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Sonesta Essential Ames

2.0 star property

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Exterior

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Gym
  • Pet friendly
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

Map
1400 S Dayton Place, Ames, IA, 50010
  • Ames Dog Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Main Street Cultural District
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Octagon Center for the Arts
    ‪5 min drive‬

Room options

Room, 2 Queen Beds

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Roll-in Shower

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

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Exterior

GrandStay Hotel & Suites

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  • Hot Tub
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
4.3 out of 5, Excellent, (1000)
The price is $89
per night
$100 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 5 - Mar 6
GrandStay Hotel & Suites

About this property

Sonesta Essential Ames

Ames hotel with free breakfast
A 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour business center, and coffee/tea in a common area are available at this smoke-free hotel. Free continental breakfast, free WiFi in public areas, and free self parking are also provided. Other amenities include a business center, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour front desk.
Sonesta Essential Ames offers 78 accommodations with MP3 docking stations and video-game consoles. 37-inch LCD televisions come with premium cable channels. Guests can make use of the in-room microwaves and coffee/tea makers. Bathrooms include complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; local and long-distance calls are complimentary (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include a 24-hour fitness center.
Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access. A 24-hour business center is on site. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. This family-friendly hotel also offers a 24-hour fitness center, a vending machine, and coffee/tea in a common area. Onsite self parking is complimentary.

Sonesta Essential Ames is a smoke-free property.

A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

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

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available daily 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • Laundry facilities
  • Mini-fridge

Conveniences

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

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Business services

  • 24-hour business center

Accessibility

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

More

  • 1 building
  • 2 floors
  • Built in 1996
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 37-inch LCD TV with premium cable channels
  • MP3 dock
  • Video game console

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Mini-fridge

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Free long-distance calls
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 5:30 AM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

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

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 15 per pet, per night (maximum USD 105 per stay)
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total (up to 80 lbs per pet)
Pets cannot be left unattended
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
3 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 10.00 per day
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 100 per accommodation, per stay

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

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 15 per pet, per night (maximum USD 105 per stay)
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 10.00 per day

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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Daily housekeeping is included for stays of 6 nights or less. Limited housekeeping is provided for stays of 7 nights or more.
Pets must be declared at check-in. Guests bringing 1 pet will not be charged pet fees. The listed pet fee in the Fees section applies only if guests bring 2 or more pets. Pets must be leashed in public areas of the property. Guests are expected to clean up after their pet.

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
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Hampton Inn Ames Hotel
Red Roof Inn Ames Hotel
Hampton Inn Hotel Ames
Hampton Inn Ames Iowa
Ames Hampton Inn
Red Roof Inn Ames
Sonesta Essential Ames Ames
Sonesta Essential Ames Hotel
Sonesta Essential Ames Hotel Ames

Sonesta Essential Ames Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 323 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 347 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 189 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 89 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 52 out of 1000 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.4/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Nathaniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The hotel is not bad considering the cost. Really, only issue is that the hotel is in need of upgrades. Friendly staff.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Daneen

Traveled with group
Disliked: Amenities
Bedding was dirty, spots on sheets and blankets. Tv didn't work. Faucet was hard to turn on and off.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Business traveler
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Don't Book A Jacuzzi Tub Room, If Any
I wrote up quite a lengthy review in advance - but I'll try to keep it brief. I booked a jacuzzi tub room as a business stay for 2 nights as I worked a 14-hour day in Ames on day 2. When the room is so awful that I opt to just do the 4 hour drive home after that work day, rather than take advantage of the room the 2nd night - that's a problem. The knobs on the tub were busted, but didn't offer any controls anyway. The one control knob to run the jets was on the other side of the wall, out of reach of even standing in the tub. And the jets literally only lasted 3 minutes. It only functioned as a large tub. Huge cracks in the wall. Light bulbs out. Exposed sink pipes. Exceedingly thin and nearly worthless towels, plus hardly any in the room at all; they're hotel pool towels. Realized the night stand electric panel wasn't working, moved the night stand and the outlet cover is broken and half exposed. A new cover costs $0.15 and takes 90 seconds to replace. Then I noticed the cables were covered with thick clumped dust bunnies. Super gross. The biggest sketchy part though, is during check-in for my pre-paid room, the deposit charge came out to $159.10 - with no explanation. Should've only been $100 flat. Reached out to hotel support, no response yet. Worried I'll have to dispute the charge with my bank. I'm not easy to disatisfy with hotel rooms; I've seen them all. I don't typically leave reviews unless they're positive, but this was the worst I've been to in years.
Burnt out light bulb in bathroom.
Huge cracks in the wall, or plaster, or whatever it actually is.
Definitely an old jacuzzi tub that hasn't been well maintained at all.
The jacuzzi tub knobs were mostly busted, and didn't really function anyways.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Wesley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff, had a funny mix up with someone that had a very similar name but the issue was fixed promptly. Rooms were clean
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Needs some work.
The staff was friendly, and the lobby was well kept. The room needed some work. The jetted tub did not function and the shower has almost no pressure whatsoever. There were 2 TV's, one mounted to the wall, and one placed in front of it on the dresser, neither worked. The one that did have power was stuck on AccuWeather. The room could have been a little cleaner. The bed sheets had long hair on them, definitely not mine, and the tub had hair buildup as well. The room overall wasn't terrible but it could use some updating.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

bob

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Safe and quiet. Easy checkin.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Jason

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Ryan

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is dated and overdue for an overhaul. Delayed in checking in and room had hair in various places in the bathroom and dead bugs by the window. TV did not work. I will not be returning to this establishment.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Lyle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
floor was heaving up and smelled like dog pee, needs fixing.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Richard A.

Traveled with family
The third room was acceptable.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joyce

Liked: Amenities
It was ok
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Reece

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

2/10 Terrible

Raegen

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The hotel was disgusting! Checked in late at night very odd people in the lobby. Bloodstain on the curtains, dirty floor, dirty bathtub, hair all over. It was the most disgusting hotel I’ve ever been in.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

MELVA

Traveled with family
Disappointed
The overall hotel needs updating Rooms were not a clean as they should. Dust around ac units, bathroom vent hanging dismounted from the ceiling. Rust in the corner of the tub.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Kallie

Traveled with family
A little outdated, but bed was comfortable and room was cleaned daily. A/C was held on by duck tape and TV remote didnt work, but we were basically only there to sleep, so it was fine.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Hannah

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Bugs in my room. like so many bugs
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ryan

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Was very good and I will likely stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

E K

Business traveler
Liked: Room comfort
Good Value
You don't get a lot of amenities with a sub-$100 room these days. I don't expect much more than a clean comfortable bed, choice of pillows, clean bathroom, hot coffee and an air-conditioned that will go down to 64 degrees. I got all that and the staff was very pleasant. This was my second or third stay.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Doug

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Debra

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

6/10 Okay

Tracy

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

2/10 Terrible

Joe

Business traveler, Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
1. Damage to property on outside of building 2.stained towels 3.stained bedspread 4. Bathroom door creaky. Never fixed it when i asked them 5.painting needs to addressed in room.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

4/10 Poor

Mandy J, Fort Madison

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Uncomfortable bed
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

David, Toa Alta

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
4 stars because TV Remote Control wasn't working (r.413) but everything else was fine. Very clean. Internet, A/C, and hot water, all working as expected. Very polite management.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024