907 Main Hotel Central Square, Sonder — Hotel in Cambridge

Beta test I really wanted to give Sonder a 5-star review because of the concept of being a cross between an Airbnb and boutique hotel but, I could not and here's why:

After making a reservation, you're requested to download the Sonder app and create a digital security profile. Before your arrival, you're given a 7-digit code for entry and for your room. (You must remember your code...no pass key provided). The information given also states that everything, from extra towels to modifying your stay must be done in the app. (Similar to Airbnb...right?) So, I was surprised (and relieved) to find a lobby with a front desk after struggling with coding to let myself in the front door. In fact, at times there were 3 front desk clerks behind the front desk.

However, not one of them welcomed me, or offered to assist me with the luggage (my work requires traveling with equipment). When I exclaimed how surprised I was at discovering a lobby with a front desk - they raised their eyes from their computers and cocked their heads in sync as I continued to struggle with transporting all the cases from the door to the elevator. (No luggage cart available that actually holds luggage). Better yet, when I asked about the price for an extra days stay - I was informed to use the app. When I asked about a local restaurant, I was tasked with capturing a QR code.

The business model is interesting - there are two restaurants and both are great. One, is located off the lobby and the other, is on the roof. They are independent of the hotel and must either co-op the space or have a lease arrangement because you cannot put the expense on your room - not even on the app.

Because I travel for work, I like to work in the lobby (when there is one) for the occasional distraction. At 907 Main, it is obvious that not a lot of oversight was conducted during the renovations. Where they cut corners to save money, they will be paying in continued maintenance on the building. There is very little insulation in the lobby, the few outlets they have, blow in gusts of cold air from the outside - rookie mistake. There are heavy insulated curtains that tend to remain closed during the day to provide an extra barrier from the cold - no adequate IGUs. While I was there, work was being conducted installing weather stripping throughout but the issue is deeper and will need to be resolved. More than likely an additional foyer will need to be built to provide a buffer zone, the windows upgraded and insulation put into the walls.

None of the lights in the lobby are conducive to working...if they work at all. The sole floor lamp doesn't work and even after a failed attempt to turn it on by one of the front desk personnel, the cord was wound up and left on the floor for the next person to deal with. Perhaps I should have requested help through the app and waited 24 hours for their response.

Lastly, do not reserve room 423. It is directly below the rooftop restaurants dish pit. Or, at least do not reserve it from W to Sun when they are open. The kitchen crew arrive between 5:30 to 6 a.m. and you are awakened to the sound of a robust jacuzzi-styled symphony.

All in all - the room was clean and very comfortable. The 907 Main aesthetic is more like an Airbnb dormitory and convenient if you're there to attend an event at MIT.

Sonder, could make better use of the rooftop by actually installing an insulated hot tub and exercise room - there is additional space for one. There are currently no amenities for wellbeing. Around the corner from Sonder, is a one-on-one tailored exercise business.

I rarely pen a review and I do so in the hope that Sonder keeps their focus on providing stellar hospitality as they attempt to modernize travel...

