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3.5
#18 of 22 hotels in Ames
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Our pet-friendly Econo Lodge hotel in Ames, IA near Iowa State University is an easy stop on the road where you can find a great place to stay, all at a great rate. Enjoy these popular Iowa destinations near our discount hotel in Ames: Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum, Ames Municipal Airport, Reiman Gardens, and North Grand Mall. Make travel a little easier on everyone by taking advantage of these amenities at our hotel which include a computer with Internet and copy and fax services so you can get work done, in addition to: Free continental breakfast, Indoor heated pool, Guest laundry, Popcorn machine, and Sauna. Your inviting guest room includes a flat-screen TV, desk, coffee maker and hair dryer. This Ames hotel cares about the environment and has taken active steps to support green hotel practices. This Econo Lodge hotel in Ames allows you to stay on budget so you can focus on the important reasons you travel. Book now!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Booked 2 rooms for my folks to stay during June, 2012. Knowing that we would be busy and only needing a place to sleep, we decided to try this Econo Lodge. Crossed our fingers and hoped we would not be disappointed! We were not disappointed. Very satisfied.
Keep in mind that this is an older hotel and the rooms are a bit smaller, and it is far from roomy --but - from what I could tell, it was clean, clean, clean. Hallways and common areas well maintained. Beds, bathrooms, pool area - nice and clean. Front desk area, inviting and clean.
Parking lot area, well lit and safe feeling. The only negative thing was that at 8:20 am, the breakfast was all gone, which was a bit disappointing since it was supposed to go until 9 am. They should have looked at how booked the hotel was and planned better for food, but - who knows, there could have been rooms full of teens that over indulged and ate all the food. Who knows, but it was disappointing since it was only a continental breakfast. Panera close by so we got bagels. Again, you pay bigger price for bigger breakfast, so this wasn't a huge issue, just disappointing.
TV worked, A/C worked - room was great. Had a fridge and microwave in it too.
Will stay again because it was cheap, clean and staff very pleasant.
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Date of stay: June 2012
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was in town alone on business, and booked a room here because it seemed to be one of the last available ahead of an approaching snowstorm. Although I was somewhat leery of what I might find coming in, I must admit I was very satisfied. While I sometimes find that when the management is from a different culture than mine, they may not grasp what it takes to give me a satisfying experience, that was not the case here. The friendliness and helpfulness of the staff was exceptional, and my room was clean and reasonably comfortable. The pool room was simple and lacked a hot tub, but the pool was larger than expected and at a comfortable temperature. I swam for about a half hour (around 9 PM) and had the pool all to myself the entire time. The pool was somewhat isolated at the end of the building, so security is a potential issue --- I felt a bit of a need to stay alert myself, so I would be reluctant to send my daughter to the pool without supervision. They do not have a fitness room, but the breakfast options were relatively expansive for a budget motel. They offered waffles and biscuits & gravy in addition to the normal toasts and cereals. One small downside was that the juice machine was out of orange juice, so I had to settle for a "HI-C" type of drink instead. Overall, though, I was very satisfied, especially for the price paid.
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Date of stay: February 2013
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Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel is very clean, the room was spacious and beds super comfortable. For the price you pay it is a good deal. Breakfast, well, continental but my grandkids were thrilled for they made their own waffles. I think on weekends they should extend the breakfast time, sort of start and end a little bit later, like from 7 to 10 instead of 6-9 AM. On weekends people usually sleeps more. Ames is a small city so everything is close, restaurants, shops, etc. Overall, a good experience.
