I took staycation to a new level this week, I literally walked up the hill and stayed at the new Sonder Apartments on Queens Street, Edinburgh. It might sound a little odd, but I wanted to show you these apartments and bring you info on a new type of accommodation available in the city centre.

REVIEW - OVERNIGHT STAY AT SONDER APARTMENTS EDINBURGH

There is a rising resentment for Air B&B in city centres across the globe, housing rowdy guests that have come to party in the city amongst a variety of other concerns. But one thing that Air B&B do get right is the check in contactless process which at this time, is becoming a USP that many accommodation providers want to replicate.

Sonder have taken this USP and refined it, but instead of people’s homes, they have their own dedicated apartment block. There are Sonder Apartments in many cities from Rome to Chicago, Montreal to Dublin, and in Edinburgh.

Check-in is online. You register, create an account and a code is sent to you which you use to access the front door and your apartment door. The idea is complete privacy, as if this was your home. There is no-one at reception, no housekeeping, no room service, no restaurant or bar on site. It quite literally is a home from home.

The apartment is spacious with an open plan kitchen, dining area and lounge. All Sonder Apartments come with a Delonghi Coffee Machine, coffee, sugar and teabags as well as salt, pepper and olive oil. All crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils are also provided as well as washing up liquid, and cleaning materials. The cooking facilities and equipment are better than you might find in most homes.

The idea is that you should be able to cook something without having to purchase all the small condiments to make a meal. Sonder Apartments are available to book for a minimum of 2 nights to a maximum of 6 months, so these small touches are enough to get you started on your first nights stay before you head out for a shop.

The bedroom is simple and contemporary with clean crisp lines and lots of light coming in through the large window that overlooks their gardens and down towards the Firth. The bed is comfortable and cosy with crisp white sheets and duvet cover.

There is a large closet and you’ll find a safe and iron plus board in here too.

The bedroom is a lovely bright quiet space and I found myself sat on that comfy blue chair, cuppa in hand staring out the window for a wee while. Bliss.

The bathroom is spotless with lots of shelf space and cupboard space for toiletries should you be here for an extended stay. Shower is over the bath. My only gripe is that the toilet is kinda squashed inbetween the sink and the bath and my knees knocked the toilet roll holder so anyone with long legs is going to struggle. Toiletries and fluffy white towels are provided.

The big question is how Covid clean is it? After each stay, the apartment is cleaned top to bottom with all touch hot spots ie handles, taps, soft furnishings all having additional anti-bacterial cleaning. Areas that house items that will be used again such as the cleaning cupboard all have a seal on them to inform you that they have all been sanitised and the remote control is provided in a sealed envelope.

The lift asks that one person at a time uses it and a Sonder member of staff cleans all public areas regularly throughout the day. They do ask that you wear your mask in public areas. Hand sanitising stations are found in the lobby area as soon as you enter the building.

There are thoughtful small touches here at Sonder that really take the hassle out of your stay like providing additional toiletries should you run out and can’t get to a shop (they’ll tell you where the secret cupboard it on arrival); there is high speed wifi and passwords are available in your lounge area, Netflix in case you have a desire to hide under the duvet and chill, and they have an on-site laundry should you be staying a while.

This was a truly wonderful experience. Simple, easy, and comfortable; I could happily have moved in!

I stayed in a One Bedroom Apartment and rooms start at around the £100 mark per night.

Sonder Apartments, 2 York Place, Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1HY. www.sonder.com

My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10

I was invited by Sonder to review their accommodation. Overnight stay was complimentary but the views are very much my own.