Charming Midtown East Suites by Sonder

Fern/ferl was the bright spot. The next day, she apologized for the inconvenience and was warm and welcoming. She even brought us cookies, which helped turn around how we felt about the place. We'd have given it one star otherwise. We'd booked through Marriott’s website, where the listing should make it clear that this is more like an Airbnb rental than a regular hotel. We only found that out when we arrived, and the residential building’s doorman explained it rudely. By then it was too late to cancel. Be cautious if you're looking for a traditional hotel, because this isn't set up like one.

The secure building has 24 hour security, the apartment is fairly large, and the location was great. I was expecting a bit more for $400 a night, though. We had to pay extra for something advertised as a one room apartment. The bathroom had no ventilation, and the shower curtain was about three inches too short, so water flooded the floor every time and a mildew smell lingered. The bathroom door is pictured, including its rusted hinges painted over. We were also told the building gym had Peloton bikes, so we both packed our spin gear, only to learn they hadn't had Pelotons there in years. It looked adorable online, but the reviews were mixed. I decided to take my chances. It wasn't bad, just disappointing for the price.

We've stayed at five Sonder properties now, and we love them. This one is lovely, affordable, and well located. Grand Central is about an 8-10 minute walk; Times Square, Bryant Park, NYCity Public Library, and Central Park are more like 20-30 minutes on foot. There are lots of places to eat, coffee shops, and corner stores nearby. Wander down the side and back streets to find the best spots. We recommend Rock'y pizza, One Two Thai, and Baya Bar. The apartment has plenty of closet and kitchen storage and a big refrigerator. The simple style is something we like, and the staff downstairs are friendly, though they don't work for Sonder. People also live in this building. In the room, it would be much better to have a stack of towels available instead of repeatedly requesting them, especially since they don't always show up. The shower liner needs to be longer or water gets on the floor, and there's nowhere in the shower to put your own soap. Cleaning costs extra; we didn't use the service since we swept and cleaned ourselves each day. A few changes would make the stay much better, though nothing's perfect.

Over roughly ten days at Sonder The Nash, I had a broken AC, several cockroach sightings in my unit, and then a broken toilet. App messages were slow and frustrating. After I reported the roaches, staff came in while I was at work and said pest control couldn't come because they hadn't seen any, despite the photos I'd sent showing them in the apartment. Days and repeated follow-ups passed, and I finally bought and used my own roach spray before pest control came. The space has potential, but the upkeep and response were disappointing. I'd look at other options. Sonder The Nash has cockroaches and terrible customer service.