Homewood Suites By Hilton Ankeny

We chose this Ankeny hotel because we usually like Hilton, and the online reviews, photos, and mention of a recent renovation all looked promising. Our room felt worn and dated instead, with a dreary look that didn't match the pictures. There were marks on the ceiling and walls, wallpaper peeling beneath the sink, and very dim light, especially in the bathroom. The bathroom door barely cleared the toilet, so closing it meant standing off to the side, and there was no door between the bathroom and bedroom. We also had just one kitchen chair. The room wasn't very clean. Some furniture and the fridge had wipe streaks, while other spots had obvious dust and dirt that looked like it had been there a while. The shower had only a fabric curtain, with no liner; the old air conditioner was extremely loud, and the hairdryer kept switching between hot and cold. We tried to make coffee in the morning but there was no pod holder and only one packet of regular coffee. The front desk clerk said the hotel was full and she didn't know where to get another coffee maker, though she'd leave a message for the assistant manager. Later I noticed there were no spoons either. When I returned to ask, she said she'd left a note and couldn't do anything else. By about 8:30 p.m., neither spoons nor a working coffee maker had appeared. Guest service didn't seem to matter much. We were Hilton guests who picked the property based on its advertised renovation, but we didn't get a renovated room. After we got home, we emailed about the stay and heard nothing back. It's hard to connect our experience with the other reviews, and with so many hotels nearby, I wouldn't recommend this one.

Breakfast was the weak spot: we arrived at 9:15 and found only a limited selection, with some items gone and nobody around to ask for more. I'd suggest getting there earlier if you want the full choice. The staff were attentive, and the location was very quiet. It wasn't busy the night we stayed, so my Hilton Honors membership got me an upgrade.

Assistant Manager Cameron made the visit stand out. Cameron was warm and attentive, checked that things were going well, helped with local recommendations, and arranged a thoughtful room upgrade. The care felt real, with professionalism to match. The suite was roomy and nicely planned, the property was immaculate, and the complimentary breakfast and cozy shared spaces added to the comfort. From arrival at Homewood Suites by Hilton Ankeny, everything felt easy. For a hotel in Ankeny that feels homey and has service on a luxury resort level, this is a great choice. I'll be back and hope Cameron is there to welcome me again.

Everyone here has been kind and accommodating, and they leave fresh towels and make the bed when housekeeping comes. We're here for nine nights for the National Senior Games, and we've had one every-other-day service so far. On that visit, they left the trash and didn't clean the bathroom sink. For what we're spending, I expected better. We're using 150,000 points and paying over $1,000.00, yet the hotel needs updating. The shower has no shelves and needs a good scrub, and the washer machine we used this morning needs cleaning too. Breakfast was disappointing, with soggy scrambled eggs and no bananas. We're Hilton Honors members and Hilton Grand Vacation owners, so this hotel let us down as well.