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Sonesta Essential Des Moines

2.0 star property

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Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi
Restaurant
Property amenity
Exterior
Lobby

Reviews

7.4 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Business services

Explore the area

View in a map
4755 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA, 50322
  • Place, Merle Hay Mall
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Jordan Creek Town Center
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Place, Casey's Center
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Airport, Des Moines, IA (DSM-Des Moines Intl.)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 King Bed

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed

Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 Queen Bed

7.8 out of 10
Good
(21 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 Queen Bed

Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 1 Queen Bed

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(7 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 2 Queen Beds | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Room, 2 Queen Beds

7.2 out of 10
Good
(17 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Suite, 1 King Bed

Suite, 1 King Bed | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Suite, 1 King Bed

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite, Multiple Beds

Suite, Multiple Beds | Desk, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Suite, Multiple Beds

  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Queen Beds

Similar properties

Lobby
Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines - Merle Hay Road
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
3.8 out of 5, Good, 1,008 reviews
$54 nightly
The price is $60
Jan 19 - Jan 20
Total with taxes and fees
Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines - Merle Hay Road

About the neighborhood

Des Moines

With a stay at Sonesta Essential Des Moines in Des Moines (Merle Hay), you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Casey's Center and Jordan Creek Town Center. .This hotel is 11.5 mi (18.6 km) from Adventureland and 12.1 mi (19.5 km) from Iowa State Fairgrounds.

What's nearby

  • Merle Hay Mall - 3 min drive - 1.1 miles
  • Jordan Creek Town Center - 12 min drive - 12.2 miles
  • Casey's Center - 12 min drive - 9.3 miles
  • Iowa State Fairgrounds - 16 min drive - 13.6 miles
  • Iowa State University - 36 min drive - 45.9 miles

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪7 Brew Coffee - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬4 min walk

About this property

Sonesta Essential Des Moines

Hotel in Des Moines with free breakfast and a 24-hour front desk
Sonesta Essential Des Moines offers 150 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary bottled water and irons/ironing boards. Televisions come with premium satellite channels and Netflix. Guests can make use of the in-room refrigerators and microwaves. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Housekeeping is offered on request and hair dryers can be requested.

Make yourself at home in one of the 150 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and complimentary bottled water, as well as phones with free local calls.
Make use of convenient amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access, a banquet hall, and a vending machine.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served on weekdays from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and on weekends from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk, laundry facilities, and ATM/banking services. Free self parking is available onsite.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served on weekdays between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM and on weekends between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Free RV/bus/truck parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM on weekdays and 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM on weekends
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Laundry facilities
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Business services

  • Meeting room

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel

More

  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Designated smoking areas (fines apply)

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 43-inch TV with premium satellite channels
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 50 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets
Pets cannot be left unattended
Specific rooms only; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Food and water bowls and litter boxes are available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 18 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 50 per accommodation, per stay
  • Administrative fee: USD 3.00 per accommodation, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 50 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Commitment to Clean (Choice)
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation

Property is also known as

Econo Lodge Inn Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Moines/Merle Hays Road
Hotel Econo Lodge Inn & Suites - Des Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites - Des Moines/Merle Hays Road Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Suites Des Moines/Merle Hays Road
Econo Moines Merle Hays Road
Sonesta Essential Des Moines Hotel
Sonesta Essential Des Moines Des Moines
Sonesta Essential Des Moines Hotel Des Moines
Econo Lodge Inn Suites Des Moines/Merle Hays Road

Sonesta Essential Des Moines Reviews

Reviews

7.4

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 376 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 249 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 168 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 94 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 115 out of 1002 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

7.6/10

Staff & service

6.8/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Kevin

Business traveler, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
It was a good hotel for a cheap one. Only issue was the bathroom was so small I had to stand in tub to shut the door to use the toilet. And the gentleman that was at the desk when I checked out was just dirty and unsanitary
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Merlin

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Abigail

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The room was clean and I loved that they weren't using the one use bottles of shampoo and soaps. Breakfast was very limited, not even toast.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Brad

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Breakfast was not much and disappointing. Cornflakes of Fruit Loops, yogurt and not so good packaged pastries.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Clint

Business traveler
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Leila

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean room, nice amenities and friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shirley

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Breakfast. Very good.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Timothy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Alejandra

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Shaun

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was clean though there is definitely evidence of a remodel happening. One thing I have found is breakfast to be poor at these sonesta hotels. I just ended up getting coffee and checking out. Security was okay.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Nicole

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It was late when I got there. Room smelled moldy but too tired to care.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Renee

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beds were comfy. Everything was very clean. Staff was helpful and friendly. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

E K

Business traveler
I have stayed here three times. If you go for the lowest price it will be a handicap room. They require a $50 deposit. Breakfast only consists of sugar, grain and liquids. No protein.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

wanda

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Larry

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Emina

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

William

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Really good for the price
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Edin

Traveled with family
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Would never stay here again. In the middle of the night i was woken up by screaming and then police knocking on my door looking for someone. Never felt so unsafe
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Mahir

Business traveler
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Anne

Very. Nice
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel was decent for a nights stay, the free breakfast was a bonus for someone traveling across the country.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Samantha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
the room had a strange smell
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent stay for the money
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sean

Na
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025