Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

3 stars
5000 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50322
Hotel Overview
Reviewer score
3.8
out of 5
63 reviews
Nice water park

Kids gone wild..... Great kid fun for the family Nice water slide. Good food. See full review

  • Dirtshark
  • 24 Mar 2012
Age of facility beginning to show

There were tears in the room carpeting which was also frayed by the bathroom door. The pool area... See full review

  • 7 Oct 2011
The Ramada Tropics Resort and Conference Center Des Moines is located off Interstate 80/35 at Exit 131. We are Des Moines only Water park Hotel. Our hotel is conveniently located to serve the communities of Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, West Des Moines, and Urbandale. The Ramada Tropics Resort and Conference Center Des Moines features two 160 foot 2-story high speed waterslides, pirate ship with four additional waterslides and a beached boat slide, lap pool, game pool and huge hot tub. All standard guest rooms receive 4 complimentary water park passes and two-room suites receive 6 complimentary water park passes. Additional passes may be purchased at the front desk. Enjoy your favorite food or beverage in Castaways Bar and Grill or at our tropical Tiki Bar. We also feature a large arcade, huge fitness room with new state of the art equipment, business center and Treasure Chest Gift Shop. Reserve our ballroom or meeting space for your next event in Des Moines. All Des Moines area attractions are only minutes from the Ramada. The most popular tourist attractions are Iowa State Capitol, Prairie Meadows Race Track, Adventure land Amusement Park, Iowa Event Center, Drake University, Living History Farms, Wells Fargo Arena and Iowa State Fair Grounds. Our newly renovated tropical guest rooms feature 37 Inch flat screen TVs, refrigerator, microwave, free high speed internet, new plush beds and bedding, in-room safes and over 50 cable channels.

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Hotel Map

Area description
Shopping district

Amenities

  • 24 Hour Front Desk
  • Accessible facilities
  • Adjoining Rooms
  • Air Conditioned
  • AM/FM Alarm Clock
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Coffee Maker in Room
  • Conference Facilities
  • Desk with Lamp
  • Exercise Gym
  • Express Check In
  • Fitness Center or Spa
  • Fitness Room
  • Free Local Telephone Calls
  • Free Parking
  • High Speed Internet
  • Ice Machine
  • In Room Movies
  • Indoor Pool
  • International Direct Dial
  • Internet Access
  • Ironing Board
  • Meeting/Banquet Facilities
  • Microwave
  • Multilingual
  • No Pets Allowed
  • Outdoor Parking
  • Over Sized Rooms
  • Pool
  • Porters
  • Refrigerator
  • Restaurant
  • Safe Deposit Box
  • Security
  • Sofa Bed
  • Tennis
  • TV Remote Control
  • Vending Machines
  • Wake-up Service
  • Wheel Chair Access

Hotel Policies

Check-in:
04:00 PM
Check-out:
12:00 PM

Terms and conditions

Extra charges may apply for children. Incidental charges, such as room service, are not included in the quoted rate.

The amenities and/or facilities may not be located at the hotel, but within a reasonable distance, and additional charges may apply for use. All information has been provided by this hotel and not by ebookers

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Guest Reviews (63)

Ratings and reviews for Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Overall score

3.8 / 5
63 out of 63
Amenities:
3.9
Room cleanliness:
4.1
Hotel staff:
3.9
Room comfort:
4.2
Location:
4.1
Value:
3.9

75% would recommend to a friend.

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Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
Dirtshark
Omaha
24 Mar 2012

Nice water park

Kids gone wild..... Great kid fun for the family Nice water slide. Good food.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
4
Room cleanliness:
4
Hotel staff:
3
Room comfort:
5
Location:
3
Value:
3
Sightseeing tip: Short walk from hotel

Cccvv

Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

3
Business
Muscatine, IA, USA
7 Oct 2011

Age of facility beginning to show

There were tears in the room carpeting which was also frayed by the bathroom door. The pool area does not allow for much swimming. More an area to just get wet. All pools were shallow except hot tub which was deeper. Arm band was required for the pool area. Missed having complimentary breakfast included with stay.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
2
Room cleanliness:
3
Hotel staff:
3
Room comfort:
3
Location:
4
Value:
3
Trip purpose:

Business

Shopping tip: Short drive from hotel

Close to the Merle Hay Shopping mall.

Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
Mom of 4
Kansas
18 Jul 2011

Fantastic!

