Sonder — The Leo

The building’s construction carries every footstep from above, so you’ll want earplugs if a big family or children are staying upstairs. Owners rent floors 4-6 to Airbnb guests but seem not to tell them that long-term residents live here and pay rent. There’s noise at all hours. I’ve had to involve the police repeatedly, and once a homeless man tried to break into my unit. The conditions around the building are bad too: tents and trash on every block, a constant smell of urine and feces, and flies coming from hallway drains. The owners don’t take enough responsibility or communicate well. They should give Airbnb guests clear signs about noise and basic consideration. I wouldn’t recommend living here long term.

The surrounding area might feel a bit intimidating if you’re not used to city life, but inside, the lobby is clean and artsy. I loved the room: a very comfortable California king where I finally slept well at a hotel. The living room couch converts into a bed for a guest, and the balcony has chairs for sitting outside. There’s a full kitchen with cups, plates, silverware, a dishwasher, coffee maker and coffee, a large fridge, and a stove. The apartment also had two large closets and a hairdryer. The price was phenomenal. On my last trip to Sand Diego, I paid twice as much for a hotel a third of this size with fewer amenities. Great for travelers. I’m a nurse, and I’d choose it if I picked up a travel assignment nearby. I recommend it and would book again.

Sonder moved me from the cottages in little italy to the Leo right away after I called about a man outside the cottages who followed and harassed me, leaving me feeling unsafe. I appreciated that they seemed to put my safety ahead of profit, since the Leo costs more, if I remember right. Ariel on the customer service team was kind and compassionate. At the Leo, check-in was easy, the space was cozy and quiet, and it’s not too far from the rest of the city. The full kitchen was great and the rooftop has a pretty decent view. I did notice some dirt and grime between the cabinets and fridge, though most of the place looked immaculate. There are people living in tents nearby, but I had no problems with them. That might not always be the case, but in my experience they were kind and kept to themselves. This was my second stay with Sonder, after one in Arizona, and I’d stay with them again at this or another location.

The worst part was coming back to find the apartment door held open by the deadbolt. We’d let the AC technicians in while we went to lunch and explore, and several hours later anyone could have walked inside. The main building had a code, but there were some very questionable people in and around the apartment. We had nothing valuable there, luckily, but I felt unsafe. This happened after one hot night without AC. They kindly refunded that night, and the technicians came the next morning to fix it. Outside, I was harassed every day walking to the car. The area seemed to get little police attention, though it needed more. At night there were more sirens, screaming, and excessive noise. There was also a lot of garbage in and around the complex. There were some positives: they let us check in about two hours early because my flight was early, and a friendly manager met us at the door when my first entry code failed and helped fix it. Our unit had a very large balcony and all the kitchen supplies we could need. I was extremely disappointed with this three-night vacation rental, which I booked on their website. I hope this reaches the right person in management so we can discuss what I experienced.