The fam and I were in town for a 95th birthday party! (Woo! Happy Belated Birthday, Ellen.)…read more Courtyard by Marriott Ames was conveniently located, well priced and offered most everything we were looking for during our short stay. (Check-In is at 3pm, Check-Out is at 11am.) Loved that there is a pool (no hot tub) and a nice workout facility. The rooms were modern with smart TVs (helllllo Netflix), the were well kept and overall comfy-- with AC that could get the room as cool as we wanted and water pressure/hot water that fit the bill. The staff was friendly. There as free wi-fi, too. But the coffee situation was less than ideal. (There weren't even enough kcups for two.) Additionally, I wouldn't really call the restaurant a restaurant-- but it does offer a bar that would hit the spot. Overall, I'd stay at this Courtyard by Marriot again!

This location was typical and consistent of a Marriott Courtyard, one of the reasons why I chose…read moreit. Room felt clean, a few spots could be better but I usually don't stay in the room, just use it to sleep and shower. Used the gym, was sufficient. The mobile app was useless in this location. I still had to go to the desk to finalize my check-in (she had to verify my ID) and I also couldn't check out via the app. I would give the mobile app 1 star for this location. I'll definitely stay here again when visiting my daughter at Iowa State.

I generally liked it a lot. It was conveniently located and was everything I needed in a place to…read morestay. Also the breakfasts were good and the downstairs area was quite nice. The upstairs hallways and rooms were a little disappointing in terms of niceness, but everything I needed was there. I would give it 4 stars based on the above. However, I had some problems with my door code to get in on the first day. When I called to get it worked out, the employee gave me the master code. Obviously, yes, I wanted into the building and my room. But it's never acceptable for a guest at a hotel to have a code for other rooms. If relying on a locking system like this, there needs to be a secure way to solve problems without giving out the master code. For this reason, I have to deduct another star.

We loved our stay here. Very comfortable and close to everything. The host staff were attentive…read more And all the to-go goodies - they thought of everything!

Improved breakfast!! Comfortable bed and nice staff. This…read moreis my go-to hotel in Ames. Love the Filling Station next door -gas, goodies, restaurant, liquor- has a lot and fun variety.

Worst front desk I've ever dealt with. Everytime I approached it for information, she yelled so…read moreloud my wife could hear her in our room. "I'm coming" as if I was a child in trouble with a parent, uncalled for. The vending machines were broken, but would not honor a refund on soda I medically can't drink. I wouldn't recommend this awful hotel to my worst enemy. The Internet doesn't work. This place is garbage!!!! 2 TV channels, so I hope you like as seen on TV ads. or reruns of wheel of fortune. Ridiculous.

Stayed at the Gateway Hotel for the NLCC the first week of November. The conference was also held…read moreat the hotel. As a note, the conference area is under construction but they did a nice job of making sure it didn't impact us (besides s set of closed restrooms). The room was an average hotel room - typical 3 stars. My only complaint was the heating/air in the room. My first night it was too cold in the room but not enough for the heater to be turned on. So I turned the system off only to have another duct to continue to blow freezing air. There is not much around but the on site restaurant (especially if you shuttled in and no access to a car). I wrote a separate review but it was not the best in my opinion.

Love, love, love this hotel. We stayed a night last summer visiting my mom and spent 4 nights this…read moresummer. Great prices and great rooms. Very clean hotel and fantastic customer service. If you are an Iowa State fan you will love this place as they have Iowa State stuff all over. Pictures of campus and athletics. Will definitely be staying here again next time. Didn't have time to try the Iowa Stater but we will next time we are back. Indoor pool is great.

I love this place!…read more I booked two single nights as I am traveling through Ames on my way to/from Nebraska. Granted, it's not a game week and it's probably a slow time of year, but everything about this place has been outstanding . The service was friendly and efficient. The hotel and rooms were clean and contemporary. My room was plenty roomy with a couch and a small mini kitchen. You're not going to make dinner here, but there's a microwave, an apartment sized fridge (not the tiny mini fridge typical of most hotels), quartz countertops , a sink and real dishes. Even a dishwasher. A toaster would be nice. It's perfect for storing your food and frozen items and being able to make a simple meal. My bed was firm and the sheets were soft. Super comfy. I woke up without a stiff back for the first time in days. Breakfast was fresh, hot and very well stocked. I appreciated the dried fruits and fresh berries in addition to the usual eggs, waffles, oatmeal and pastries. They even had almond milk for the 20% of us who can't stomach traditional milk. The only thing lacking was a pitcher of ice water. The hotel also has an area where you can do your own laundry, a small detail that makes a huge difference on a longer trip. They are obviously trying to compete not only with other similar hotels in the area but the numerous Airbnb options that exist in town. I would say they compete very well. I am not sure of the pet policy. I didn't see any furry guests during my stay. That's about the only detail they'd need to make this place perfect. Well, that and fresh, cold water in the lounge area. I would absolutely stay here again. Maybe next time I'll bring my dog.

Decent place to stay right off the highway. Checking in was under whelming as the young man behind…read morethe counter seemed more interested in his phone than service. Besides that, it was clean, comfortable and convenient. Breakfast was decent but get there on time because they start taking it down right on the clock regardless of new people coming in. Spend the night but I recommend treating yourself to breakfast near by at Flippin Jacks. Overall the cleanliness would bring me back again but don't expect great service.

