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Sonesta Essential Ames

2.0 star property

Photo gallery for Sonesta Essential Ames

Memory-foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout curtains
Exterior
Memory-foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout curtains
Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub
Indoor pool

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
1400 S Dayton Place, Ames, IA, 50010
  • Place, Ames Dog Park
    ‪4 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 curtains

Room, 1 King Bed

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

View all photos for Room, 2 Queen Beds

Memory-foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout curtains

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 curtains

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 curtains

Room, 1 King Bed, Roll-in Shower

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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

Memory-foam beds, desk, laptop workspace, blackout curtains

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 curtains

Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Single Sofa Bed

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About the area

Ames

Located in Ames, Sonesta Essential Ames is in a rural location, within a 5-minute drive of Cinemark Ames Movies 12 and Ames Dog Park. .This family-friendly hotel is 3.9 mi (6.3 km) from Iowa State University and 2.4 mi (3.9 km) from Main Street Cultural District.

What's nearby

  • Ames Dog Park - 4 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Main Street Cultural District - 4 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Iowa State University - 6 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Jack Trice Stadium - 6 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Reiman Gardens - 6 min drive - 8.0 km

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Panera Bread - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Hickory Park - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Sonesta Essential Ames

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.

Make yourself at home in one of the 75 guestrooms featuring microwaves and LED televisions. Your room comes with a memory foam bed. Cable programming and video-game consoles are provided for your entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations with rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries.
Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities including an indoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. This hotel also features complimentary wireless internet access, a television in a common area, and a vending machine.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.
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 transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • RV/bus/lorry parking on site
  • Limited on-site 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 centre

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
  • Lift (100 centimetre wide door)
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (91 centimetre high)

More

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

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

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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
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. 320 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 329 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 198 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 90 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 63 out of 1000 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.4/10

Amenities

7.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jodi, Hoyt Lakes

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean. Check in was quick and easy and staff were very kind.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Dawson

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Toni

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Was very helpful when the heat wasn't working moved me to a room with great heat!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Sapna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Staff courteous and it was clean, basic, no frills, good for 1 night
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Denise

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
clean
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

2/10 Terrible

John

Did not book stay at hotel
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

8/10 Good

Laurel

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

4/10 Poor

John

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was cold / bathroom sink very low water pressure / grab handles in shower not attached to wall ceiling had black marks / bed felt like springs were coming out metal base of bed made noise every time you shift. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. The undisclosed construction and the smells.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Harry

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
A room to sleep in
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Soechun

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love the free breakfest and variety or chooses and the ac worked good as well as the shower, enjoyed my stay and had excellent service
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Daniel

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

8/10 Good

John

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
staff was very nice
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Lyle

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness
There was no worker at the front desk- waited for over 5 minutes. The hotel is average. You get what you pay for. Nothing great.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Holly

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Gross out side and in side.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Mary

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stains all over the sheets and pillows.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

William

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Bruce

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service
This property is fine for a place to crash over night for a "guys trip" or similar, but would not use for a trip with my family, just due to general cleanliness and location. Bathrooms showed signs of light mold on caulking and around the tub, but "touch" surfaces were clean. Staff was very friendly and helpful (1st room had issue with AC unit and they quickly got me moved to another room).
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marvin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was clean. The front desk was helpful and breakfast was good
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Elahe

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

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

Travelled 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