Relax inn

I stayed at Beacon Motel for close to six months, and the owners, Deepak & Sheila, were a joy to wake up to. They're down to earth, warm up to you quickly and really take care of guests. By the end of my stay, I thought of them as the best landlords I've ever had, not just owners. If they went into apartment rentals, I'd absolutely lease from them. I still drive by the building because it was such a big part of my adjustment to Iowa after coming from Washington, DC. The motel sits in a fairly quiet neighborhood, though traffic gets heavy during the morning rush. The Hubbell Avenue district on Des Moines' east side is cleaning itself up. Of the half-dozen or so "No-Tell Motels" on the strip, Beacon is the only one I see making it for the long haul if the city ever steps in. The family works together on the place. The father and son were often upgrading the exterior to move it out of the 1960s, though the building still has that "Brady Bunch" look. They keep the property very clean. The interiors are old, as is common in these Americana road-trip motels, but the beds and bathroom were clean, my main concern. The television and microwave were very outdated and near the end of their lives. The carpet was what really bothered me. Its red and green zigzag stripes made me think of Freddy Kruger, and it was worn out and badly needed regular shampooing. My socks would turn black after pacing for an hour or so, so I wore sandals. A room in the south-facing wing is worth asking for. The east-facing rooms are older and feel less like home. Prices are good, especially for extended stays, and you meet interesting people from all walks of life. The owners never slack on looking after guests. I wish they'd knock down the walls between every other room and make swank studio apartments. Those are in extremely short supply on the east side and in Des Moines generally. Beacon Motel feels like the American Dream, a hardworking family reaching its goal together. I'm glad they were part of my journey.

The owner was thoughtful and very helpful with what I needed. My late-night check-in was pleasant, and the room smelled genuinely clean, like a non-smoking room that's really been kept that way. The bedding looked, smelled and felt clean too.

The couple who own and run this little motel were very pleasant and clearly wanted us to have a restful stay. Our room was clean, and they changed the linen every day. The microwave and fridge came in handy during my extended stay. They'd stop to chat when you were walking around the nice front lawn. Stop by!

I was unsure I'd find a place in Des Moines that met my needs and standards, but this one did. The kindhearted staff made me feel very welcome. Honestly, I'd recommend it 10/10.