Four of us got rooms on the third floor of the hotel. Rooms were decent but nothing special. The…read moreplace barely covers the meaning of a "full service hotel. No operating restaurant, modest conference facilities and a ratty exercise room.

It's definitely fun to go back to the 90s. This hotel is currently under renovation which is…read moredesperately needed. Look like they are painting the outside and attempting to make the place a little more current. My room was clean. The TV has basic cable (hello 1990s). The pool looks meh. This place is fine. Found it strange the sheets had Hilton tags on them. Probably shouldn't advertise a competitor. At least they were clean.

Do not stay at this Hampton…read more The Hampton Inn & Suites in Ames, IA has a horrendous cancellation policy. I needed to cancel an upcoming stay for ISU graduation, for Friday May 10th and Saturday, May 10th. I reserved this room many weeks ago. Even though I'm a Hilton Gold member, the cancellation policy required a 21 day advance notice. At the time, I was lucky enough to get the reservation, since the hotel was filling up fast, so I didn't take this policy as seriously as I should have. This Hampton has ben sold out for these dates for weeks. The rate was nearly $400 per day. Right now, I'm out over $800 for this stay. I made this reservation for my son-in-law; this past Sunday, (May 5th), I found out he could not attend. I called the Ames Hampton Monday and was unable to cancel my reservation. I spoke to the desk clerk, a Hilton worldwide reservation agent, and finally, to Jeremy, the General Manager of this Hampton. Jeremy was polite, but immovable. It appears he has no choice in the matter. I asked him: if I were killed in an auto accident on the way to Ames, would my family still eat the cancellation fee? I checked this Hampton's cancellation policy by making some additional reservations online there. Most often, the cancellation policy only required a few days' notice. So: for these very expensive nights over graduation weekend - whose rates rival a stay in midtown Manhattan - the cancellation policy is atrocious. The hotel knows they could fill this room in a heartbeat because the demand is so high. This Hampton franchise is owned by Patriot Hospitality, which in turn is locally owned by Biren Patel. I wrote him and Jeremy an email asking to waive the cancellation fee. To date, I have not received a response. Mr. Patel is ignoring me. I'm a veteran; for someone to name their business "Patriot" and then force their customers into a ridiculous cancellation policy with an exorbitant high rate is anything but patriotic - it's unbridled greed.

Clean rooms and a friendly, helpful front desk staff - that's all I need in a hotel, and this place…read moremet my needs. In room amenities include a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and a nice TV. There are plenty of electrical outlets and USB charging ports to keep the batteries topped off on all my electronic gadgets. So, yeah, they got that goin' for 'em. Each room also includes a pullout sofa sleeper. They have a decent fitness room and an indoor pool for those cold Iowa days and nights. One little thing really impressed me. I haven't seen this before, but one day when I had the do not disturb sign on my door, they left a package outside my door with some clean towels and a restock of the shampoo, soap, etc. I thought that was really cool. ================ What's keeping them from five full stars? Well, not everything is perfect, but what in life is? These aren't deal breakers for me, but I thought I'd share for you weary travelers. The breakfast (like all the Hampton Inns) sucks. These buffet style omelets just don't make any sense to me. I've had them at other Hampton Inns, so I knew better than to try one. Omelets are NOT meant for a buffet - come on Mr. Hampton, get it together! The other thing to note is that you can hear your upstairs neighbors trouncing around above you. It's one of those hotels with loud floors above you. I could even hear the vacuum when housekeeping vacuumed the room above me. ================ I would stay here again, but if this isn't your brand of choice, there are five more hotels all within a stone's throw (and on the same side of the highway), and just as convenient to get to as this one, so do your research and take your pick.

Needing curb appeal then drive up to the Hilton Garden of Ames. The landscape is aesthetically…read moreappealing. There are SIX Diamond Spaces with front door access in a secure environment. The rooms are large with the remodeled furnishings being well maintained. The morning buffet is standard, but still somewhat tasty. The staff is friendly and very professional in representing the Hilton Brand.

Great stay so far! The property is very clean, well-kept, and exactly what you hope for in a…read moreHilton. The front desk staff was super nice and welcoming -- they made check-in smooth and even upgraded my room (love when Diamond status comes through ). It's always such a good feeling when staff recognize loyalty and go the extra mile. Also a big plus: absolutely no issues traveling with my service animal. Everyone was kind, respectful, and accommodating -- which makes a world of difference. Overall, a comfortable, friendly, and easy stay. Would definitely come back next time I'm in Ames!

Stayed here 1 night and had a fine stay. The rooms were clean enough but were dimly lit. All the…read moreusual amenities were supplied. Our room auxiliary lock was wiggly which was a little concerning but no issues during our stay. They offer a basic breakfast, nothing fancy but a nice amenity.

This hotel was great!! The hotel was very clean and the staff was extremely friendly. The beds and…read morepillows were very comfortable and the sheets were very soft. I actually asked when we checked out if they sell the pillows and sheets because I would use them in my own home. My only 2 complaints would be that the walls are extremely thin so we could hear people in the hallway and the pool water was very cold.