AC Hotel Des Moines East Village

This hotel is highly regarded for its modern aesthetic and exceptional rooftop bar and restaurant, which offers a vibrant atmosphere and impressive views, making it a memorable feature for many. Its prime location in the East Village is a significant draw, positioning guests within easy reach of local attractions and dining. The hotel is particularly well-suited for sightseers and couples looking to explore the city on foot, as well as those attending events like the State Fair due to convenient shuttle services. Guests consistently praise the hotel's overall cleanliness and comfortable accommodations. To enhance your stay, be aware that the popular rooftop bar can generate noise, especially on lower floors, and prepare for potential challenges with on-site parking, which is often described as limited and costly.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests frequently comment on the hotel's modern design and the security features, such as requiring a room key to access both the parking garage and the elevators, which enhances safety. A notable convenience is the complimentary shuttle service, which extends up to six miles, proving invaluable for guests attending local events like the State Fair. However, some guests have noted inconsistencies in room amenities, with some rooms lacking a side chair or complimentary bottled water. While the hotel offers a generally pleasant environment, a few guests have reported issues with loud AC units and thin walls, leading to noise disturbances from neighboring rooms or the elevator area. The parking garage itself is often described as small and tight, contributing to frequent availability issues.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The hotel receives widespread commendation for its exceptional cleanliness and the overall comfort of its rooms. Guests appreciate the comfortable beds, modern bathrooms with high-quality showers, and the choice of hard floors over carpeting, contributing to a fresh feel. Many rooms offer ample surface space, which is a practical benefit. Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, a few isolated concerns were raised, including minor greasy marks on bathroom walls, a broken toilet paper holder, and an instance of a dirty floor requiring guest cleaning. Noise can be an issue, with reports of street noise, sounds from the rooftop bar impacting lower floors, and general thin walls allowing conversations to be heard. Additionally, some guests experienced issues with a cold shower or a shower head that wouldn't stay in place, and in one instance, wallpaper was noted as peeling.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's Republic restaurant and bar on the sixth floor is a significant highlight, consistently praised for its vibrant atmosphere, good food, and variety of drinks, including specialty cocktails and appetizers like goat cheese. The service at the bar is frequently described as exceptional, with attentive and organized staff. However, feedback regarding breakfast is predominantly negative. Many guests expressed disappointment due to the breakfast buffet being canceled without notice or simply unavailable, while others found the available breakfast options to be overpriced for what was offered, such as a single piece of toast. Some guests staying on lower floors also noted hearing chairs being moved from the restaurant and bar late into the night.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location in the East Village is a major advantage, highly praised by guests for its convenience. It offers easy walking access to numerous local restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as key attractions like the State Capitol and Wells Fargo Arena. Many guests consider its location superior to downtown areas. However, parking is a recurring and significant point of contention. The on-site parking garage is frequently described as small, tight, and often full, forcing guests to park blocks away. The cost of on-site parking is also a common complaint, with guests finding it expensive. The process of accessing the garage can be confusing, and some guests reported being directed to a full garage despite paying for a spot.

Staff & Service
Guest feedback on staff and service is notably mixed. Many guests consistently praise the friendly, helpful, and accommodating staff, highlighting positive interactions with front desk attendants and shuttle drivers who provide excellent, personalized service. Specific mentions include staff who remember guest preferences and make them feel like family. The check-in process is generally described as smooth. Conversely, a significant number of reviews detail negative experiences, including encounters with unfriendly or unhelpful staff and managers who were perceived as rude or hostile. Issues at check-in included being assigned an already occupied room. Furthermore, some guests reported major problems with reservation management, including a hotel's refusal to cancel a booking despite prior assurances, and a lack of resolution for a mysterious miscellaneous charge after checkout.

Additional Information
Beyond the standard amenities, the hotel offers a convenient shuttle service that extends up to six miles, providing valuable transportation for guests to various local destinations. A thoughtful touch noted by guests is the provision of lavender sachets in the lobby, adding to the overall guest experience. However, some guests have encountered significant issues with the hotel's cancellation policy, reporting difficulties and outright refusal to cancel reservations, even when booked in error through third-party sites. Another notable concern was a $250 miscellaneous charge applied at checkout that guests were unable to get explained or resolved by staff or management, leading to frustration and a sense of being unfairly charged.