OverviewLocated about a 1-minute drive from the nearest Interstate 35 on-ramp in northeast Des Moines, the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Des Moines is geared towards road travellers who require an economical stopover hotel with a free breakfast and easy highway access.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms and suites offers free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a mini-fridge, a microwave, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Rooms with a desk, a living area with a sofabed and a jetted tub are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are offered.
Hotel amenities include meeting space, a business centre, guest laundry, a free continental breakfast and free parking. One pet per room is permitted for an additional $10 per pet, per night.
Des Moines' city centre is roughly a 13-minute drive from the hotel, while Merle Hay Mall can be found 4 minutes away by car. Buccaneer Arena is about a 10-minute drive away and Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is a 25-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, 1 pet/room $10/night , wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: October 3, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with compliments going to the hotel's value, location and rooms.
Numerous guests praised the hotel's value, describing the rates as fair, reasonable, economical and inexpensive. The hotel's free breakfast was cited as adding to the value, and one guest remarked, "For an overnight you can't beat the price".
Many lodgers were pleased with the the hotel's location. They described it as safe, and close to the highway, restaurants, shopping, Merle Hay Mall, Mercy Hospital and Drake University.
The hotel's accommodations were enjoyed by several reviewers. They described their rooms as clean, quiet, spacious, functional and well equipped, with comfortable beds. Some patrons had complaints about their rooms, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were some common complaints about the rooms and staff.
Although several guests were pleased with their clean and well-equipped rooms, some guests were disappointed with their lodgings. They reported dated and worn decor, uncomfortable beds (too firm), slow Wi-Fi, old TVs and cigarette odours in non-smoking rooms.
While some reviewers found the staff to be friendly and helpful, a few patrons were disappointed with the level of customer service they received. They described the staff as indifferent and unhelpful.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.6 out of 5 with an 83% recommendation rate from 252 reviews.
Hotels.com guest reviews rated the hotel 3.6 out of 5 from 222 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #21 of 44 Des Moines hotels with an average rating of 3 out of 5 from 24 reviews.
The author called the hotel on October 3, 2013 to verify some information.
