A quiet hotel corridor in soft daylight

We pay for
every night we write
about, then
publish

No press rates, no hosted stays — one property reviewed at a time, in person.

Linens and a key card on a hotel desk

Our standards

Sonesta Reviews, written the slow way

Sonesta Reviews began with a single stay at The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis and a simple idea: describe a hotel the way a friend would, with the pool, the bars and the room service given as much attention as the lobby.

We settle the bill

Rooms, cabana tabs, bar dinners and room service are all booked at public rates and paid by us.

We time the service

Check-in, drink orders and room service deliveries are timed so the scores reflect real waiting.

We score each area

The suite, the pool, the bars and room service are rated separately before any overall figure.

We photograph the stay

Every review is illustrated with imagery of the property, not stock shots of another hotel.