I had a relaxed stay at the Downtown Marriott. The room wasn’t memorable but was clean and had a comfortable bed. What was memorable about the hotel were the facilities. I recommend heading down to the Jacuzzi early in the morning before the families and kids arrive and relax in the calming environment of the pool area. The lights are low and hot tub is how it should be..HOT! I just returned from the Ice Hotel in Quebec and only wish the water in the Jacuzzi there was as warm as the Des Moines Marriott. The gym was well equipped with plenty of cardio machines and for additional warmth, the restaurant, River Grill, had a large fireplace to sit by and enjoy made-to-order omlettes. Bacon truly is better in Iowa. There is a complimentary shuttle to take you around town and the staff is friendly and accommodating. If looking for a good hotel to escape the cold and be in the heart of the city, then I suggest this property.

Stayed here for a business trip as location is incredibly convenient. However, the hotel needs upgrading and it definitely needs to tone down the use of air fresheners. The entire hotel was so saturated with it you could taste it. Only the pool had "fresh" air.
Breakfast is standard, a convenience for guests, I would not recommend as a destination restaurant. As usual, Marriott charges for WiFi, when most of the rest of the world includes it for business travellers.
Overall, a standard experience, with a touch of living with an over-perfumed dowager aunt.

Stayed here for two days during Christmas holiday. The hotel was not full, but the staff was very nice. Hotel is clean, parking at adjoining parking lot (operated by City of Des Moines) was easy, and they left a little stocking at out door on Christmas morning...nice touch. Would recommend.

We stayed at the Downtown Marriott October 26th-October 27th, 2007. The staff were very helpful and very accessible...they gave us a room on a high floor (31st) as we requested, and were very gracious about letting my husband and me check in separately, and check out late. The same was true of the parking/shuttle staff, restaurant waitstaff, and other front desk people. The rooms are very clean and well kept. They are half updated, with great (comfortable) beds and newer bathroom sinks--the curtains and rugs are a little more out of date--but again, very well-kept. We did call to request that they fix the drainage in our bathtub, and it was taken care of within an hour (as expected and we've previously experienced from Marriott). We had a tasty breakfast in the restaurant (ordered off the menu), although the prices were a tad high. As the other posters suggested, we parked across the street at the convention center for $11 overnight (plus no charge on weekends). We saw rooms at both the Suites at 800 Locust and Hotel Ft. Des Moines, and the Marriott was definitely the best value for the amentities and services it offers.