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Date of stay: July 2012
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked my hotel last year at $89 a night, however, I got a phone call a day before arriving and was told my CC was wrong. I re-read my information and it all matched. They have no elevator, towels are nasty, free breakfast ends at 9 AM and the rooms are horrible. Broken window, the AC is so loud, no toiletries, no coffee maker, blow dryer does not work - just for show on the wall. no iron, the bed is not a pillow top, the pillows are flat as pancakes, no carpet on the floor and it was so nasty to walk on. Not to mention the Refrige did not work and the list goes on. I understand George Strait was in town but I should not have to be overcharged for a room that is a complete lie online and you show $89 a night for a King and I paid $289 not including tax. Outdated hotel that really should stay at the rates, not overcharge people who will never come back to Ames, IA.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Don't book here, you will get overcharged from $89 to 324.24 a night and the advertising is all...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relations Manager, General Manager at Econo Lodge
Responded May 28, 2024
Dear I9951UIjenniferg, Thank you for taking the time to complete our online survey regarding your recent stay at our hotel. I am disappointed to hear that you were so dissatisfied with our accommodations and services and that our rating for your experience is so low. On behalf of our entire team, I would like to apologize for failing to exceed your expectations. We value your opinion and suggestions for improvement as these comments help us to improve upon the guest experience at our hotel. Your voice is important to us, and we will be using the feedback you provided to make improvements to ensure we offer an exceptional experience for our guests in the future. We hope to see you again someday and to transform your opinion of our hotel and service.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Never have I walked into a room and felt like I needed a shower because the room was so dirty, yet I didn't want to use the restroom because it was just as dirty as the rest of the room. Our room smelled, the bedspread had stains, the sheets on both beds had hair. We asked for new sheets but didn't get new bottom sheets. One set of clean sheets were stained from someone having intercourse. The bathroom floor had hair and dirt over them and were sticky. The bathroom did have towels, shampoo & conditioner but no hand soap. The walls in the room had stains as well as a calendar pinned to it. The chair was stained. We cleaned things down with clorex whites and they showed dirt. The tv had a scratch. The door had the basic lock only. We would not recommend!!!
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relations Manager, General Manager at Econo Lodge
Responded Jul 15, 2024
Hi 466msc, Thank you for letting us know about the inconveniences that you encountered during your recent stay at our hotel. We want to thank you for sharing your experience, though we are very sorry the cleanliness of your room wasn't up to our typical standards, and we apologize for the negative impression we gave you. We will use your comments as a training opportunity with our housekeeping team. We will make sure to address the cleanliness issues you noted, and we hope you will allow us another opportunity to impress you should you return to the area.
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I recently stayed at the hotel and there was bed bugs in my room. I was offered to move to a different room but I honestly didn't want to stay in the hotel. However it was really late and the guy behind the front desk seemed he was having trouble with the computer. I ended up in a smaller room with stains on the sheets. Breakfast was ok. I was surprise they wash their dishes in the sink though. Very unappealing.
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Date of stay: January 2014
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Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bansri A, Manager at Econo Lodge
Responded Jan 30, 2014
Thank you for taking your valuable time out and providing us with your feedback .I apologize for your experience, I did research on your case and unfortunately we did not find any such complaint reported to front desk or housekeeping staff during the reported stay period. However, you would be glad to know that we did conduct through check through a professional pest control company and we did not find any problem with any of our recently rented rooms. We take our customers comfort and safety very seriously and follow all health rules and regulations diligently. We definitely want to make this right with you and would like to get more information from you, please feel free to contact me directly through Motel Phone or via Email : Econolodgeames@gmail.com
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Room 136 was our first room assignment. Both beds were disgusting as shown in pictures. Were reassigned to room 207. Clean-ish. 207 tub drain did not drain. Ankle deep in water after only few seconds of shower starting. Asked management to address. Said they would. Same issue next morning, was not addressed. Both rooms smelled horrible. Do not recommend at all.
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had very low expectations for our stay here and even those weren't low enough. We were in Ames for a graduation and never would have chosen this motel ourselves, but family members had reserved a block of rooms, and we felt it would be rude to stay elsewhere. As you read this, please bear in mind that our two-night stay cost more than $300.
First, although the rooms had been reserved for months, the staff gave away one of our rooms because a party arrived who couldn't handle stairs (the motel has no elevator). So, some of our family were shuffled to the second floor, splitting up our group.
