Ramada Des Moines Airport

We didn’t try for a third room. The staff were happy to move us the first time, but the second suite, with the tub we’d paid for, had its own problems: the door was propped open, the card reader didn’t work, we had to force the door shut, plastic trash was left around, there were cushions on the counter, table legs from something we couldn’t identify sat on the TV stand, and the bedroom light didn’t work. The first suite hadn’t been properly cleaned either. We’d paid extra months earlier to reserve one, but it looked like they’d only made the bed and maybe cleaned the bathroom. The floor had a large sticky brown stain and crumbs from previous guests, fingerprints covered the glass right beside their perfect cleanliness sticker, the trash was still there, and there was even a fake nail on a counter. We might have managed if the bed had been clean, but under the sheet were hair, fuzz, and crumbs from those same guests. We could excuse the dirty hallways and the odd atmosphere, and we don’t blame the front staff. But selling two full price suites that clearly weren’t cleaned was too much. All in all, this is a waste of your money.

The pool was clean and fairly warm, with plenty of towels. The staff were nice and came when we called about the outlet, and breakfast, though not great, filled us up before we got back on the road. It served its purpose as a place to sleep during a snowstorm, but I probably wouldn’t choose it again. The room had some serious maintenance problems. The bedside outlet was broken, the metal bed frames creaked whenever anyone moved, the tub wouldn’t plug and some of its hardware was falling off. The room got steadily hotter overnight even after we turned the heat way down. Still, it beat being out in the snow. We were disappointed the restaurant next door was closed for a private party, since that was the main reason we booked it and we didn’t want to drive back out in the snow. That can’t be helped, though. At check-in, the staff member kept telling me to call if anything was wrong so they could move us, and to check the TV, shower, and outlets as soon as we got to the room. I found that a little strange.

The 24/7 shuttle service was stellar, and the customer service was decent. The rest was really poorly maintained. Photos online made it look clean and decent, but the hotel was dark, dingy, loud, and poorly cleaned, with a bad smell and an incessantly barking dog. There was trash all over the parking lot, chipped paint, tubes hanging out of windows, and curtains in disrepair. Our bed had lots of dark, curly hairs that weren’t mine or my partner’s, which was disturbing. The room smelled strongly of Indian food, which I normally love, but I don’t want my room to smell like it unless I’ve brought some in myself. The shower badly needed repair and paint. We slept in our clothes, skipped the shower, and left as early as we could. Holiday Inn had sold out of rooms, or we would’ve left. It’s the worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in overnight. None of the ice machines worked, which was very disappointing. We checked out the restaurant too, and it wasn’t appealing. If you choose to stay here, ask for a tour first. Don’t make our mistake of trusting the photos online.

The beds were comfortable, but I couldn’t sleep because the air conditioner was noisy all night. The bathroom light and fan were very loud too. Our phones wouldn’t charge when plugged in, and there was no ice bucket. The pool area was so dark that we didn’t go swimming. We booked because this motel is near the airport, but the rooms are very outdated. The sink wouldn’t drain properly, and the air conditioner cover was missing. We mentioned it to a staff member, who said he’d washed the cover and would come put it back on, but he never did. Breakfast had gravy but no biscuits, and there was only one bagel left 20 minutes after it opened, even with five people eating. It was still over $100 and definitely not worth it. There are other motels close to the airport, and I’ll definitely choose one of those next time, even if it costs more.