This might be the worse hotel experience of my life. Spending one night with my two young children. ||||WARNING: ||1) There is NO PARKING. And I mean there is none, There was street fairs and even a Night Market for drinking, clubs and bars that took up all the street parking and Nearby Garage Parking.||There was no valet, no luggage carts, no help and no help for parking resolution. I ended up parking illegally in a dark lighted street, with a 10min walk, in an un-known neighborhood with two small children. Very un-safe||I was told on that the website states there is no parking. It insinuates that street parking might be available and Parking garage might be available. Street parking is paid every 2 hours. Not sure you want to get to every two hours to put money in the machine? Then what do you do if the garages are full? They won’t let you cancel the reservation. Located at the bottom of the website in basically small print: Misleading in my opinion||||• There is no free street parking nearby||• Paid street parking nearby||• There are no free parking lots nearby||• There's a paid parking lot nearby||||2) DO NOT COME EARLY unless you want to pay $. I arrived an hour early 3p to check-in. The receptionist wanted me to pay $35 all though the room was ready. My mistake was I declined and was headed to the Red Sox game. I said no thank you but could you add two blankets to our room, she said sure. ||My complaint… she had real attitude, never got out of her chair behind the desk, had no answer for parking and was not interested in finding one, and really had no authority to do anything.||||3) No extra ANYTHING. I asked for two extra blankets for the kids. Arrived with an auto code to enter room and to no one’s surprise there were no extra blankets. Called the help line and asked for two blankets. The help desk tried and tried to contact someone to provide blankets but there is no one on property and no one answers the phones after 8p. I just wanted to put the kids down to bed and there was no help. I had to provide the solution to let me into an empty room which finally gave access at Midnight and then only provided one blanket. 4 hours to receive half the “ask” of two blankets and I had to go get them off a bed on a different floor myself and leave the kids in the room rather than wake them up. ||We must be the first in your hotels history to ask for additional blankets? ||||4) NO ONE WORKS THERE as described above there is no one on property to help you. The help desk number takes at least 10 mins to pick up and they are useless. ||||5) BELOW A NIGHTCLUB. Could not find it on the website like they claim to describe the parking rules. But FYI there is a full-on restaurant and night club on the top floor that effects ALL FLOORS. Music is loud and once you think its over they start moving furniture around to back up for the night. Its so bad that they have ear plugs at the front desk in case you need them. ||||6) STAINED SHEETS. Did not have time to fight this battle but the left side of the bed had poop-stained sheets where someone’s rear-end was. So gross! Had to sleep on top of the actual top...

This might be the worse hotel experience of my life. Spending one night with my two young children.

WARNING:

1. There is NO PARKING. And I mean there is none, There was street fairs and even a Night Market for drinking, clubs and bars that took up all the street parking and Nearby Garage Parking. There was no valet, no luggage carts, no help and no help for parking resolution. I ended up parking illegally in a dark lighted street, with a 10min walk, in an un-known neighborhood with two small children. Very un-safe I was told on that the website states there is no parking. It insinuates that street parking might be available and Parking garage might be available. Street parking is paid every 2 hours. Not sure you want to get to every two hours to put money in the machine? Then what do you do if the garages are full? They won’t let you cancel the reservation. Located at the bottom of the website in basically small print: Misleading in my opinion

• There is no free street parking nearby • Paid street parking nearby • There are no free parking lots nearby • There's a paid parking lot nearby

2. DO NOT COME EARLY unless you want to pay $. I arrived an hour early 3p to check-in. The receptionist wanted me to pay $35 all though the room was ready. My mistake was I declined and was headed to the Red Sox game. I said no thank you but could you add two blankets to our room, she said sure. My complaint… she had real attitude, never got out of her chair behind the desk, had no answer for parking and was not interested in finding one, and really had no authority to do anything.

3. No extra ANYTHING. I asked for two extra blankets for the kids. Arrived with an auto code to enter room and to no one’s surprise there were no extra blankets. Called the help line and asked for two blankets. The help desk tried and tried to contact someone to provide blankets but there is no one on property and no one answers the phones after 8p. I just wanted to put the kids down to bed and there was no help. I had to provide the solution to let me into an empty room which finally gave access at Midnight and then only provided one blanket. 4 hours to receive half the “ask” of two blankets and I had to go get them off a bed on a different floor myself and leave the kids in the room rather than wake them up. We must be the first in your hotels history to ask for additional blankets?

4. NO ONE WORKS THERE as described above there is no one on property to help you. The help desk number takes at least 10 mins to pick up and they are useless.

5. BELOW A NIGHTCLUB. Could not find it on the website like they claim to describe the parking rules. But FYI there is a full-on restaurant and night club on the top floor that effects ALL FLOORS. Music is loud and once you think its over they start moving furniture around to back up for the night. Its so bad that they have ear plugs at the front desk in case you need them.

6. STAINED SHEETS. Did not have time to fight this battle but the left side of the bed had poop-stained sheets where someone’s rear-end was. So gross! Had to sleep on top of the actual top...