Then, when handing me our key cards, the woman at the front desk loudly declared my room number for all to hear––a potential safety issue no matter where you are.
When we opened the door to our room, we literally took a step back because it stunk so badly. The musty/stale smell was almost overpowering, so we immediately opened our window. Unfortunately that wasn't an option for the entire stay because we were on the ground floor and the motel was next to a busy road––so safety and noise issues prevailed. The smell actually woke me up a couple of times because it permeated everything. I must add that it was our choice to stay near family and not to ask for a different room. Given that it was graduation weekend, we assumed it would have been difficult to accommodate a request for a different room anyway.
Then we had a difficult time getting our suitcase into the room because the carpet was rolling up in front of it. Not good first impressions.
When I washed my face, the washcloth had two quarter-sized holes in it. How do you fold something and miss that? And speaking of thin...if there is such a thing as ½-ply toilet paper and tissues, that’s what they use.
I will say that the front desk staff were helpful in getting an iron and ironing board to our room. However, the first iron didn't work. Also, given that the woman who brought the ironing board was looking for a place to hang it, we figured some rooms must have come already equipped with an ironing board and iron. We also discovered some members of our group had mini refrigerators. We didn't and wished we had. This hit-or-miss amenities set-up is poor business.
When we went to breakfast the next morning, I asked a housekeeping staff for a "do not disturb" sign because we didn't have one and we didn't want anyone in the room while we were eating. Breakfast was OK––mostly carbs.
It was inconvenient to have breakfast end at 9:00, especially on weekends. That might be nice for staff to get it over and done, but several of our party arrived very late the previous evening, so making it to breakfast on time was difficult.
Our family group remained in the breakfast room until about 10:00. We went to our room, changed clothes, and left at 10:45, making sure to take the "do not disturb" sign off the door. I left a tip for the housekeeping staff and placed it by the note asking them to see if they could do something about the terrible smell. (It seemed to be exacerbated by the air conditioning unit.)
We got back at about 2:30 to change our clothes again. The room still hadn't been made up, but we figured it was a busy graduation weekend, so surely they'd clean the room and address the stench problem later that day.
At the graduation party, some of us began comparing our experiences and everyone said their rooms stunk, so we began to suspect we would just have to live with it.
Imagine our surprise when we got back at 8:00 and the room still hadn't been cleaned. My husband told the front desk staff. The response was “it was a hectic weekend,” and they asked if we'd had a "do not disturb" sign out. We had––until 10:45––and the housekeeping staff stayed until 1:00. They just plain messed up. We were offered $10 off our bill to make up for it. When my husband said that was not satisfactory, he was told the only option was to speak to the manager the next morning.
When we got up to leave the next morning, the manager still hadn't arrived, so no one had any power to do anything. Granted, we left at 7:00 (skipping breakfast and opting to get something decent on the road), but if a business insists that guests have to have breakfast done by 9:00, then either a manager should be there plenty early or employees should be empowered to provide customer satisfaction.
When we got home, we washed every article of clothing we had––even the unused ones in the suitcase––to get rid of the smell. We were extremely unhappy with the experience and will never stay there again, even if it means not being close to family.
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Date of stay: May 2014
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was with a community college football team and we stayed at the Econo Lodge in Ames and I really liked the hotel the one, thing I wish was the tv was more clear to see but that is ok stayed for one night, If I am in the area I would stay at the Econo Lodge in Ames again.
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Date of stay: September 2018
Value
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Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I will never ever stay at this hotel due to the way I was treated. This is the first time I have ever submitted a review in 40 years. And I have many many more trips to make to Ames which I will book anywhere else but here.
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Date of stay: May 2018Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Ames area.
PRICE RANGE
₱3,569 - ₱5,098 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
heartland hotel ames
LOCATION
United StatesIowaAmes
NUMBER OF ROOMS
85
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
