--- title: "Sonesta Essential Ames, Ames (IA) | StayVersus" description: "Sonesta Essential Ames in Ames (IA): rated 7.8 by guests, 2-star. Amenities, location and nearby alternatives compared side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-12 --- Hotel · ★★ · Sonesta # Sonesta Essential Ames Ames, Ames (IA), United States 7.8 · Good 44 reviews · #14 #14 of 17 in Ames (IA) · 3.4 Location score ## About Sonesta Essential Ames Sonesta Essential Ames is a hotel in Ames, Ames (IA), United States. It holds a 2-star rating. Guests rate it 7.8 out of 10 across 44 reviews. Facilities include swimming pool, free breakfast, gym, free parking, free wi-fi. It is 370 m from the centre of Ames (IA). The nearest airport, Des Moines International Airport (DSM), is 53 km away. - **Type:** Hotel - **Star rating:** ★★ - **Check-in from:** 15:00 - **Check-out until:** 11:00 - **Rooms:** 74 - **Floors:** 2 - **Opened:** 1996 - **Last renovated:** 2025 - **Chain:** Sonesta - **Smoking:** Smoke-free property - **Other stays within 500 m:** 11 1400 South Dayton Place ## How Sonesta Essential Ames scores Better rated than 23% of hotels in Ames (IA) - Guest rating **7.8** - Location **3.4** Ames (IA) average ## Amenities Swimming poolFree breakfastGymFree parkingFree Wi-Fi ### Pool & wellness - Swimming pool - Gym ### Food & drink - Free breakfast ### Internet - Free Wi-Fi ### Parking & transport - Free parking ### In the rooms - Air conditioning ### Policies - Smoke-free Based on the property listing at our booking partner. ## Location - **Location score:** **3.4**/10 - **Walk grade:** **22**/100 Car recommended - **Restaurants & cafés within 500 m:** **4** - **Sights within 1 km:** **0**
Nearest airportDes Moines International Airport (DSM)53 km120 min drive
Distance to the centreAmes (IA)370 m6 min walk
## Sonesta Essential Ames: in detail Sonesta Essential Ames offers top-notch services and amenities, ensuring guests experience utmost comfort. Share your photos and respond to emails at your convenience, thanks to the free Wi-Fi internet access offered by hotel. Visitors can take advantage of complimentary parking directly at the hotel. Traveling with minimal luggage is achievable at Sonesta Essential Ames due to the hotel's laundromat ensuring your garments stay fresh. Room amenities feature daily housekeeping, allowing you to unwind and make the most of your visit. The hotel maintains a completely smoke-free zone, providing a breathable atmosphere. Smoking is limited to specified smoking zones. Each accommodation at Sonesta Essential Ames is thoughtfully created and adorned to provide visitors with a comfortable, home-like atmosphere. In select rooms of the hotel, guests can enjoy the advantage of having air conditioning available for their convenience. Begin your holiday on a high note. At Sonesta Essential Ames, your mornings are greeted with a delightful, free breakfast. Throughout the day and evening, grab a bite to eat from hotel's self-service vending machines whenever you please. Sonesta Essential Ames provides a superb assortment of leisure amenities for guests to enjoy. Each day at hotel, immerse yourself in the invigorating waters of the pool, perfect for a rejuvenating plunge or a series of revitalizing laps. For individuals who don't want to skip their exercise routine, visiting the hotel fitness center ensures you maintain your vitality and wellness. ### Compare ## Compare Sonesta Essential Ames with nearby hotels Similar hotels within 3 km. Open a match-up to see where each one wins. - [Red Roof Inn Ames](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/red-roof-inn-ames-ames-ia/) Hotel ★★ 170 m away 10.0 · [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/red-roof-inn-ames-ames-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia/) - [Park Inn by Radisson, Ames](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/park-inn-by-radisson-ames-ames-ia/) Hotel ★★★ 230 m away 7.5 · [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/park-inn-by-radisson-ames-ames-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia/) - [Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ames](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/microtel-inn-suites-by-wyndham-ames-ames-ia/) Hotel ★★ 240 m away 8.2 · [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/microtel-inn-suites-by-wyndham-ames-ames-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia/) - [Staybridge Suites Ames By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/staybridge-suites-ames-by-ihg-ames-ia/) Hotel ★★★ 270 m away 5.2 · [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia-vs-staybridge-suites-ames-by-ihg-ames-ia/) - [AmericInn by Wyndham Ames](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/americinn-by-wyndham-ames-ames-ia/) Hotel ★★★ 300 m away 7.7 · [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/americinn-by-wyndham-ames-ames-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia/) - [Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Ames, IA](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/country-inn-suites-by-radisson-ames-ia-ames-ia/) Hotel ★★★ 350 m away 7.8 · [Compare](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/country-inn-suites-by-radisson-ames-ia-ames-ia-vs-sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia/) ## Questions about Sonesta Essential Ames ### How do guests rate Sonesta Essential Ames? Sonesta Essential Ames has a guest rating of 7.8 out of 10 from 44 reviews, which is better than 23% of rated hotels in Ames (IA). ### What are the check-in and check-out times at Sonesta Essential Ames? Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is until 11:00. ### Does Sonesta Essential Ames include breakfast? The listing mentions free breakfast. Check the room you book to confirm it is included. ### Does Sonesta Essential Ames have a pool? Yes, Sonesta Essential Ames has a swimming pool. ### Is there parking at Sonesta Essential Ames? Yes, the listing mentions free parking. ### How far is Sonesta Essential Ames from the airport? The nearest airport, Des Moines International Airport (DSM), is 53 km away in a straight line. ### How many rooms does Sonesta Essential Ames have? Sonesta Essential Ames has 74 rooms on 2 floors. Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/sonesta-essential-ames-ames-ia/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/