OverviewLocated about a 2-minute drive from
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) and a 4-minute drive from the nearest Highway 4 on-ramp, the Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conference Center is geared towards air or car travellers who require a hotel with a free airport shuttle, meeting/conference facilities and easy highway access.
Each of this smoke-free hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms and suites offers free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a desk, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Rooms with a separate bedroom, a living room with a sofabed and a dining table are also available, and the hotel is wheelchair accessible.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness centre, a games room, meeting/conference facilities, a business centre, guest laundry and free parking. A free roundtrip airport shuttle is also available (please contact the hotel for details).
On-site dining is available at The Grill, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Pets are permitted for an additional $25 per pet, per stay.
Downtown Des Moines and Drake University are both about a 15-minute drive from the hotel, while Blank Park Zoo is a 5-minute drive away. Southridge Mall can be found 7 minutes away by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets permitted for $25/pet/stay, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: October 15, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's staff, location and rooms.
The hotel's staff were the source of many compliments by reviewers, who characterized them as friendly, helpful and professional. One guest remarked, "They are extremely helpful in planning a conference, and they go out of their way to accommodate special room requests any time of the year".
Numerous lodgers were pleased with the hotel's location. They found it close to the airport, restaurants, downtown Des Moines, a grocery store and Blank Park Zoo.
Several guests enjoyed the hotel's accommodations. They described their rooms as clean, quiet, well equipped, updated and spacious, with comfortable beds and pillows. Some patrons did have complaints about their lodgings, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the hotel's rooms and noise transfer.
Although the majority of lodgers were pleased with their clean and comfortable rooms, some guests were disappointed with their accommodations. They reported dated decor, worn carpets, no electrical outlets near the beds and no conditioner in the bathrooms.
A few reviewers complained of noise disturbances during their stay. They reported many noisy children in the pool area, which overflowed into the hotel's other common areas. Noise from guests in the hallways and in adjacent rooms was also reported by a few travellers.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.9 out of 5 with an 88% recommendation rate from 194 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #15 of 44 Des Moines hotels with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 from 78 reviews.
Hotels.com guest reviews rated the hotel 3.7 out of 5 from 29 reviews.
The author called the hotel on October 15, 2013 to verify some information.
