Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

The kids at least had fun in the pool, but this will be our last booking here. Pool towels were never clean, the hot tub was lukewarm and its jets didn't work, and the water was so cloudy that we couldn't see the bright pool toys once they sank. Our room also had issues. The bathroom door wouldn't stay shut because its lock was broken, so someone had to hold it closed. I paid for a poolside room, but apparently that doesn't mean you'll get the first floor, which should be made clear during booking. The place needs serious care, with rusty metal vents and stained carpets.

We had a decent stay, and the pool and arcade were easily the most fun parts, especially for traveling with kids. The room itself was comfortable enough for a short visit, though nothing fancy. The bathroom needs attention. Water backed up in both the shower and sink, and the pocket door wouldn't close fully or lock, making privacy awkward. A few maintenance fixes would make the place much better.

For the price and location, it was decent, but there were a lot of problems. The shower pressure was great, yet water leaked out under the glass because there was no caulk at the bottom. The bathroom door wouldn't shut all the way either, so privacy was limited. Our TV didn't work, and the room phone didn't work even after we plugged it in ourselves. The waterpark is made up of small pools, equipment and a few slides, with pirate themed features for kids. I never saw anyone use the two big slides, and there was no water running on them, so they may have been out of order. The hot tub was colder than one of the kiddie pools, and every time we got back to the room the pools were already closed, maybe at 8 p.m. The walk from our room to an exit was so long that going back to the car for luggage felt like an expedition. There was a continental breakfast, but it had almost no protein beyond small yogurt cups, and everything was sticky with syrup from the kids who had eaten before us.

The arcade was open, but my kids couldn't use the games because the card machine was broken. The waterpark was disgusting, and there was even poop in the pirate ship. Our room smelled bad, the curtains had holes, the bathroom door wouldn't stay shut, and my kids and I saw mice in the room. I packed everyone up at 1 a.m. because I wasn't going to sleep with rodents. The staff were nice, but very unprofessional. The whole place felt outdated, filthy and smelly. What was meant to be a fun night away turned into a disaster. Please take your hard earned money somewhere else.