This hotel is a delight. We stayed over the 4th of July holiday weekend. The front desk staff is bright, professional and courteous. They answered all our questions, and if they did not know an answer they knew where to go to find help. The room was clean and the bed was comfortable. Housekeeping was kind...and even left us extra coffees for the coffeemaker in the room without asking. Restaurants are close by. An Episcopal cathedral, ELCA church and Roman Catholic church are within two blocks of the hotel. This hotel must have been built in the 1960s, as the lobby has a 1960s look and feel to it, which is very interesting. {The sprinkler system was retrofitted, which for a building this size (30-some floors) must have cost a fortune.} My only complaints? $12/day for in-room internet, though the lobby was free...and there was no refrigerator in the room.

Was in town on a leisure trip for one night and booked this hotel via priceline for $55. For people traveling to Des Moines -- large hotels, particularly those downtown, can often be booked for weekend stays for as little as $50 through sites like priceline. While I do not use priceline often, I have booked the Renaissance, West Des Moines Marriott, and Sheraton West Des Moines previously with $50-60 bids and enjoyed my stays very much. Unfortunately, this experience does not rank as highly. Positives: 1. Rock River Restaurant -- very nice bar/restaurant located within the hotel. Quality service and food, relaxing place to enjoy a cocktail. 2. Updated bathroom and bath amenities. The bathroom in our room had recently been renovated complete with grantie countertops, silver faucets, and rainhead type shower. The floor had recently installed travertine tile. 3. Typical Marriott duvet style bedding with comfortable pillows and shams. 4. Nice view from rooms on upper floors. Negatives: 1. During check in the front desk clerk commented rudely on my status as a priceline guest. Yes, I booked through priceline and yes, I managed to save 1/2 off the room rate. Nonetheless, the hotel chose to accept my priceline bid -- if they did not want me as a guest via priceline, then they should discontinue offering rooms through such services. I have never had a hotel comment on how I booked my room -- this is unacceptable. 2. Incorrect Room type. During check in, we requested that we receive a room with a King sized bed. Upon arriving to our room, we discovered we had been given a room with two double beds. The hotel was not booked solid -- I am sure our room type was available. Normally we would complain however since we were staying only one night, we decided to tough it out. 3. Outdated room style and furniture. While the bathroom and bed have receieved updating, the room itself is outdated. The TV, furniture, window treatments, etc. all date to the early 90's. Common areas of the hotel were also showing wear. I expect more out of a Marriott property. 4. Parking is expensive and inconvenient for the Des Moines market. In short, this hotel has the potential to be THE downtown hotel. Having stayed at all the other major hotels in Des Moines, I would recommend the Embassy Suites or Renaissance if staying downtown...you will get better facilities and more value for your money.

The Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel did everything right during our June week-end stay. It is one of the few skyscrapers in the city, with 31 floors and 415 rooms. It is located in the center of downtown a few blocks from theaters, restaurants, and festivals (farmers market, art fairs, etc.). The rooms are spacious (about 25 by 15 feet) with large picture windows overlooking the city and surroundings. Our room was immaculate, and thankfully the entire hotel is smoke free. The d?cor is white with beige accents and appeared relatively new. The TV is an old CRT type but has full cable service and pay per view. The bedding is 5 star luxurious -- ultra fine sheets and pillow covers, a European duvet, and a pillow top mattress. The bathroom is a bit snug (about 8 by 5 feet), but functional with a tub and shower combo, a marble countertop, and upgraded towels and bath amenities. Internet and US phone connectivity is about $13 per day (noon to noon) for unlimited usage. There is a small pool and gym with half a dozen treadmills and half a dozen weight machines. Parking in the city garage across the street is free on week-ends, otherwise it is about $17 (I think) through the hotel. The restaurant has been renamed Rock Creek (it was called Allies). I believe prices went up with the name change, and recently the Des Moines newspaper reviewer suggested that it was fine for expense accounts but better values were available elsewhere (there are numerous restaurants in the nearby Court Street nightlife area). We had dinner at another nearby hotel but did have the Marriott buffet breakfast ($13), which was fine. This hotel participates (sometimes) in price line.com bidding, so we stayed there for half the rack rate (including tax) and found that a very good value.

Spent three nights on business at the Des Moines Marriott. Check-in was a smooth process along with the valet parking. I did think $17 a night for parking was steep for Des Moines since that was the same amount I paid in Memphis two weeks back.. The room and bathroom looked modern and was clean. The revive sheets on the bed were excellent after 10 hours in a conference and, to me, the best benefit that a Marriott room has to offer. The on-site resturant / bar was a nice quiet place to enjoy a drink and meal. I enjoyed breakfast on two occassions and the service was prompt and food very fresh. Check-out was easy as was the delivery of my vehicle from the valets. Beware, their conceiges do push the "free marriott shuttle" they offer for the price of tips to the sites of Des Moines, when in fact, the major sites (Capital, East Village) are within walking distance or covered by the actual free downtown bus line of Des Moines. Overall, a good comfortable place to stay which, in hindsight, was a good value.

I booked a stay here recently on Priceline. I had stayed before so I knew what to expect. Parking was $14 and Internet was $13. Eeek! On the other hand, there is a free shuttle to and from the airport for those who need it, although you are expected to tip the driver. As many have noted, the hotel is slightly dated. But it's comfortable and the beds have "everything washed" bedding. Great location for downtown Des Moines. Given the choice between this hotel and the Savery, I'd pick the latter if the price were the same. But if I could get enough of a better deal on this one, I'd take it.