Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines

3.0 star property
Family-friendly stay near Iowa Gold Star Military Museum

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Photo gallery for Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines

Indoor pool
Suite, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Pool View | Desk, soundproofing, iron/ironing board, free cribs/infant beds
Bar (on property)
Free daily continental breakfast
Lobby

Reviews

5.6 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Room service
  • Bar
  • Housekeeping
  • Pool

Explore the area

View in a map
5000 Merle Hay Rd, Urbandale, IA, 50322
  • Place, Merle Hay Mall
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Jordan Creek Town Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Casey's Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Airport, Des Moines, IA (DSM-Des Moines Intl.)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed, Accessible, Poolside (Accessible)

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

  • 301 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Jetted Tub, Poolside (1 Bedroom)

  • 204 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 2 Queen Beds

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 2 Queen Beds

Suite, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Pool View

  • 204 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible, Non Smoking (Accessible)

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking

  • 193 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Poolside

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Non Smoking, Poolside

  • 204 sq ft
  • Sleeps 5
  • 2 Queen Beds

Suite, Multiple Beds, Non Smoking (1 King Bed and 2 Queen Bed)

  • 226 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 8
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds

Suite, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Poolside

  • 247 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed

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About the neighborhood

Urbandale

In Urbandale .Within 6 miles (10 km) of this Urbandale hotel, you'll find Buccaneer Arena and Iowa Gold Star Military Museum. Des Moines Community Playhouse is within 6 miles (10 km) and John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is within 9 miles (15 km).

What's nearby

  • Merle Hay Mall - 3 min drive - 1.5 miles
  • Jordan Creek Town Center - 11 min drive - 11.6 miles
  • Iowa Events Center - 11 min drive - 8.9 miles
  • Casey's Center - 11 min drive - 9.1 miles
  • Iowa State Fairgrounds - 15 min drive - 13.4 miles

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪7 Brew Coffee - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬6 min walk

About this property

Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines

Family-friendly stay near Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines offers its guests a water park, a waterslide, and an indoor pool. There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. Free breakfast is served daily. A computer station is on site and WiFi is free in public spaces.

Business amenities include a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms. Event space at this hotel measures 10000 square feet (929 square meters) and includes a conference center. A children's pool, a fitness center, and a vending machine are also featured at the family-friendly Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines. Self parking is free.

This Urbandale hotel is smoke free.

  • 166 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • Meeting rooms
  • 10000 sq ft of conference space
  • 929 sq m of conference space
  • Continental breakfast (free)
  • Business center (24 hours)
  • Conference center
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Wedding services available
  • Game room or arcade
  • Gift shop
  • Television in lobby
  • ATM
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Bar by the pool
  • Dining venue
Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines offers 166 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. 37-inch flat-screen televisions come with premium cable channels. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include showers and complimentary toiletries.

This Urbandale hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Change of towels and change of bedsheets can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • In-room crib
  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Indoor pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Water park
  • Waterslide

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Free RV/bus/truck parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM on weekdays and 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekends
  • A bar/lounge
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Gym
  • Indoor pool
  • TV in common areas
  • Water park
  • Waterslide

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible business center
  • Wheelchair-accessible gym
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 37-inch flat-screen TV with premium cable channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Free crib
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Limited room service
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • LED lighting
  • Recycling
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Renovations and closures

The following facilities are closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday:
  • Hot tub

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets: USD 20 per pet, per night
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 1 (weight limit: 30 lbs per pet)
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 17 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 10.0 per day.
  • Free cribs (infant beds)!

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Pet fee: USD 20 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 10.0 per day

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Count on Us (Wyndham)
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Diners Club, and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions. This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Count on Us (Wyndham).

