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Sonesta Essential Des Moines

2.0 star property

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Suite, Multiple Beds | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi
Restaurant
Restaurant
Exterior
Property amenity

Reviews

7.4 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Laundry
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking included
$74
includes taxes & fees
Nov 6 - Nov 7

Explore the area

View in a map
4755 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA, 50322
  • Place, Merle Hay Mall
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Drake University
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Casey's Center
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Airport, Des Moines, IA (DSM-Des Moines Intl.)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 King Bed

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed

Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 Queen Bed

7.4 out of 10
Good
(19 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed

Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 Queen Bed

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(7 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 2 Queen Beds | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 2 Queen Beds

7.0 out of 10
Good
(16 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Suite, 1 King Bed

Suite, 1 King Bed | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Suite, 1 King Bed

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite, Multiple Beds

Suite, Multiple Beds | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Suite, Multiple Beds

  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Queen Beds

Similar properties

Lobby
Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines - Merle Hay Road
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
3.8 out of 5, Good, 1,025 reviews
Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines - Merle Hay Road

About this property

Sonesta Essential Des Moines

Hotel in Lovington
Along with coffee/tea in a common area, this hotel has a meeting room and laundry facilities. Free continental breakfast, free WiFi in public areas, and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, a 24-hour front desk, ATM/banking services, and a banquet hall are onsite. Housekeeping is available on request.
Sonesta Essential Des Moines offers 150 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary bottled water and irons/ironing boards. Televisions come with premium satellite channels and Netflix. Guests can make use of the in-room refrigerators and microwaves. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is offered on request and hair dryers can be requested.

Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. This business-friendly hotel also offers a vending machine, coffee/tea in a common area, and laundry facilities. Complimentary self parking is available on site.

Sonesta Essential Des Moines has designated areas for smoking.

A complimentary continental breakfast is served on weekdays between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM and on weekends between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Free RV/bus/truck parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM on weekdays and 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM on weekends
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Laundry facilities
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Business services

  • Meeting room

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel

More

  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Designated smoking areas (fines apply)

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 43-inch TV with premium satellite channels
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 50 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets
Pets cannot be left unattended
Specific rooms only; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Food and water bowls and litter boxes are available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 18 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 50 per accommodation, per stay
  • Administrative fee: USD 3.00 per accommodation, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 50 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Commitment to Clean (Choice)
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation

Property is also known as

Econo Lodge Inn Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road
Hotel Econo Lodge Inn & Suites - Des Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites - Des Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Suites Des Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Moines Merle Hays Road
Sonesta Essential Des Moines Hotel
Sonesta Essential Des Moines Des Moines
Sonesta Essential Des Moines Hotel Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Suites Des Moines/Merle Hays Road

Sonesta Essential Des Moines Reviews

Reviews

7.4

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 357 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 264 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 175 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 94 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 116 out of 1006 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

7.8/10

Staff & service

6.8/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good stay

My partner and I were only there for a night but it was clean and the staff were friendly/helpful. Small room but matches the price.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kathy

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was close to the mall. It was clean and easily accessible.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

Tracie

Traveled with group
Disliked: Staff & service

There's more but limited characters. Never again!!

Well I first noticed when i pulled into the parking lot, limited parking up front, maybe 10 spots and 2 handicapped spaces. The police were there too. I had to park in the back. People in the back were in cars smoking marijuana hanging out. The front lawn area was upkept and overgrown, that needed to be cut. There were some homeless people roaming and hanging around the hotel. Now check-in l get to my room with tons of luggage for a 5 day stay, the key does work. Housekeeping notices and helps me out by opening the door. Well someone was LITERALLY in that room. After they make themselves known we closed the door with apologies. She opens another room for me and I go back downstairs to let them know the new room I'm in now. She assigns me a key to a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ROOM than what I just explained. Just a mess after a10 hour ride. The room "looked" clean but there were balls of hair (asked them to come and sweep) on the hard floor, linens and towels weren't quite white. We asked for more towels coming in from the day, well we had to bring all of the old ones down and then walk into the laundry room to drop them off first. We were in IA for a softball tournament and wanted to wash (include the new towels that we bought in IA, washing machines out of order), vending machines out of order too. Beds were very uncomfortable and hard. I even felt the springs. Nice across the street at The Holiday Inn Express where my teammates were. Best part were lots of food and shopping near
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Melissa

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tara

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Leota

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Paul

Liked: Staff & service
They wanted to put me o a handicapped room that I didn’t ask for then the put me in a room that someone was staying in . Overall the hotel is rundown and 1 person on the front desk when 5 people are waiting to check in. I would not recommend this place.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Stephen

It was clean and breakfast was good.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Clean room

Needed a quiet room for one night. The hotel is older and the hallways show some age. But our room was very nice and clean. The beds are comfortable and the room was quiet. The breakfast had a nice variety of choices.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Maureen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Is basic, fair price
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Jason

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Forkpah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

Flooded with homeless

We stayed two nights. The first night was fine, but the second day the shower had a serious clog issue. I took a shower and the bathtub filled up so full it didn’t drain. We went down to the desk (the phone didn’t work) and let them know. We were told they would send someone up, but 45 min later we got a call asking if we would like to switch rooms. We did and the rest of the stay was fine. The biggest issue we had was the entrance door closest to our room was left unlocked and each time we walked in and out people were hanging out in the stairwell charging their cellphones. It was always a man and woman. All of them looked homeless and a few looked stung out. This is clearly a safety concern. The grounds have cameras so staff must know this is occurring and they allow it.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Marguerite

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
I booked this hotel because it offered 3 beds in one room for our family of 5. The room itself was reasonably updated but the common hallways were not. It smelled of smoke despite stating non-smoking. The AC wall unit leaked onto one of the nightstands onto the floor overnight. When I told the front desk on checkout they did not seem to care.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alex

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brett

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Above expectations for price paid.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Shelley

Traveled with group, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Reserved 2 rooms and had receipt showing 2 rooms but they said only showed 1 room on their end. Took a long time to get it fixed. Breakfast wasnt kept stocked and had to ask for items. Rooms were clean and beds comfortable but bathrooms are very small. Area is a little sketchy, walked to Bennigans and there was people walking and yelling
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

Dwayne

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Don't believe the pictures. Or withernour room was never remodeled. Room was dirty and smelled. People from outside would come In for breakfast to eat that weren't staying at the hotel. Picking through the food with bare hands. Learned later they were people who lived on streets. Toilet didn't work however maintanxe came fast to fix onced called I would not recommend this hotel. This is not a normal Sonesta.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Teri

Traveled with family
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Madonna

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Booked as pet friendly and then they charged a fee on arrival for the pet. Otherwise great stay. They do give you a dog bowl and treats for your pet
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Julie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Big room for 1 night

I was with my 2 dogs in a suite. It was more than enough room for all of us. There were a few minor maintenance issues. A door was off the cupboard
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Sharyah

Disliked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Trinity

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025