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05Apr2025Select date
Check-out
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Rooms and Guests2 Guests, 1 Room
Key details

About the Hotel

5000 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale, Iowa, United States of America, 50322

Ramada By Wyndham Des Moines Tropics Resort & Conference Ctr, a 3-star family resort, features an 18000-square-foot indoor water park with complimentary passes for overnight stays, a 10000-square-foot conference center, and a 24-hour front desk with ATM services.

Modern Room Configurations

166 air-conditioned rooms at Ramada offer refrigerators and flat-screen TVs. Select accommodations include poolside suites or upgraded units with jetted hot tubs, while some rooms feature seating areas.

Resort Dining Options

Castaways Bar and Grill serves casual meals in a resort setting, complemented by a tiki bar and poolside eatery for beverages and light bites.

Waterpark Business Center

The water park features two 160-foot waterslides, a 40-foot pirate ship in a zero-depth entry pool, lap pool, and adults-only hot tub. Six meeting rooms accommodate up to 350 banquet guests.

Strategic City Location

Ramada Tropics Resort & Conference Center Des Moines sits within a 10-minute drive of Buccaneer Arena and Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, with Des Moines International Airport 12.5 miles away.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals
King Room
Max:
5 persons
295 sq. feet 
Bed options:
1 King Size Bed
Coffee machine
Heating
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Deluxe King Room
Max:
5 persons
295 sq. feet 
Bed options:
1 King Size Bed
Coffee machine
Heating
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Queen Room Mobility accessible
Max:
5 persons
295 sq. feet 
Bed options:
1 Double bed
Coffee machine
Heating
Check Prices
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Price and Room Availability Calendar

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Getting around

Check out the full range of transport modes

City Center
Urbandale 1.8 mi
Airports
Des Moines International (DSM) 10.2 mi
Boone Municipal (BNW) 37.8 mi

What our guests says about facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences
What’s included

General

  • No smoking on site
  • Wi-Fi
  • Free parking
  • Safe deposit box
  • 24-hour reception
  • Express check-in/ -out
  • Pets allowed
  • Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
  • Wheelchair access
  • Security
  • Elevator
  • ATM/Cash machine
  • Vending machines
  • Smoke detectors
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Key card access

Sports & Fitness

  • Fitness center
  • Bowling
  • Golf course

Services

  • Laundry
  • Stores/Commercial services
  • Welcome drink

Dining

  • Restaurant
  • Poolside snack bar

Business

  • Meeting/ Banquet facilities
  • Fax/Photocopying

Children

  • Children's menu
  • Children's pool
  • Water slides
  • Game room

Facilities for people with disabilities

  • Toilet for disabled

Spa & Leisure

  • Plunge pool
  • Indoor swimming pool
  • Aqua park
  • Live entertainment
  • Jacuzzi

Room features

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Tea and coffee facilities
  • Ironing facilities

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries

Media

  • Flat-screen TV

Room decor

  • Carpeted floor
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Location

5000 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale, Iowa, United States of America, 50322
Map view
5000 Merle Hay Road, Urbandale, Iowa, United States of America, 50322
Nearby
Trestle to Trestle Trail
3400 ft
American Reading Academy
3600 ft
Restaurants
Bandit Burrito
4100 ft
5340 Merle Hay Rd
Sonic Drive-In
3900 ft
5350 Merle Hay Road

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.
42%
were satisfied with the hotel and would gladly return
5.0/10
Guest rating
Rooms
5.0
Location
5.0
Service
5.0
Dining
5.0
Guest reviews
5.0/10
based on 5 reviews
5.3
5.3/10 based on 315 reviews
Steven
United States of America, December  2024
5.0/10

I had a challenging experience during my stay, primarily due to the poor service and outdated facilities. Although the hotel offers a pool area and has some friendly staff members, the rooms felt neglected and the dining options were limited. Overall, I was left frustrated by the lack of responsiveness and cleanliness.

