TownePlace Suites by Marriott Des Moines West/Jordan Creek

The staff were amazing and helped ship my whole suitcase after I left it in the parking lot. But the bad stay is why I left it behind. I was in a king room with a light that stayed on even when the master switch was off, plus a large flashing green light from the AC unit shining on the ceiling. There were loud, washing-machine-like sounds through the night. With all that going on, the curtains couldn’t block the outside light in any useful way. I drove 10 hours before check-in and had another 9 after checkout, but got absolutely no sleep. The shower was frustrating too. Its “fancy” cloth curtain let a cold breeze in while I was trying to enjoy the hot water.

Money was welcoming and incredibly helpful at the front desk. She made check-in smooth and stress free, and went out of her way to make sure everything was taken care of. Her professionalism and friendly attitude made a great first impression.

We were really disappointed with our stay this weekend. The rooms had a musty smell, the carpets were dirty, and the blankets clearly weren’t washed. Where there were window AC units, they were extremely noisy. The Marriott hotels we’ve stayed at in Iowa this year all seemed dated and poorly maintained, which is below the comfort and cleanliness we expect from the brand. Marriott needs to take a closer look at its Iowa properties and bring them back to the quality guests expect.

The hotel in west desmoines has a thoughtful design and nice atmosphere, and it works well for a vegan like me. My midnight check-in went smoothly, and breakfast was good. The pool door was broken, though, so I couldn’t use the pool, and staff made no effort to fix it. Housekeeping took a Coke bottle from the fridge, my 150gm paste of pepsodent 2 in 1, and a new mouthwash bottle from the bathroom. My toothbrush and paste were both gone, so I had to buy replacements for 25Dollar, and the mouthwash cost 10dollars. Who will compensate me? The reception acted strangely when I reported it. I wouldn’t have housekeeping come in when you’re away. As a Marriott member, this wasn’t a good experience, and Marriott could compensate me with points for the mess. I hope someone takes action before this good hotel gets a bad name. I also found that my credit card deduction didn’t match the bill, which I now need to escalate.