Days Inn by Wyndham Ankeny - Des Moines

We needed to be near family for an upcoming appointment, but after seeing the room we realized it wasn't convenient for what we needed and booked another hotel online. I had called ahead, and they let us check in at 1:45, before the 2:00 check-in time. We had already changed our minds before 2:00, though. The man I assumed was the owner said we could get at least half the charge back. I called after we got home, and it doesn't look like the owner is going to refund the room charge.

I was in town on business with my husband and our two-week-old baby, and getting into a room took about an hour and a half. We waited outside for around 20 minutes before getting keys, then carried our luggage and stroller to the second floor only to find someone already in the room. Back at reception, we were given new keys, but that room had no lights. An employee spent another 40 minutes trying to fix it. When we finally got in, the room was awful: water leaking under the sink, dirt everywhere, and smoke in the room. We asked for our money back but were told they wouldn't refund us because we'd booked online in advance. This is the worst hotel I've ever seen.

As a traveling welder, I'm always hoping to find a place like this at a good price. The room was super clean, with nice bedding, a clean shower, an iron and ironing board, and a big TV. I liked all the hookups and USB ports, too. It's right off the interstate and only about five minutes from Walmart, Target, and restaurants.

We brought our two dogs, and they charged $25 per dog. The bed was okay, but the hallways smelled, and breakfast was pretty underwhelming: yogurt, bananas, raisin bran, Frosted Flakes, waffles, and bread in sandwich bags. For a Days Inn, this one feels toward the lower end. Our door's chain lock was broken, which could be a safety concern.