Sonesta Essential Des Moines

The room was decent and great location. The breakfast was fine with multiple options. Our room had no working light over the vanity mirror and sink, and nobody came to clean our room or provide fresh towels after our 1st night. The carpets in the halls and stairways are extremely dirty and the place has a strong indian food odor. Overall it was not a bad place to stay but maybe a little pricey for what you get.

Room was clean and comfortable, but the floors were very slippery and could be a fall risk. the shower was weak and the shower gel was almost empty

Not a clean room at all. They have bedbugs. If you don't believe me fine but its true and why would u want to gamble on that. The staff was very rude, short with me, and uncaring. Not going to try to get a refund because this is not about money. It is about being hospitable and they were for sure not.

I travel along. For the price most places have problems. I didn't see any shady characters. Excellent for the price!

It was clean and reasonable for the price. Staff however could be a little more helpful in explaining breakfast times and having room ready at time of check-in.

It was a good place to stay for state fair ,newer amenities, decent breakfast but kinda worried when cars are being taken apart in parking lot

Damp floor , smelly . No power outlet by your bed . Horrible breakfast . Poor and stingy management . Charging twice the amount for whatever service they are providing .

But it was an extremely load room with a LOT of banging next door and load hallway argiments! All ice machines were broken and breakfast was poor!

Quiet Front desk deciphering what was being said. Breakfast very limited choices. Too far from state fairgrounds.

Great service and clean!

Bugs, mold. Won’t fully refund you either.

Staff was very helpful and nice. Rooms were very clean and very comfortable. Breakfast was delicious. Only complaint is the the stairwell carpets were filthy and the laundry room dispenser was broken and there was nothing on it to tell you not to put money into it.

Little place No Good breakfast

I didn’t have any issues with the Sonesta Essentials hotel. The room was clean and no funky odors that people have claimed were issues. The area was nice and convenient for where we needed to get to everyday as it was a max of 25 min drive. The only concerns I’d have is some of the rooms that looked like a longer stay were kind of run down as some of the windows were busted out.

The parking lot was easy to get in and out of. The room was beyond damp (all fabric was moist to the touch) and based on the massive allergic reaction I had, there was a cat in the room very recently and likely all over the pillows. To top it off, I could not get a staff member to come to the desk when I checked out, despite calling multiple times. Awful experience, but at almost a month later my cough is starting to clear up.

The room itself was fine, except the AC was off when we arrived, so it took over 4 hours to cool down since we visited in summer. We booked for 6 people and only received 3 towels and 1 roll of toilet paper for a 4 night stay. They never came to take out our trash, I had to bring down dirty towels to get new fresh towels for our showers, and ask for more toilet paper every time we needed more (6 people with 1-ply toilet paper, you go through more than one roll in a 4 night stay). I ended up going out and buying my own toilet paper so that we didn’t run out and have to run downstairs in the middle of the night. When I asked about them coming in to take out the old trash bags (they had signs saying don’t leave them outside), I was told they didn’t have housekeeping, and they just gave me more trash bags. So I had a corner full of trash by the end of our stay. The ice machine was broken on the second floor and was missing on the third floor. The one on the first floor worked the FIRST night we were there, then never again. No hot breakfast the first morning, just a few bagels and toast and cereal. Their parking lot had broken down vehicles with grass growing from them, insane pot holes and generally unsafe for cars. The hallways/stairs were disgusting and were not cleaned the entire stay. For $800 I would have expected a bit more (the bare minimum would have been nice). I will not be returning, and do not recommend.

Clean room. Very high humidity and the sheets felt damp. Bathroom very small.

We got all checked in but when we went to our room there were spider webs all over. The room smelled gross and musty. Upon looking at the floor it looked like it hadn’t been swept in weeks. Needless to say the front desk staff did not act surprised when we came and asked for a refund. They were helpful in getting us our refund but then we left and stayed elsewhere.

Cramped rooms, exterior doors are not secure, room door does not latch without slamming it firmly, towel storage was odd- just out on the ledge of the tub,

Poor quality for the price. Doors to outside did not shut so anyone can come and go. People smoking in the main hallway. Room smelled of cigarettes even as a non smoking room and had to open the window for fresh air. Loud neighbors smoking on patios upstairs. Not ideal for tall families. Bathrooms are tiny and no baths showers only. Was not cleaned well at all. Mattresses you can feel springs and be prepared to buy or bring your own pillows. If you have breathing issues, be prepared.