Valley West Inn

The price was good, but I’d rather pay more for a clean room. We arrived at 3:30 and our room wasn’t ready, so they offered us a suite. That was nice of them, but the suite was filthy, with popcorn and candy on the floor. The shower pressure was so poor I couldn’t wash my hair, and I woke up with a bug crawling on my arm. Quite an experience!

There’s no longer a pool, lounge, or cafe, but the hotel still advertises all three as bonus amenities. A newish manager seems to be trying to make changes, though that remains to be seen. The bigger problem is the owners, who live outside the US and seem focused on profit instead of putting money back into repairs, upkeep, or hiring trained and experienced staff. The policies also make it hard for staff to keep occupancy up. Guests can be penalized for minor things, seemingly to justify keeping deposits, and staff have to explain the rules and harsh consequences to new customers. I consider those policies close to criminal. This hotel ranks last among West Des Moines hotels, and for good reason. If you’re thinking of staying, read all the disturbing reviews first. Unbelievable audacity!

Staff treated us decently and gave us a good discount for a long stay, but sometimes accused us of not paying and locked us out of our room. Management seemed confused about which system was being used to collect and record payments. The pool is technically there, but it has no water because of a large crack, and management has no plans to repair it. The place is dirty and smells like animals despite all the “No Pets” signs. Hot water is unreliable, and the WiFi is even worse. The attached restaurant is closed indefinitely, yet somehow set off a fire alarm in the middle of the night. Other guests spent all day drinking and smoking by side doors that should have been locked but weren’t. This is listed as a three star hotel, which is about 1.5 stars too many. Unless you literally can’t afford anywhere else, stay away.

My room was a decent size, clean, and bug free. The TV didn’t work, but honestly I was afraid to complain after reading the other negative reviews. The guest laundry was closed, as was the cafe, and I didn’t check the pool, but it was probably closed too. Without the TV and laundry problems, this would have been a five star review.