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Sonesta Essential Ames

2.0 star property

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

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
$69
includes taxes & fees
Jan 4 - Jan 5, 2026

Explore the area

View in a map
1400 S Dayton Place, Ames, IA, 50010
  • Place, Ames Dog Park
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Main Street Cultural District
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Iowa State University
    ‪6 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 1 King Bed

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

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

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 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 with Sofa bed

Memory foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout drapes

Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed

  • Sleeps 3
  • 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
  • Limited onsite self parking

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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. 314 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 338 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 198 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 88 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 62 out of 1000 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

6/10 Okay

Shawn

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Shower was very very worn which did not match the rest of the updated bathroom. Nice flooring instead of carpet which gives the room a cleaner feeling. Beds were squeaky as other reviews mentioned however they were very comfortable and I slept well. Breakfast was decent and the area was kept very clean and well stocked. All in all, not a bad stay, replace the worn shower walls and it would be better.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Jodi

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Luisa

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms are dirty! Walked in and the toilet seat was gross. Bathroom mirror was written on and housekeeping came to clean it. Tired to show me it doesn't wipe off but it did. So she kept cleaning it up. There was a plastic bag over the fire alarm over the bed which is weird and unsafe
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Katie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Denise

Traveled with partner
Clean room
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

John

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice pet friendly stay

We choose this home because we have a small (7#) pet. I really liked the fact that the room had no carpet. All engineered vinyl flooring. The disadvantage of that is that it's noisy. Not a criticism of the hotel, just a downside of non carpeted hotel rooms. The hotel needed a little TLC. Nothing horrible. The stainless steel grab bar in the shower was literally broken off the wall on one end, which is definitely a safety issue. The king size bed was clean but hard. I think this hotel was a GREAT value. Much cheaper than neighboring properties and the additional charge for having a power was only $15. If they would just do a little maintenance, their start rating would improve greatly.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Robin

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Kristen

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Everything was as expected
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Natasha

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness

Bed Sheets

They can make sure the sheets are clean because there was black stuff in the sheets other then that it was good an there was someone else hair in the bed on the sheets.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Naykelie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Pet friendly but with a fee
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

James

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our room was clean, bed was fairly comfortable, and the breakfast was above average for a budget friendly hotel. The hotel staff was friendly as well. Overall, we were pleased with our stay and would stay again if needed. The motel fit our needs and our budget.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Caleb

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The room was extremely clean. I would stay here again. Breakfast was sufficient.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Dave

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
It’s a nice economy hotel. Their bedframes are a thin metal platform style that make a bunch of noise and you get woken up by squeaks when you roll over.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Decent hotel
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Carol

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
No complaints
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chance

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Paul

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Armando

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
old property no update
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Jeanne

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
First room we checked into had a moldy lampshade and mold on the bathroom wall.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Crystal

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Staff was extremely friendly. They are in the process of making upgrades to the property. Could be cleaner but not bad when your on a budget and for a quick stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Sofia

Traveled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Mohammad at the front desk was a highlight. He was very friendly over the phone when I asked about checking in late, and he was very friendly when I actually did come for check in and at breakfast. Our actual room was a bit disappointing— there were stains on our sheets and blankets, and our shower curtain rod was falling off the wall. Also, they did not bother to remove the old Red Roof Inn branding that was posted in our room. The breakfast was also just okay— they had oatmeal out but no heat-safe bowls to make it in, and they had no drinking water out either. The price was good though so I appreciated that. Overall this place was just okay to stay in.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Marco, Oronoco

TV was not working. Otherwise
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025