Checking In: A Review of Airriva at Superior Living in Cleveland, Ohio

Welcome to Checking In, a series of posts dedicated to the places we stay when we travel. Today we’re checking in to Airriva at Superior Living in Cleveland, Ohio.

As I mentioned in a recent post, my travel preferences have shifted largely away from short-term home-share services in favor of boutique hotels (you can read more about the reasons why here) – and I know I’m not the only one.

This mass-migration away from the big names in home rentals has opened up a new kind of place to stay, falling somewhere between the two (think, not quite a hotel, not quite someone’s apartment, but somewhere in the middle).

And this opening ushers in places like Airriva, an Ohio-founded company that bills itself as Next-Gen Lodging.

[2024 Edit: Airriva appears to be no longer in operation as it has shuttered its website and social media accounts]

Our stay at Airriva at Superior Living was generously hosted by the team at Destination Cleveland, but as always, all opinions and photos are my own

ABOUT AIRRIVA

Already in cities like Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Fort Lauderdale (with plans to soon expand to my home city of Charlotte), Airriva offers travelers the amenities of a short-term rental without the inconsistencies that come with rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. To manage this, Airriva either owns the units outright or partners with building owners to offer fully furnished apartment rentals.

Although the room furnishings and offerings vary by location, all rentals include the essentials: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, laundry detergent, dish soap, and kitchen items.

And the booking process is simple – you choose a destination, and then you choose your unit – much like booking a hotel or Airbnb (and in fact, you can book a stay at Airriva on Airbnb if you feel more comfortable doing so).

ABOUT AIRRIVA AT SUPERIOR LIVING

Exterior of Airriva at Superior Living — Airriva at Superior Living is located at 2125 Superior Ave

Cleveland State University is located just a few blocks away, as seen from a window in Airriva at Superior Living

The hallway and courtyard at Airriva — *left*: Airriva’s hallway lights are motion-activated to conserve energy | *right*: the building’s courtyard looks like a lovely place to sit and relax on a sunny day

Airriva at Superior Living is nestled between Downtown Cleveland and the city’s vibrant Asiatown. This location offers studio rentals, one and two-bedroom apartments, and townhomes, and is housed in a building that also features a cafe and a chic courtyard.

AIRRIVA CHECK-IN PROCESS

The rear entrance to Airriva — Airriva’s check-in instructions direct visitors to the rear door (near the parking lot). If you’re arriving via public transit, the front entrance is easier to access

A deadbolt lock on a door — Airriva uses a keyless entry system with deadbolt locks

Airriva’s check-in process is a little different than popping into the hotel lobby and picking up your key card. To check-in, guests are emailed a link in advance, and all requested information must be submitted within 48 hours.

To complete check-in, you’ll need to agree to the terms, list the name(s) of each guest, upload a photo of your ID card, take a selfie, place a credit card on file, and write a short bio indicating the reason for your visit and a little information about yourself.

After this information is verified, guests receive check-in instructions via email. This includes information on parking, directions for locating the entrance, a code for accessing the building, and the room code (typically the last four digits of your phone number). Instead of a front desk, a number is provided in case you need assistance accessing the unit.

A REVIEW OF AIRRIVA AT SUPERIOR LIVING

Alyssa sits on a sofa at Airriva in Cleveland — In addition to a dedicated bedroom, our unit included a comfortable living space

A view of the kitchen in Airriva — The full-size kitchen is equipped with all of the tools needed to prepare a meal

A view of a platform bed and a lamp — The bedroom is simply furnished, with a platform bed, small table and lamp, full-length mirror, and ceiling fan

A collage of the decor in Airriva's Cleveland location — The decor at Airriva at Superior Living skews minimalistic

Two photos: a stacked W/D, and a shower — left: Some units (like ours) include a washer & dryer | right: Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided

My stay at Airriva felt somewhat familiar – the keyless entry, deskless building, and IKEA furnishings reminded me of some of my more-recent Airbnb stays. This, of course, isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does remove a bit of charm and character from a space. I can tell that attempts to add a local element back in have been made, such as the 216 sign in the living room to note the local area code.

Just like the aesthetic, I am a bit divided on how I feel about my stay at Airriva at Superior Landing – it might be most practical to structure this review by sharing the parts of my stay that I particularly enjoyed, and the pieces that could use some improvement:

My Likes

The big, bright, airy space | Tall ceilings and beautiful windows let in plenty of natural light (and a coat of white paint helps that light bounce around even more). A ceiling fan in the bedroom was also a nice touch for air circulation.

The kitchen | I confess I didn’t cook during our stay (I mean, have you seen the dining scene in Cleveland?), but I liked knowing that I could make anything from pan-seared salmon to cupcakes in the generously-sized kitchen with all of its pans and utensils.

Getting ready for the day | A walk-in closet, full-length mirror, washer/dryer (unexpectedly necessary thanks to someone’s accidental spilling on his clothes), and enough elbow room in the bathroom for brushing teeth and putting on makeup made getting ready a breeze.

