could use a wipe. I loved the stay and will book with Sonder again and recommend it to others.