Rooms
5.0
The rooms were in disrepair with stained furniture and issues like broken tables and ill-fitting bed sheets. I rated them a 3 for cleanliness.
Service
5.0
The service was lacking, particularly at the front desk where staff seemed disinterested and unresponsive to my requests for assistance. I give it a rating of 4.
Location
5.0
The location was decent, but I was disappointed by the maintenance of the facilities, notably the pool area which was dirty and poorly managed. I'd rate it a 5.
Dining
5.0
Dining options were quite limited, and the breakfast experience was subpar, with minimal offerings that left much to be desired. Rating: 4.
Facilities
5.0
The facilities, including the pool area, were outdated and needed significant renovations to meet guest expectations. It deserves a 3.
Jennifer
United States of America, December  2024
5.0/10

The hotel has some family-friendly features, especially with the waterpark that many kids enjoyed, but overall cleanliness and service leave a lot to be desired. The check-in was not organized, and there were issues with the dining experience that impacted our stay. While the location might cater to families, the facilities seem to be aging and require attention.

Rooms
5.0
The rooms had a distinct mildew smell and seemed unclean, with worn furniture and visible damage. Not ideal for a comfortable stay.
Service
5.0
Service was lacking, especially at the restaurant where our concerns were ignored, and my daughter's safety was not monitored adequately.
Location
5.0
The hotel is in a convenient location for families, but the surrounding area and pool facilities need maintenance and improvements.
Dining
5.0
Dining was disappointing, with reheated food that was not freshly prepared, leaving us unsatisfied during our stay.
Facilities
5.0
The facilities, particularly the waterpark, showed signs of disrepair and didn't meet safety standards that families expect.
Mark
United States of America, December  2024
5.6/10

Our stay had its ups and downs. The water park was a major hit with the kids, and the food at the restaurant was quite good. However, the experience was marred by some cleanliness issues and noise disturbances from unattended dogs. While we appreciated the family-friendly atmosphere, the overall maintenance really needs attention.

Rooms
5.0
The rooms were clean but felt damp due to humidity from the pool area, which wasn't ideal. We encountered some bugs that definitely affected our comfort.
Service
5.0
The response to our concerns wasn't very satisfactory. Staff seemed overwhelmed and it felt like they were more concerned with talking to each other rather than attending to guest issues.
Location
6.0
The hotel's location is family-friendly, especially for smaller children, but can get quite loud, especially with local crowds.
Dining
7.0
Dining options were decent, and the food in the restaurant was quite enjoyable, but it was still an extra expense.
Facilities
6.0
The water park is a fun feature, but the overall cleanliness in the pool area needs significant improvement.
Fred
United States of America, December  2024
5.2/10

The hotel has a fun water park that kids enjoy, and the staff were generally responsive and friendly. However, the condition of the hotel leaves much to be desired, especially when it comes to the aging furnishings and dining experience. Many areas are in need of maintenance and upgrades, which impacts the overall value considering the prices charged during the weekend.

Rooms
5.0
The rooms are quite outdated with worn furnishings, and safety is a concern due to exposed outlets and a lack of childproof features. Overall, the size and feel left a lot to be desired.
Service
6.0
While the staff were responsive and friendly, the dining service felt understaffed, and it took a while to get basic needs met during breakfast.
Location
5.0
The location is decent, but many parts of the hotel, especially the pool area, were under construction and not fully accessible.
Dining
5.0
The breakfast buffet was functional but lacked variety and quality, which was disappointing compared to similar hotels.
Facilities
6.0
The facilities, specifically the pool area, were decent but the temperature of the water was too cold for comfort, and some arcade games were broken.
Laura
United States of America, October  2024
5.0/10

The hotel has a fun indoor waterpark that kids really enjoyed, but the overall upkeep of the facility is lacking. The rooms felt cramped and outdated, which made our stay less comfortable than we had hoped. Dining at the hotel left much to be desired, with disappointing food quality and service during breakfast. Overall, while there are fun aspects for families, the lack of attention to cleanliness and maintenance was a definite downside.

Rooms
5.0
The rooms were tiny and outdated, making it challenging to stay comfortably with kids. We found several safety hazards like exposed outlets and poorly designed bathrooms, which were very concerning.
Service
5.0
The service was disappointing, with staff being hard to find when we needed assistance. The breakfast experience was particularly frustrating due to the lack of attentive service.
Location
5.0
The hotel's location is convenient for heading to local attractions, but the environment seems to be deteriorating and many areas require maintenance.
Dining
5.0
Dining at the hotel was quite underwhelming. The breakfast buffet offered limited options and the quality was poor, making other local dining options seem much more appealing.
Facilities
5.0
While the indoor waterpark has a lot of potential for fun, the pool quality and cleanliness need significant improvement to be enjoyable.
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Rooms and Guests2 Guests, 1 Room