Duane Street Hotel Tribeca, Belvilla District 6 Formerly Sonder

Unfortunately, this hotel was very disappointing, especially considering the price per night. The photos online make the property look modern, clean, and almost luxury-like, but that was not my experience at all. From the moment I arrived, the difference between the online photos and the actual property was noticeable. The front desk area is extremely small and looked cluttered, worn down, and not particularly clean. There was only one person working at the desk when I arrived, and communication was somewhat difficult. The check-in process was also frustrating. I had called ahead and was told I would be able to check in at 3 PM. The call appeared to go through a separate call center rather than directly to the hotel, which made the whole process feel unnecessarily complicated. I was also required to complete an online identity verification process and ended up having to pay an additional $35 fee. I was not expecting this extra charge when I originally booked, which was especially frustrating given the price I had already paid for the room. When I arrived, I was told that my room was still being cleaned and that it would take about another 30 minutes. I was asked to wait in the “lobby,” although I would not really describe it as a traditional hotel lobby. It was a small room with luggage lockers, around four chairs, a microwave, and a coffee machine. The floor was visibly dirty. The hallways/common areas also had cardboard boxes sitting around near the elevator and stairs. There were two bathrooms downstairs, and unfortunately they were extremely dirty during my visit. One did not have toilet paper, and there were broken soap dispensers on the floor. This definitely did not give a good first impression of the hotel’s cleanliness. I ultimately waited longer than the 30 minutes I was initially told and was not able to access my room until approximately 20 minutes after the normal check-in time. The room itself was okay, but nowhere near what I would expect for the price. The sheets and towels looked and smelled clean, the trash had been emptied, and it was clear that the room had received a basic cleaning. However, it seemed to be mostly surface-level cleaning. There were still used soap wrappers underneath the bathroom sink. There was also noticeable wear throughout the room, including stains and scratches on the walls, floors, and table. The bathroom had significant water staining and some rust around the shower, along with strange stains or marks on parts of the floor and ceiling. I do not consider my cleanliness expectations unusually high, but the condition of the room and property fell below what I would reasonably expect from a hotel at this price point. The mattress was also extremely firm and hard, which made it uncomfortable for me to sleep on. Another concern was staffing. There appeared to be only one person at the front desk in the afternoon, and when I was downstairs in the morning, there was nobody at the desk at all. The biggest positive is definitely the location. Tribeca is an amazing area, and the hotel is conveniently located. However, with how easy it is to get around Manhattan by subway, I personally do not think the location makes up for the condition of the property or justifies the price I paid. Overall, I think this hotel could be acceptable for one night if you find it at a significantly lower price and mainly need somewhere to sleep. At the rate I paid, however, I was very disappointed. The online photos created expectations that simply did not match what I encountered in person. I would not choose to stay here for a longer visit unless the cleanliness, maintenance, common areas, and overall guest experience were significantly improved. (I wanted to add photos to my review but sadly it’s not letting me rn)