Traveler beware: Sonder is the worst experience I have ever had with an AirBnB "host" and the epitome of how corporate AirBnB hosts are destroying this platform. All the downside of staying at a hotel, with none of the upside of staying at AirBnB.
This is a corporate host with no concern or interest in the welfare or needs of their clientele. They are using AirBnB to drive people to their private app that competes with AirBnB directly, which I consider to be unethical. They claim flexible cancelations, but they hedge, deflect, and refuse to work with extenuating circumstances.
Their listing is deceitful. They claim it has a washer and dryer - it is a pay-per-use laundromat on the floor of multiple units. To wash clothes, you have to walk to CVS and purchase expensive materials - they do not provide any options or cleaning supplies.
The room smelled badly of smoke and mildew and was dingy on the walls and in the bathroom. There was multiple, different types of human hair I kept finding throughout my stay.
If you are intending on using this space for business - a hotel is a better option. There was limited power access, a small round table and two uncomfortable chairs. Flat surfaces were few and far between, making it exceptionally difficult to work in the space on even a laptop.
The air conditioner is loud enough that they provide two sets of ear plugs on the bedside table (which also has no power access to charge phones). It turns off with an incredibly disturbing "whump" which will startle you awake. It is also pretty useless, as the only vents are above the return and thermostat, against the window, and nowhere else in the space. Unless you are at the window, the rest of the space was hot and uncomfortable.
I asked for the linens to be changed after one week of staying there (I was in this prison cell for two weeks). I was told they would drop off new linens but charge me to change the sheets. A hotel would have done it for free.
There are large gaps between the doors and door frames, which means you get to hear all of the noise in the hall way, of which there is plenty.
I booked the place not knowing it would not be covered by federal reimbursement rules. I contacted them two days after I had booked the space (12 days before travel), told them of the extenuating circumstance and asked for a full refund. Their telemarketing reps blew me off for 7 days, then told me they would refund half - $1,500. Before I registered, the "cancelation policy" said it was flexible. After booking, the cancellation policy said "no refunds" - a complete bait and switch. When I talked to Sonder reps, they kept trying to pawn me off to AirBnB reps, of which only fear of death is the extenuating circumstance they accept. Sonder refused to answer even AirBnB requests for input or consideration.
Not only is Sonder a bait and switch, dishonest, unethical, and unhelpful company, they are clearly disinterested in the people that stay with them, doing the bare minimum to keep the place kept up (there was a giant leak in someone's apartment, flooding the hallway).
I am sure some people have had OK experiences staying there, but a true test of a company isn't when things are going well, it is when their customers need consideration. I was willing to eat the cost of the expense, if the space was worth it. The experience and condition of the space made the initial insult just salt in the wound. Had it been a good experience and a place that I felt the company clearly cared about, I would have left a neutral review.
The ONLY saving grace of this horrible and anger inducing experience is the location. Next to the Georgetown Canal and a lot of amazing restaurants. it provided access to the best experiences I had in DC. The food and shopping, and access to Georgetown University) make this a convenient place to stay.