Sonder Solarena

"Room good, 414. A few issues, mild. HVAC unit in that room needs some maintenance. Very loud when fan turns on. Lighting in Bathroom sink area too low, in my opinion. Bed good, shower and toilet good. App and electronic key feature excellent."

"I had stayed at this property for years when it was previously another national chain franchise and it had always been good. When I booked my recent stay here in November of 2023 it was my first time at a Sonder and I was a little cautious. From the way you check in over the internet to the fact that the rooms are not serviced and the front desk is not staffed at night, these things seemed like red flags that my stay would not be good. Well-I WAS WRONG. I arrived at the property while the desk was still open and was greeted warmly. I was given a building code and a room code instead of a plastic key pre-arrival and they were very easy to memorize. Upon entrance I inspected my room thoroughly for cleanliness, bed bugs, mildew, etc... and found none of that. The only two things I noticed were that my outer windows facing a side street were grimy and there were two dead moths in my vanity area light cover. Other than that the room was immaculate-and as a former hospitality manager I know what to look for when inspecting. The pergo wooden floors in my room instead of carpet took a minute to get used to but it is very smart considering this property is RIGHT across the street from Newport Beach and sand is going to track in no matter what you do. Sand is easier to clean off vinyl floor than carpet. And the bed-let's not forget the bed. One of the most comfy hotel beds I have ever slept in-and I travel often. The location of this property cannot be beat for my purposes and I will be back. I love Sonder's approach towards less plastic waste and was happy to reuse my paper drinking cup and get water from the filter in the lobby area rather than dispose of plastic cups and bottles. I used all my towels before my stay was over and was able to get more from the supply closet downstairs. My caution about booking a Sonder is gone and I will use them again in the future to explore other Sonder properties."

"It was a good stay here. However, rooms and corridors were a bit old. Location is perfect just a cross the street from a beautiful beach. far from L.A though. I really liked self check in and check out experience, it was so clear and smooth. It is a great choice if you plan to stay in Newport for a few days"

"Pros: While the neighborhood leaves much to be desired, the hotel is in good proximity to the beach and some local food spots. If you need a grocery store, you’ll probably have to drive. Lastly, it was relatively cheap (Caution: you get what you pay for). Cons: Looking at the photos online, you get the impression this is a cute, clean, modern hotel. Unfortunately, it’s more of a “lipstick on a pig” situation where they’ve done a few cheap renovations to take photos and attract new customers. In reality, much of the hardware and ventilation is very dated. You’ll be able to smell it when you walk into the hallway and possible your room. I’ve attached photos to give a more accurate depiction of what you can expect staying here. Here is a list of the issues we had: -Room felt damp and humid (even with AC on) and smelled of mold and mildew. When staff was informed they expressed little to no concern or apology and instead offered a “deodorizing spray”. -There is no daily cleaning like with normal hotels. If you want this, you need to pay extra. Although the website says they charge you a “cleaning fee”, it’s not stipulated how it is used. When I expressed the lack of transparency about cleaning to the staff via text (how they suggest you get in touch), they didn’t acknowledge the feedback or point me to some information I may have missed. This interaction lead me to believe it’s just not something they tell you before booking, so **BE WARNED.** Even if you want the room cleaned as a result of the status it was in upon arrival (e.g., moldy & mildew smell), they will want to charge you for it. -Poorly lit rooms. Unless you want to forgo your privacy and have the blackout curtains open the whole time, be prepared to have a dimly lit room. Also, the main lights must be individually operated (no light switches). -Some light switches were poorly installed and difficult to plug things into. Overall, I would not recommend this hotel to anyone and definitely won’t be staying here again."

"Great location. Nice, updated rooms with a fridge. The bed was very soft, not for me, but could be nice for others. The front desk staff could have been more talkative/helpful with directions, where to go for parking, and room assignment. But overall a nice experience. Love the walk to the beach and a few restaurant choices right downstairs."