Sonder the Beacon

Room was great, very comfortable. Only problem was storing luggage for the afternoon after check in. Not enough vacant large lockers for our suitcase.

I never review any hotels, but I am compelled to tell people to not stay at the Sonder in Santa Monica. They are understaffed. There was one working elevator that also needs to take people to the roof top bar. It can hold 2 people with luggage and 4 without. The check in was confusing. I waited 15 minutes for someone to show up!! No one gave me a WiFi code. So I had to text for about an hour back and forth to get the WiFi. They gave me the wrong code, and when it didn’t work wanted me to hunt around the room for a router to re set. I did not pay $423 for one night to wait to check in, wait for an elevator, and then do an eater egg hunt for a router. Eventually they sent me another code and surprise! It worked. The best thing I can saw is that the front of the hotel looks on the beach. My room faces other hotels. Also, there was one outlet beside the bed. Seriously, in 2024 get some lamps with plugs so people can actually charge more than one device at the same time. Maybe that’s why they are stingy with the WiFi.

Wonderful location, on Santa Monica beach, at walking distance from restaurants and shops. Nice building. Very friendly, welcoming and helpful young lady at the front desk But no restaurant, no food available, old equipment of the room (no USB key for instance), unfriendly staff at the rooftop bar, and very noisy (simple glass windows over the avenue). Overpriced for the value you get

Loved the location, beautiful ocean view from my window where I saw beautiful sunsets. A bit noisy being right next to the road, but can't beat the location where shops and restaurants were all within walking distance. Small issue with the cold water tap, which only had hot water. Maintenance came to fix it a day after my arrival, but for the rest of my stay, it was back to boiling hot water. I just let it run for a while to let it cool down. Hotel should get that problem fixed.

Funky hotel designed in the groovy Art Deco style. Rooms open into an exterior corridor overlooking a well-kept and appealing courtyard with tables, pool and hot tub. Nice. Service here is not fully professional and hit and miss. Rooms are atypical and problematic: bathroom = poor shower hot water experience: shower hot/cold; sink scalding hot water out of the cold side. Not possible to rinse mouth after brushing teeth. Bottom line: a simple hot shower is a basic amenity that this hotel property is unable to provide. Rooftop bar was poorly operated, an utter rip off.

The location is perfect, with the beach, shops, and restaurants within walking distance. I also liked the efficient system for checking in & out, chatting with the receptionist, and checking the number to unlock the door key on the Sonder app. Although there was no desk in my room, I could work in the lounge with a large table.

There is a bar/night club on the top floor that is open to the public. We were on the floor below. Unless you like pounding dance music reverberating through your room until 2am, I woulnd't recommend this hotel.

A great location in Santa Monica. Right across from the beach. Close to the pier, bars, restaurants and shopping. Great views of the beach and sunset from the rooftop bar and the rooftop guest lounge. Wonderful spot to stay a few days or a week. Unique hotel with art deco style from days gone by. Pool and hot spa good to be enjoyed even in January. Most rooms have great views too.

Really Good place to be. Friendly staff. Some problems with elevators (both were out of service for few hours and the room was at 6th floor). But we recommand this property