Sonesta Essential Des Moines rates, Des Moines

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Dates and guests	Current price	Customer link
Nov 2 to Nov 9, 2026 · 7 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details
Nov 4 to Nov 8, 2026 · 4 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details
Nov 4 to Nov 9, 2026 · 5 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details
Nov 6 to Nov 9, 2026 · 3 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details
Nov 7 to Nov 14, 2026 · 7 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details
Nov 8 to Nov 15, 2026 · 7 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details
Nov 13 to Nov 15, 2026 · 2 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details
Jan 3 to Jan 6, 2027 · 3 nights · 1 adult	Get current price for this stay	Open hotel details

#9 of 9 hotels in Urbandale & Merle Hay by Axel's take. Urbandale & Merle Hay is #4 of 5 places to stay in Des Moines. The best hotels in Urbandale & Merle Hay, ranked · Where to stay in Des Moines

Axel's take: 6.8/10

Useful budget basics, but housekeeping and smoke complaints make it a conditional pick. a no-frills 2-star roadside hotel on Merle Hay Road, scored for what it is.

Sonesta Essential Des Moines is a no-frills 2-star roadside hotel that makes most sense for a short, budget-minded stop with a car. Free parking, Wi-Fi and breakfast cover the essentials, while rooms include microwaves and refrigerators. Recent Hotels.com guests frequently praise comfortable rooms, friendly staff and easy check-in. It can deliver good value, but we'd call it a practical fallback rather than a dependable first choice.

The concern is consistency: Tripadvisor and Booking.com guest reviews include recurring complaints about smoke smells, uneven cleaning and worn furnishings, alongside plenty of clean-room reports. Noise between rooms also comes up. Breakfast feedback varies, although late-summer 2026 reviews are more positive. Expedia lists a nightly administrative fee and a deposit; pets cost extra. We'd skip it if you're sensitive to smoke or need reliably quiet, spotless surroundings.

Best for: budget-minded road trippers; short stays with a car
Watch out for: recurring smoke-smell complaints; uneven housekeeping and room wear; noise between rooms
Location: Practical Merle Hay Road base near interstate access; better for drivers than downtown sightseeing on foot.
Rooms: Microwaves and refrigerators are useful; comfortable beds earn praise, but wear and sound insulation vary.
Cleanliness: Many recent guests report clean rooms, but repeated housekeeping complaints prevent a confident recommendation.
Service: Friendly, efficient check-in is a frequent positive; complaint handling gets mixed feedback.
Amenities: Free breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking, plus coin laundry and an arcade; breakfast feedback varies.
Fees and surprises: Expedia lists a nightly administrative fee and deposit; the hotel charges per pet, per night.

Axel's opinion of Sonesta Essential Des Moines, from the hotel's website and recent guest reviews. Sources: Hotel website · Hotels.com · Expedia · Tripadvisor · en.planetofhotels.com · Booking.com. Reviewed Oct 20, 2026.

About Sonesta Essential Des Moines

2-star hotel
Sonesta Collection Hotels
4755 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines
Amenities: ATM, Air conditioning, 24-hour reception, Elevator/lift, Smoking areas, Smoke-free property, Heating, Newspapers, Express check-in/check-out, Bridal suite, Non-smoking rooms, Fridge
City page: Hotels in Des Moines

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#9 of 9 hotels in Urbandale & Merle Hay by Axel's take Urbandale & Merle Hay is #4 of 5 places to stay in Des Moines

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2-star hotel · Sonesta Collection Hotels · 4755 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines

ATM · Air conditioning · 24-hour reception · Elevator/lift · Smoking areas · Smoke-free property · Heating · Newspapers · Express check-in/check-out · Bridal suite · Non-smoking rooms · Fridge

Hotels in Des Moines

Axel's take

a no-frills 2-star roadside hotel on Merle Hay Road

6.8/10

Useful budget basics, but housekeeping and smoke complaints make it a conditional pick.

Best for

budget-minded road trippers
short stays with a car

Watch out for

recurring smoke-smell complaints
uneven housekeeping and room wear
noise between rooms

Location: Practical Merle Hay Road base near interstate access; better for drivers than downtown sightseeing on foot.
Rooms: Microwaves and refrigerators are useful; comfortable beds earn praise, but wear and sound insulation vary.
Cleanliness: Many recent guests report clean rooms, but repeated housekeeping complaints prevent a confident recommendation.
Service: Friendly, efficient check-in is a frequent positive; complaint handling gets mixed feedback.
Amenities: Free breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking, plus coin laundry and an arcade; breakfast feedback varies.
Fees and surprises: Expedia lists a nightly administrative fee and deposit; the hotel charges per pet, per night.

Axel's opinion, from the hotel's website and recent guest reviews, scored for what the hotel is. Sources: Hotel website · Hotels.com · Expedia · Tripadvisor · en.planetofhotels.com · Booking.com. Reviewed Oct 20, 2026.

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