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Sonesta Essential Des Moines

2.0 star property

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Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi
Property amenity
Exterior
Lobby
Restaurant

Reviews

7.4 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Business services

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, Jordan Creek Town Center
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Airport, Des Moines, IA (DSM-Des Moines Intl.)
    ‪20 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

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 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

7.8 out of 10
Good
(24 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

  • 1 bedroom
  • 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

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About this property

Sonesta Essential Des Moines

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 on-site. Housekeeping is available on request.
Sonesta Essential Des Moines offers 150 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary bottles of water and an iron/ironing board. Televisions come with premium satellite channels and Netflix. Guests can make use of the in-room fridges and microwaves. Bathrooms include a combined bath/shower unit.

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

During your stay at Sonesta Essential Des Moines, you'll be within walking distance of Merle Hay Mall. Free breakfast, free WiFi in public areas and free self-parking are available. Some of the pet-friendly amenities that this property offers include food and water bowls and litter trays.
  • Free continental breakfast served daily
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self-parking and Motorhome/coach/lorry parking
  • Amenities include a meeting room, laundry facilities and a lift
  • 8 minutes by car from Drake University and 11 minutes from Casey's Center
  • Cats and dogs welcome for a fee (restrictions apply)
  • Pet-friendly amenities are available, including food and water bowls and litter trays
Free breakfast is available daily. WiFi is free in public spaces. The business-friendly Sonesta Essential Des Moines also features a vending machine, coffee/tea in common area, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Des Moines hotel.

Guests are served a free continental breakfast on weekdays from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and at the weekend from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM.

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Free RV/bus/lorry parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking
  • 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
  • Lift
  • 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
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

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

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets: USD 50 per pet, per night
  • Only dogs and cats are allowed
  • Maximum 2 pets
  • Pets cannot be left unattended
  • Food and water bowls and litter trays are available
  • Certain rooms only
  • You can request a pet-friendly room by reaching out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 18 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per night.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

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

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

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

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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; cash is not accepted
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
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

  • Children aged 18 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Connecting/adjoining rooms are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property at the number on your booking confirmation.
  • Pets are welcome in specific rooms only, which can be requested by contacting the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation (please see the Fees section for related charges).

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. 389 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 234 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 170 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 92 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 117 out of 1002 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

7.6/10

Staff & service

7.0/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bade

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean room, general ambience was very good.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Craig

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Yes
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Ken

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

earl

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

2/10 Terrible

Sakib

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Did not like it too small
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Sven-Christian, Urbandale

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Generally we know that you get what you pay for. But this one was weird. Overall the hotel was clean, but the rooms were weirdly run down. For example the toilet seat was loose, the lid had burn marks. The accent chair had small holes everywhere as it had been attacked by a cat. Fine for a stop on a roadtrip as very close to the interstate.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

2/10 Terrible

Dustin

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Spent all my money on the room. Wouldn't give me a room with out deposit so they took my phone for deposit. Wasn't able to talk to my kids on Christmas eve due to. From desk was rude
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ken

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Ken

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carol

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ken

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ken

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Samantha

Liked: Cleanliness
We just wanted to get a bath in our room, and we ended up switching rooms three times to get one with a drain plug. The room we got then had no tv remote. They got mad at us and said we could take a refund and leave. We weren't trying to be difficult. We just wanted to soak in a tub
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Bee

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Randy

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

MARK

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Yes
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kylie

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kylie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
🙂
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kylie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Yes
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenna

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Kylie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Always pretty satisfied with my room. Dont unserstand the 2 or 3 pillows on a bed unless they are bigger. Hotel i choose over many
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

4/10 Poor

Emily

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service
I was told there was a 50.00 room deposit, I paid cash for this he said I would get it back right away but never did and I feel taken advantage of. Unfortunately thats not all. When I got to my room there were paint buckets, maintenance equipment in my room with the door propped unlocked. I guess maintenance was coming back to work on the facet. There were stains and dirt on the furniture, dirt and dead bugs on the floor. Is was not a lot but enough still. There was a clump of blonde hair in the hot tub. (Not a blonde). I ended up leaving before the night was over. Room also very cold.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

2/10 Terrible

Amel

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicole

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

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