We should mention

  • Children 17 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Connecting/adjoining rooms are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property at the number on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Ramada Tropics
Ramada Tropics Des Moines
Ramada Tropics Resort
Ramada Tropics Resort Des Moines
Tropics Resort
Des Moines Ramada
Ramada Des Moines
Ramada Hotel Des Moines
Ramada Tropics Hotel Des Moines
Ramada Tropics Resort / Conference Center Des Moines Iowa
Ramada Tropics Resort Moines Urbandale
Ramada Tropics Resort Moines
Ramada Tropics Moines Urbandale
Ramada Tropics Moines
Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines Hotel

Frequently asked questions

How close is Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines to the airport?

Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines is 22.5 mi (30-min drive) away from the Des Moines International Airport (DSM) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines?

As of Nov 29, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines on Dec 1, 2025 start from $63.0, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines.

Does Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines offer free breakfast?

Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines offers free continental breakfast on weekdays between 6:30 AM and 9:00 AM and weekends between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Is there a casino at Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines?

No, there is no casino at this hotel, but Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino (14-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines have a pool?

Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines features an indoor pool and a children's pool.

Does Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines have a restaurant?

Yes, there is a restaurant on site.

Does Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines to downtown Urbandale?

Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines is 1.8 mi away from Urbandale.

Reviews

Ramada Tropics Resort & Conf Center by Wyndham Des Moines Reviews

5.6

5.8/10

Cleanliness

6.2/10

Staff & service

6.0/10

Amenities

5.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

5.6/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 118 out of 656 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 106 out of 656 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 129 out of 656 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 122 out of 656 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 181 out of 656 reviews

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Sara

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
The waterpark was a joke. 1 pool open slides down. Hot tub cold and slippery. Tv didn't work in our room.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

4/10 Poor

Melissa

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
They did not have a king bed room that we reserved. So we had to have the 2 queen beds. Not happy with that. The building seemed dirty and worn. The bathroom did not feel very clean.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Renee

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Ronald, Aston

Business traveler
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I stay for fours nights and did not receive housecleaning service. Water ran onto the floor from my shower. And furniture was peeling.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Matthew

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Loads of potential, completely mismanaged.

The initial experience set the standard for the whole stay. We stood there for 20 minutes before we were even acknowledged. It took another 20 to get checked in, and then we found out the pool closed at 9. So that was valuable time we missed out on. Two sections of the pool were closed and there was no one managing the bar area by the pool.. The room itself was in disrepair. The door wouldn't latch without being forced. Thr bathroom door didnt work at all, the shower had black mold all over, there were dents in the drywall and the curtains had holes in them. I could go on further, but there is no point. The breakfast was a complete joke.. half frozen pre-packaged muffins and some cereal. The entire hotel needs to be deep cleaned and repaired, the staff needs retrained or replaced. I would add photos for evidence, but it wont let me upload any.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristie

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Johnna

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Staff was very kind and accommodating, but they are clearly understaffed for the facility’s needs. Shared areas always appeared messy. Room had broken fixtures, worn carpet, very outdated. Breakfast was very limited, cold, and the dining room was dirty. Water park has limited hours during the day. It was fine for the price when we needed a place short notice - we are not a high maintenance family - but would not stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Terrance

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

monica

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Low price for a great place with a lot of amenities.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Sandee

Traveled with family and small children
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The first room had no hot water, smell a order, toilet wasn't bolted down properly. Transferred to another room, bathroom door couldn't close. Wasn't told to request Housekeeping thought it was automatic...
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Roy

Traveled with family
Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Beds were clean and comfortable. Some staff were borderline rude, others wonderful. Not a place for those not traveling with children, esp as noise in the hallway can be loud and the gaps under the doors do not provide much sound barrier. Room doors are very heavy. The pool area was great for kids and they had multiple, attentive lifeguards on duty. I was impressed with their organization and professionalism. The pool was not good for adults who wanted to use the lap pool to get exercise or relax - would be better if that section could be adults only, or have after the 9pm pool-closing access. The multiple access from the parking lot to the rooms was nice so you could park close to your room (it's a big property). The food at Boss's Pizza was good but service is incredibly slow. Probably due to lack of employees as often there was only one person working. Prices were decent. Would we stay there again? Probably not, but it was a good base for while we were in town.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Be prepared…..

