Homewood Suites by Hilton Des Moines Airport

On my second visit since 2024, I again appreciated how peaceful the hotel is. The suite shop had plenty of options, the front desk team were friendly and helpful, and breakfast included tacos as well as eggs, potatoes, and sausage. But the thermostat being set at 68° was too warm for me. That really bothers me because it feels like the hotel is controlling my experience and cutting costs instead of offering the hospitality I expect when choosing a Hilton brand. It’s disheartening to want to love the place and then have the controlled temperature make my stay uncomfortable.

I’ve stayed here many times over several months. The location near the airport is good, breakfast is complimentary, and the Wednesday social is nice. The rooms have small kitchenettes, which make longer stays easier. Unfortunately, both times I stayed, there were bugs in the room, and I’ve also been woken by noisy guests. The staff do what they can with the resources they have.

The room itself is great, but we booked specifically for a bathtub and were given a walk-in shower instead. They advertise an airport shuttle, yet we were told we couldn’t leave our car here. The front desk person said the parking was basically for people who fly in for a party and then leave. Who does that in Des Moines? We’re staying Thursday night, flying out Friday, returning Monday, and had planned to stay again Monday night. I asked whether they were full over the weekend. She said they had 14 reservations, then corrected it to 13, and said the hotel had something like 132 rooms. I asked if we could leave our car there for the weekend and keep our Monday reservation, otherwise we’d cancel and stay at the Hampton. She said she’d ask the owner and call us. A couple of hours later, she called to say the owner said no. We would have paid around $300 for a two-night stay if they’d let us use one space in a lot with 132 spots and only 13 reservations. Fine, we’ll stay two blocks away at the Hampton from now on, where we can park and fly.

The layout is a bit confusing: the entrance is on the side, the front door is around the front, and parking is in rows behind and beside the hotel rather than one straightforward lot. Still, it’s a good hotel close to the airport. The rooms have plenty of space, the beds are comfortable, and the kitchen is great by hotel standards. I’d stay again.