We stayed in a pool side room with 1 adult and 4 children ranging from 3 to 17. I was a little worried due to how inexpensive it was but it was very clean and roomy. The bathrooms were spotless. And the water park area was fantastic! The slides and pirate ship kept all 4 of the kids busy for hours. It was only 10 minutes from AdventureLand but 1/2 the cost of the closer hotels and so much, much better (speaking from experience)

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
5
Room cleanliness:
4
Hotel staff:
5
Room comfort:
4
Location:
4
Value:
5
Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

5
Traveling for Fun
Illinois
16 Jul 2011

Fantastic hotel at a great price

This was a great hotel at a very reasonable price for what amenities were included! The water park was fun and not overcrowded. The room was immaculate and very comfortable. It is very easy to get to off the interstate and centrally located to the activities that we had planned around the area. Made for a very enjoyable stay in Des Moines!

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
5
Room cleanliness:
5
Hotel staff:
5
Room comfort:
5
Location:
5
Value:
5
Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
Mom
Lincoln Nebraska
14 Jul 2011

Good for the price

The waterpark was nice. More for younger people than adults. Reserved a room with 2 queen beds but got a room with one bed and a pull out sofa.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
4
Room cleanliness:
4
Hotel staff:
4
Room comfort:
4
Location:
4
Value:
4
Dining tip: In Hotel

The restaurant was expensive and they don't know how to cook steak. Otherwise it was good.

Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
Lyions Den
Greeley, NE
30 Jun 2011

Our 3rd Anniversary

This was the second year we stayed here. We really enjoy the hotel. We were there to celebrate our 3rd anniversary and go to Adventureland. The only complaint was that this time there were so many guests. The hot tub was always full so we couldn't get in it and the "lifeguards" were on there cell phones texting and not paying attention and I almost broke my foot due to a kid standing at the end of the waterslide. Other than that we had a blast.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
5
Room cleanliness:
5
Hotel staff:
5
Room comfort:
5
Location:
5
Value:
4
Money-saving tip: Not Applicable

Take food and drinks with you to save money. Don't buy drinks at the bar in the hotel as they are too expensive.

Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
Grandma Becky
Waterloo, Iowa
31 Mar 2011

What Fun!!

The indoor waterpark is what drew me to stay at the Ramada. I have grandchildren in Des Moines so this was an opportunity to have some fun with them. The kids and I had a wonderful time playing on the multiple slides and pools. Room accomodations were comfortable and convenient.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
4
Room cleanliness:
4
Hotel staff:
4
Room comfort:
4
Location:
5
Value:
4
Dining tip: Short drive from hotel

We ate at Timothy's Steak House on Douglas. The food, service and atmosphere were fantastic. Very friendly, good food and accomodated the little people I had with me.

Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
Joyce
Des Moines, IA
26 Feb 2011

The Grandchildren Had a Blast

Very Clean. Lots of fun. Kind of noisy in the hallways at night, kids running and yelling. Good food.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
4
Room cleanliness:
5
Hotel staff:
5
Room comfort:
5
Location:
5
Value:
3
Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
hvonrueden
Hinckley MN
17 Feb 2011

Fantastic Family stay

We stayed while attending the Beef Expo, this is the second year we have stayed, we will be back next year. The pool/waterpark is a favorite of my kids and is great for many ages. Our pizza and drinks were great too, our rooms were very clean. Only complaint is the last night state wrestling kids were there and it was very noisy at midnight in the halls.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
5
Room cleanliness:
5
Hotel staff:
5
Room comfort:
5
Location:
5
Value:
5
Dining tip: Short drive from hotel

Smoky D's BBQ was a great place for dinner and very short drive,a nd our favorite steak house is less than 10 min away. Iowa Beef Steakhouse, lots of shoppong around also.

Review of Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines

Reviewer score

4
Road Warrier
Huxley. IA
2 Feb 2011

Blizzard Tired

Spur of the moment due to blizzard conditions. Had several problems with the security key to enter the hotel and my room. Had to continue to go to front desk, the card was like one time only use, then needed to be recoded. Room was great, clean and bed was very comfortable. Overall good experience, just not with the entry in blizzard conditions.

Hotel features (5 = best, 1 = worst):
Amenities:
5
Room cleanliness:
5
Hotel staff:
4
Room comfort:
4
Location:
4
Value:
4
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