Public transit access | Guests at Airriva at Superior Landing are bound to get familiar with the number 3 bus line as it’s located just steps out the front door (this is great, of course, as you get to watch the same bus driver act amused as you struggle to insert your ticket the correct way – hypothetically speaking of course*)

The coffee shop downstairs | There is a single-serve coffee machine in the room, but even better, there’s a full-service coffee shop downstairs called Green Goat. Let’s just say I acclimated quickly to rolling out of bed and having someone else brew me a cup of coffee…

Things that could be improved

Noiseproofing | Those big beautiful empty walls and swaths of hardwood flooring have a dark side: sound travels and bounces around quite a bit. Interestingly, our next-door neighbors were quiet as a mouse, but the party music on another floor carried so clearly and loudly into our apartment that I searched to see if we had accidentally turned on a radio. Thankfully this only happened during the daytime, and after quiet hours began (10 p.m.), it wasn’t an issue.

Comfort | My biggest issue during our stay was the lack of water pressure in the shower, which made sudsing up and rinsing off difficult (I am not sure if this was just in our unit, or building-wide. I notified Airriva via email but never heard a response). I’m not too picky when it comes to bed size – Double, Queen, and King are all fine with me – but the one in our room was a little lumpy (and the pillows were, too).

Convenience and safety | During the day, walking fifteen or twenty minutes to restaurants, convenience stores, and breweries isn’t a big deal, but it would be nice to have something on site late at night (such as a vending machine or honor bar). And I did find myself missing having an attendant in the building one evening when we returned to find people aggressively trying to access the front door. I am generally reluctant to let strangers into a building, particularly late at night, so we had to scoot around to the rear entrance.

Small extras that would make a big difference | Although most of the essentials were covered, bigger towels, better pillows, and room-darkening curtains (to help block out the street lamps) are seemingly small upgrades that could be made to elevate the guest experience. And I should mention that though the website indicates a few cooking staples would be included, we couldn’t find any oil or spices in the kitchen (not a big deal for us, but if you’re planning on cooking, it might be best to check for those before you turn on the oven).

*not actually a hypothetical situation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: AIRRIVA

Where in Cleveland is Airriva located?

Airriva at Superior Living is located at 2125 Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114.

Does Airriva offer parking?

Yes! And parking is free, which is such a great perk. You’ll receive instructions to access the gated lot once you complete the check-in prompts.

What’s nearby? What is there to see, do, and most importantly, eat?

Your stay at Airriva places you within a thirty-minute walk to some of Cleveland’s top attractions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Browns Stadium, and The Children’s Museum of Cleveland. You’re also a twenty-minute walk from lively East 4th Street downtown, which has plenty of crowd-favorite dining options. Closer to “home” you’ll find popular restaurants like Superior Phở, LJ Shanghai, and Slyman’s Restaurant and Deli. And of course, closest of all is Green Goat, just downstairs.

What types of rooms are available?

Airriva at Superior Living offers studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and townhome rentals.

Can Airriva hold my luggage or store my packages?

This location does not have a secure place to hold luggage before check-in/after checkout and does not permit visitors to receive mail or packages during their stay.

Are housekeeping services available?

If your stay lasts three nights or longer, you will receive an email with instructions to opt into Airriva’s Refresh Program. This includes a change of linens, trash removal, and replenishment of consumable paper products and toiletries at a charge of 50% of the cleaning fee.

What else do I need to know about this unique style of lodging?

A stay at Airriva is quite like staying in a furnished rental apartment – offering a sense of privacy in exchange for some of the conveniences of a traditional hotel. This type of stay is best suited for the independent and self-sufficient traveler, and you’ll likely be rewarded with cost savings over other accommodations in the area.

Are there any specials or discounts?

There sure are! Head to the Airriva website for the latest promotions, and consider signing up for their FriendZone program for deeper discounts and rewards.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON AIRRIVA

Although my accommodations preference these days is more along the lines of boutique hotels, I think Airriva has the potential to offer travelers a stay brimming with comfort and privacy. There are a few small touches that could be added to the experience to make it truly stellar for weekend travelers, but it is a dream of a place to stay for longer visits to Cleveland.

Thank you to the team at Destination Cleveland for kindly hosting our stay and making this trip possible, and for all you do to support travelers and local businesses in The Land.

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3 Comments on “Checking In: A Review of Airriva at Superior Living in Cleveland, Ohio”

Alan Robbins says:

February 26, 2024 at 6:12 am

I’m checking in to 5/8 to 5/12 to see if my reservation.

ALAN ROBBINS says:

February 26, 2024 at 6:15 am

I’m checking on my reservation for5/8 to 5/12 2024

1. Alyssa says:
  
  February 26, 2024 at 9:23 am
  
  Hi Alan, I’m afraid it appears Airriva may no longer be in operation – it looks like they have shuttered their website and removed their social media accounts. If you have prepaid for your stay, I would dispute the charges and go ahead and make alternate reservations elsewhere. I’m glad you’re checking on this early, and I hope you’re able to resolve this quickly!