Motel 6 Des Moines, IA - North

As soon as I entered my two bedroom room, I saw dead bugs covering every surface. It was tiny, and there wasn't enough space for the two beds. One blocked the way to the bathroom. We left right away. The front desk asked what was wrong, then said only the owner could issue refunds and was available from 11 AM to 12 PM each day. I expected it would be hopeless to get my money back for a room I never used, but luckily the third party I booked through called and got it refunded. This place shouldn't be operating. Don't stay here.

The management is extremely poor, and I don't find them trustworthy or reliable. I agree with the other reviewer that this place shouldn't be operating. They made a very poor choice in the front desk clerk. She acts more like a young child than someone you'd trust to run a business.

The staff were generally nice, but the owner was extremely rude. The area feels dangerous, and some residents do too, with constant yelling, fighting, and drama. Someone kicked in another resident's door the other night and the place was swarmed with cops. There are roaches as well as lots of road noise from I35. In our four days there, nobody offered housekeeping or even towels. The rooms are small and raggedy, with no microwave or fridge. Smoking rooms and pets being allowed are about the only upsides. At $85 a night, it's absolutely not worth it. Unless you're truly down on your luck, avoid this place.

For $75 a night, I thought this was a good deal. There was lots of parking, free morning coffee, and the room was very clean with nice bedding. The mattresses were comfortable, and there were all sorts of plug-ins and USB ports, plus a fridge, microwave, TV, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel is older, though the rooms have been updated inside. Getting there is a little weird, but it's right off the interstate, so it's easy to continue wherever you're headed. It was pretty quiet despite being so close to the road. They didn't leave enough towels, and when I asked at the front desk for more, I was told I had to return the used ones first. That seemed weird. More or better pillows would have helped too.