Sonesta Essential Des Moines

Hotels
•
Sonesta Hotel & Resorts
7.2 (745 reviews)
4755 Merle Hay Road , Des Moines , US

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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 745 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
L
Laura • extended_group • us
8
2026-10-30 • via Nuitee
J
John Alisson • solo_traveller • br
7
2026-10-28 • via Nuitee
J
Joshua • couple • us
8
2026-10-28 • via Nuitee
S
Sumer • couple • us
7
2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
K
Katharine • family_with_children • us
2
Pros:

Location very convenient to everything.

Cons:

Only bagels or cereal for lunch. Rooms had horrible stench in them that did not go away. Rooms were muggy and musty. Ice machine was broken.

2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
S
Sumer • couple • us
6
2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
S
Sumer • couple • us
6
2026-10-24 • via Nuitee
B
Brenda • family_with_children • us
8
2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
F
FIRUFILMS • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
M
Megan • family_with_children • us
10
2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sumer • couple • us
5
2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • solo_traveller • us
5
2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
J
Jose • couple • us
3
dissappointed
Pros:

Cheap rates. .

Cons:

Just needed a place to sleep for a couple of hours as we drove to Denver for a wedding. Room was okay but the bed had a bad mattress that needed to be replaced. It was sunk all the way in. My back is still hurting.

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
B
Brooke • couple • us
5
Pictures looked a lot better. Hallways smelt like old must. Wood was scratched up in the room.
Pros:

room was spacious

Cons:

Room felt lived in. doors were broken, scratched.
Sticky stuff on the night stand.
Smelled
Desk chair was not suitable to be sat in.

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
P
Parker • solo_traveller • us
1
2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
R
Rodney • solo_traveller • us
7
Ok
Pros:

Ok

Cons:

Ok

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

The whole. Was comfortable.

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
C
Charlie • solo_traveller • us
2
Unzumutbare hygienische Bedingungen im Hotelzimmer
Cons:

Tote Käfer hinter/neben den Möbeln im Zimmer sowie unzureichende Reinigung der Böden, Zigarettengeruch im Hotelgang zum Zimmer, Mobiliar deutlich älter/abgenutzter als auf den Bildern zu erkennen

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
T
Talanda • family_with_children • us
10
2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
A
angela • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

The rooms are adorable! Very inexpensive!

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee