Sonder The Fitz Apartments Downtown St Paul

The room was tidy, and the AC and shower worked fine, but there were stains on the sheets and bed frame. It smelled of cigarettes, like another review mentioned strong smells. I called customer service to have the smell noted. There was security at the front desk, but I didn’t feel much safer at night when security watched me enter the code at the outside door. The place felt more like an Airbnb than a hotel.

The staff were nice, which is the only reason I gave two stars. I stayed for over a month on a work trip, and wouldn’t recommend this place, especially for a long stay. The sheets were dirty and remained dirty even after I asked for cleaning. Cleaning cost $45, and they didn’t refill the laundry detergent or bath supplies when I requested it. Most washers and dryers didn’t work. Only two machines on the underground level worked well, and they were always in use. The AC was terrible. The building couldn’t provide both AC and heat, so there were a few cold days without heating, then a few hot days without AC. The location is near the Metro station and state capitol, but there was a lot of construction noise around the hotel, and the area didn’t feel safe. There was no ice machine or drinking water available in the hotel except for bottles in the vending machine, which cost over $4. Kitchen supplies were old, limited, and not fully functional, so I had to buy some cookware. There also wasn’t a grocery store nearby.

I used to stay here on trips because it was good quality for an affordable price, and the employees are great. But since Mariott bought it, I won’t give it more than one star. They’ve already started ruining things. The app didn’t work for me on my last visit because of them, and they’ve started collecting deposits when they didn’t before. The slippery slope is nice and oiled up.

The room itself was the highlight: roomy, comfortable, and set up with what felt like a whole kitchen. Getting there was the frustrating part. Half the roads were blocked during my stay, and construction started at 7 am, which spoiled what otherwise would have been a nice view. The hotel has no parking, so I paid 10$ a night for a sketchy lot where I wasn't sure my car would be safe. The elevators were pretty dirty, though that didn't bother me much. There also weren't any water fountains, just a small tap in the lobby.