Our room had not been vacuumed, the thermostat was broke in our room, the “sports bar” couldn’t serve alcohol and the pool bar closed at 9pm. Was told we weren’t allowed to bring our own beverages into the pool area, the pool bar bartender was not behind the bar working many times of our 3 hours in the pool area. The next morning, the pool opens at 9am (let’s be honest it wasn’t staffed until 930) while the pool staff was friendly and rotated frequently, they shut the pool down at noon for an hour so they could all go on break. If you have 5 people staffing the pool to rotate, take your breaks while off rotation. Many things about this place could definitely be improved!!! Cool setup for the kids, comfy bed and food ordered from restaurant was decent but again, many things could definitely be improved.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Tiffanie

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Terrible!!

I had it booked for a week. I got a call the day of my reservation that they no longer had the suite that I reserved. I was told I could have a regular room but was more expensive than what I booked the suite for. I get there and the sports bar being advertised does not sell alcohol. The pools had A LOT of mold. DO NOT STAY HERE!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

JASON

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Paige

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Zachary

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jared

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Terrible Facility

Booked a poolside, king sized bed. Got a room far from the pool and a full sized bed. Only 1 out of three lights in the room worked. No hot water in the shower and the room was beat up. Got moved to a new room after complaining several times and one light didn't work and still no hot water. People at the front desk didn't want to help
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Kristy

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was kind and friendly. They were always working to keep things clean and orderly. But this property is terribly outdated and desperately needs to be renovated. Or at the very least needs some work done to fix all that’s broken. Our room’s toilet seat was broken, the bathroom door was very difficult to open and close. In fact, all the doors were difficult to open and close. Multiple lights in our room did not work. The TVs weren’t working properly and had to be fixed. We had said we’d have 5 people in our suite, and would need the pull out bed. There was no bedding for that bed and we had to call to ask for it. When I called I was told they “might not have any.” Thankfully they did and security brought it up. The complimentary breakfast was terrible. They had one waffle iron that a staff member was using to make waffles for a long line of people. The other choices were generic brand yogurt, apples, oranges and two kinds of cereal. Again, the staff was very nice but the whole facility is old and falling apart. It was far too expensive for what we received. The pool is also not as pictured. There are slides and a pirate ship play area, but it’s not all in one open pool as the photos seemed to show. Instead, it’s 4 separate smaller pools in the same area.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

David

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
There was no hot water and tv was poor and Telephone didn't work in room and the beds were uncomfortable
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

jessica

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Just manage expectations and it’ll be fine!

We booked to stay during the state fair with our 3 year old. The hotel is older, for sure. Certainly not a luxury establishment. That said, though, our rooms were clean. The AC worked very well in our room, almost freezing us out the first night until we adjusted it. Our room opened to the waterpark so we felt the humidity and smelled the chlorine when we opened that door, but we didn’t have a dampness or humidity issue in our room at all. Door C was broken so you didn’t need a keycard to get in, the guest laundry on the second floor was out of order, and the hallway carpets were kind of ripped up in a few spots. But the kid pool was warm and the pirate ship was so fun for my kid. I think understanding up front that you’re not staying at Great Wolf lodge helps manage expectations, and as long as you do that the stay was fine. We did have dinner through the on-site restaurant and the wings were very good. For it being 98 deg out this week and the state fair in town, it wasn’t too busy and served us just fine. Well stay again I’m sure. Staff were very helpful and friendly, so that was a plus!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Casandra

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Russell

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rude unprofessional staff, bait and switch rooms, no hot water for showers, no towels for pool area. This is my second bad experience here, arrived after 10 pm to check in, and was treated piorly, i was very tempted to drive 2 hours back home instead of staying for the weekend and disappointing my children. Made the wrong decision by staying.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Robbie

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room is dirty. Bathroom is gross and there’s no hot water and the telephone didn’t work.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Justin

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Tristan

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025