Sonesta Essential Des Moines

Hotels
Sonesta Hotel & Resorts
7.2 (737 reviews)
4755 Merle Hay Road , Des Moines , us

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Business center
Heating
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good for the price
Clean room
Cons:
Unsafe area
Cleanliness issues
Poor breakfast

Categories

Cleanliness
6.8
Multiple reviews mentioned cleanliness issues, including strange smells and bug infestations.
Service
8.8
Several guests praised the staff for being friendly and helpful.
Location
6.3
Concerns about safety and reports of an unsafe area noted in reviews.
Room Quality
7.3
Rooms were described as clean but some had issues like strange smells and evidence of remodel.
Amenities
7.8
Amenities such as breakfast and parking availability were positively mentioned.
Value for Money
7.8
Good value perception for the price point despite some quality issues.
Food and Beverage
5.3
Reviews indicate dissatisfaction with breakfast options and the quality of food.
Overall Experience
7.5
General consensus that the stay was okay, with mixed feelings towards quality and cleanliness.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-17 07:34

Property Description

Convenient Location

Shopping and Recreation

Amenities and Features

To book your stay at the Sonesta Essential Des Moines hotel, contact us today!

Important information:

You must show a valid photo ID and credit card upon check-in.
Please note that the property can only accommodate pets with a maximum weight of 50lb or less.
Please note that pets will incur an additional charge of $50 USD per day.
Please note that a maximum of 2 pets are allowed per room.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: DSM

Location

Property Accessibility

Public Area
  • Ramp: No
  • Entrance Leveled: No
  • Pet Friendly: No
Reception And Restaurant
  • Reception Hearing Accessible: No
  • Reception Wheelchair Accessible: No
  • Restaurant Wheelchair Accessible: No
Elevator
  • Elevator Audio Signals: No
  • Elevator Braille Numbers: No
  • Elevator Contrasting Buttons: No
  • Elevator Visual Signs: No
Show all accessibility features

Guest Reviews

7.2
Based on 737 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.8
Service: 8.8
Location: 6.3
Room Quality: 7.3
Amenities: 7.8
Value for Money: 7.8
Food and Beverage: 5.3
Overall Experience: 7.5
A
Arnaud family_with_children fr
7
2026-08-21 via Nuitee
F
Ferran couple us
5
2026-08-20 via Nuitee
D
Dan solo_traveller us
7
Pros:

Quiet

Cons:

Front desk deciphering what was being said. Breakfast very limited choices.
Too far from state fairgrounds.

2026-08-19 via Nuitee
A
Abbigale couple us
8
I would stay here again as I didn’t have any issues
Pros:

I didn’t have any issues with the Sonesta Essentials hotel. The room was clean and no funky odors that people have claimed were issues. The area was nice and convenient for where we needed to get to everyday as it was a max of 25 min drive.

Cons:

The only concerns I’d have is some of the rooms that looked like a longer stay were kind of run down as some of the windows were busted out.

2026-08-17 via Nuitee
F
Faith solo_traveller us
1
Damp and Allergen-Ridden
Pros:

The parking lot was easy to get in and out of.

Cons:

The room was beyond damp (all fabric was moist to the touch) and based on the massive allergic reaction I had, there was a cat in the room very recently and likely all over the pillows.
To top it off, I could not get a staff member to come to the desk when I checked out, despite calling multiple times.
Awful experience, but at almost a month later my cough is starting to clear up.

2026-08-17 via Nuitee
M
Matt couple us
10
2026-08-16 via Nuitee
B
burdick couple us
6
Staff was excellent.It was clean. Breakfast was marginal.
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Bed frame was a concern. A safety hazard.

2026-08-14 via Nuitee
D
Dianna couple us
10
Was a good stay after the state fair
Pros:

Was clean and easy to get to

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-14 via Nuitee
M
Margaret couple us
9
2026-08-11 via Nuitee
K
Kathleen couple us
2
Lousy
Cons:

Cleanliness
Property upkeep
Bathtub rust

2026-08-10 via Nuitee
L
Lana couple us
8
Pros:

It smelled good, and was neat and clean!

2026-08-09 via Nuitee
K
Kamitra solo_traveller us
7
Pros:

I like there was restaurants around the hotel so you didn't have to travel far to eat. Staff was nice. Breakfast was good.

Cons:

The rooms are clean but have a smell once you first walk into the room. Items are a little outdated.

2026-08-09 via Nuitee
A
Alexis family_with_children us
2
Room smelled horrible. Chair and walls were dirty
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Dirty

2026-08-08 via Nuitee
A
Artemis couple us
3
Cons:

had to ask for a new comforter when I got in the room because it was dirty and had stains.

2026-08-08 via Nuitee
C
Clarissa couple us
1
The property was kinda raggedy and the rooms smelled. We did not stay the night we booked for. We took a shower had a na
Pros:

The location was thee only good thing.

Cons:

The rooms were dirty and one room the bathroom smelled like cigarettes when the exhaust fan was turned on.

2026-08-06 via Nuitee
A
Ayriel couple us
6
Pros:

The staff. The were really friendly and welcoming.

Cons:

The room was outdated and things looked out and needed to be replaced.

2026-08-04 via Nuitee
L
Lisa solo_traveller us
9
Pros:

Clean and breakfast was great

2026-08-04 via Nuitee
I
Isabelle couple us
8
Good price, decent breakfast, a bit noisy at night but not the hotel’s fault.
2026-08-04 via Nuitee
S
Sheridan couple us
10
2026-08-02 via Nuitee
M
Myia family_with_children us
9
2026-07-25 via Nuitee