TownePlace Suites by Marriott Ames

We’ve been in the hot tub now, and it’s cold, even colder than before. Staff got back to us and said maintenance would look into it again. I’m absolutely not coming back. We booked this place because it was one of only two available hotels with a hot tub. We’ve stayed 2/3 nights, and it’s been lukewarm every night, nowhere near bathwater hot. I called the front desk that afternoon and asked them to turn up the heat for the evening, but nothing changed. When I asked the woman at the desk about the next night, she said “Iowa state law dictates that public hot tubs can’t be over 99 degrees”. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission website says Iowa’s maximum is 104 degrees. My kids had really been looking forward to the hot tub while we visited family, so I hope the hotel can figure something out.

We were told the price would be 290 and ended up paying 250 with early check in. The staff were incredibly accommodating with our baby, and it was lovely seeing their happy faces whenever we walked by. My wife and I stayed a few days with friends, and they were super friendly. They even let us use the business room for board games. We’ll absolutely be back for longer stays.

Nicole at the hotel helped turn a stressful problem into a calm one. We left our cell phone behind, called as soon as we realized, and she found it, reassured us, and explained the best way to get it returned. We’re so grateful for her help. We had a great stay at the TownePlace Suites. The room was clean and spacious, our kids loved the pool, and breakfast had plenty of delicious options for the whole family. The hotel went above and beyond to make us feel at home.

My family stayed here while visiting me in Ames, and I was impressed by how clean the rooms were. They’re a little small, but definitely high quality. It has the basics you’d expect from a decent hotel, including a pool, guest computer, ice machines, and free breakfast. I’d definitely recommend it.