La Monarca Hotel Unit 505

Kasa worked out really well for me and was affordable. The surrounding area was okay if you watched your step, though we had to navigate dirty streets around the block. That wasn’t the hotel’s fault. Otherwise, I had a great stay.

PLEASE READ The rooms were spacious, though worn, and felt a bit like hostel accommodation with private bathrooms. At first my stay at Kasa La Monarca was acceptable. My rating is about the safety and security problems. The property has no staff on site, and unauthorized people slept in the lobby more than once. They were there both before and after I went out one evening. On 18 December, as I entered the building, an aggressive unauthorized person tried to force their way in behind me. I was afraid for myself and other guests. There was no security or visible deterrent to stop someone following a guest inside. The person got into the building, and I was shaken. The communal kitchen connects directly to the lobby and has sharp utensils, which made the lack of security especially alarming. I kept thinking about what could happen if I went in for breakfast or lunch and found an agitated homeless intruder with easy access to sharp knives. The next morning, rather than checking on me or asking what happened, they emailed me and told me to leave within an hour because of the incident. No phone call, welfare check, or effort to understand the situation. I was left stranded and had to pay for emergency accommodation elsewhere. Before booking, consider whether you’re comfortable in a property with no staff or on-site security when unauthorized people can enter communal areas. For peace of mind, I’d choose somewhere with visible staff and proper security, even if it costs a little more.

The location and price were a good deal, and check-in was simple. But the building wasn’t clean to my standards, especially the shower curtain, which was moldy. Kasa sent someone to replace it the next day, which I appreciate, but how did it get that moldy in the first place? The virtual desk handled things efficiently, though it was clearly outsourced abroad and sent annoying automated reminders. Our building’s fire alarm went off, then we got an automated text telling us to keep the noise down. It felt creepy to think they were monitoring the noise in our room. I’ve learned Kasa isn’t for me, so I probably won’t return. If you’re budget conscious and mainly need a place to sleep, though, it may suit you.

I felt safe the whole week and had no problems, even without a physical front desk. Whenever I texted the virtual front desk, they replied right away. It was a great stay, and I’d come back to San Francisco in the cooler months, since there’s no air conditioning.