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Sonesta Essential Ames

2.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Sonesta Essential Ames

Exterior
Indoor pool
Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes
Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes
Room, 2 Queen Beds | Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Gym
  • Pet friendly
  • Laundry
  • Air conditioning
$77
includes taxes & fees
Oct 13 - Oct 14

Explore the area

View in a map
1400 S Dayton Place, Ames, IA, 50010
  • Main Street Cultural District
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Jack Trice Stadium
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Iowa State University
    ‪7 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 2 Queen Beds

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed, Roll-in Shower

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 1 King Bed, Roll-in Shower

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 1 King Bed

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(10 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed

  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed

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About this property

Sonesta Essential Ames

Ames hotel with indoor pool
This smoke-free hotel features an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and a 24-hour business center. Free continental breakfast, free WiFi in public areas, and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, coffee/tea in a common area, a business center, and laundry facilities are onsite.
Sonesta Essential Ames offers 75 accommodations with video-game consoles and coffee/tea makers. Beds feature memory foam mattresses. 50-inch LED televisions come with cable channels. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations with rainfall showerheads, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

This Ames hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and desk chairs, as well as 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 an indoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.

Children under 14 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool without adult supervision.

Sonesta Essential Ames features an indoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. This hotel offers access to a 24-hour business center. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. This family-friendly hotel also offers a vending machine, coffee/tea in a common area, and laundry facilities. 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.

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

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
  • Books
  • Indoor pool
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • Indoor pool
  • 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.
  • Accessible bathtub
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Elevator (39 inch wide door)
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (36 inches high)

More

  • 1 building
  • 2 floors
  • Built in 1996
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes
  • Memory foam mattress

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 50-inch LED TV with cable channels
  • Video game console

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Mini-fridge

More

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

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 4:00 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
If you are planning to arrive after 8:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

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
Children under 14 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool without adult supervision
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. 319 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 340 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 198 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 92 out of 1007 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 58 out of 1007 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.4/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Brittany

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Ann

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean and quiet. Breakfast was good. Staff were very friendly. My only complaint was the air freshener used in the lobby and room was extremely strong. It was overwhelming at times.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Leonard

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
The hotel and room were ok. Staff was fine. The hotel was quiet at night, and the ac worked fine but a bit noisy. The bathroom had two small bath towels. The room did not have a safe but did have a fridge and microwave. The free breakfast was fine and included waffles, eggs, breads, yogurt, bananas and some cereals. I had to find a wall plug for the toaster to work.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Angela

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Dirty comforter & sheets. TV not working. Switched rooms for it to dirty, dried blood in bathroom. No refund offered. Booked a new hotel & left. Never stayed the night.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Valerie

Business traveler, Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The inside of the hotel was nice and updated as was the room. The only issue we had was when we flushed the toilet in room 109 it made a loud squeaking noise for a while. Otherwise everything was good. Breakfast was also very good.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Devan

Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Anne

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Michelle

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Lindsey

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
It was a budget hotel. It met that standard, but was nothing great.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

4/10 Poor

J.C.

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

ok but no more

tv didn't work , had to come fix it , loud exhaust fan ran constantly,, all the time ,,, continental breakfast ok not great
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

2/10 Terrible

Sonia

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Its old and outdated, they dont even change the sheets (or they dont wash them properly) there was black mold in the shower and some lamps , its not clean at all
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It was fine; clean, spacious. Not fancy but good value.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Graduation Visit

The bathrooms need bigger towels.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort

Exactly what I paid for

It was no frills, nice place to stay. No hot tub, but had a pool. Breakfast was standard, but no diabetic options whatsoever, and when hotel emptied out after graduation, next day most of the good items at breakfast were no longer available, and I was told breakfast is dependent on how many people are staying in the Inn. Family run, and cleaned, so staff was very nice and helpful. Felt warm and friendly inside, air con worked great. For the price, it was a good deal, but don't expect anything extra. Lastly, it is a bit far from campus but se 16th st runs straight to the stadiums, which makes it an easy drive and convenient. We would stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

4/10 Poor

Laura

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
I did have high expectations coming into an old hotel that had not been updated on decades. Just expected a clean room and a somewhat comfy. When we were checking in a couple people interrupted us and told the manager that they needed their pull out bed sheets changed since there was blood on sheet and it looked like the sheet was washed in dirty water. Manager said he would take care of it. We continued to room. Ours was fine. Clean bed. No shampoo though. No biggie. I’m the 2nd room we pulled back sheets and
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Stephanie, Rogers

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Clean but needs updates throughout. Beds should be the first to be replaced
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Danielle

Liked: Cleanliness
When i asked for a receipt after my stay the guy at the desk wasn't going to give me one. It took a bit for me to get one from him and found out the room was actually more expensive through expedia then it would have been on site. There was an empty bottle of shampoo in our room. The breakfast didnt have a lot to offer. There was mold in the tub
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Philip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Laetitia

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Myleka

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Traveled with family
Quiet and friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

2/10 Terrible

Nate

Traveled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Got in the building and could tell it was under a remodel. Got to the room and there were burn holes in sheets and hairs all over on both mattresses. Did not sleep at this hotel
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Louis

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

10/10 Excellent

Tyler

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025