Some friends and I met up at this hotel for a college friends reunion. We picked the Embassy Suites because we wanted to do a little video gaming on a couple of linked Xbox 360s, so the 2 double bed suite with two LCD TVs was perfect for us.
We got there about 1:30 PM and were able to check in early. Once we got up to the room and started setting up our game consoles we realized that the TVs were locked down - we couldn't change the inputs and the only buttons that worked on the TV were channel, volume, and power. Fortunately, we played around a bit more and discovered we could temporarily "jailbreak" the TVs by unplugging the little telephone-cord that connects from the hotel's tuner box to the TV. The remote control didn't work while the phone cable was plugged in, but we were able to use the HDMI and component inputs to play our games.
About 5:30 we headed down to the atrium for the "manager's reception" which includes snacks and two free drinks per person. The drink line was really long and snacks were running low. We returned near the end of the reception instead and it was a little better.
As far as amenities go, we didn't hit the hot tub or pool, so I can't review those. The bathroom was nice except there was no exhaust fan, so having five guys use the one bathroom was a bit, um... malodorous. The wifi is only free from Hilton Honors members, so we didn't spring for that.
I slept on the sleeper sofa, which was not really comfortable, but are they ever? As far as I know the other guys thought the beds were comfy, and rarely did anyone complain about the temperature in the room, so I'd say the HVAC worked well. Overall the rooms were comfortable and provided the right mix of seating, TVs, table space, and beds for a get together like ours.
Concerning location, our main forays from the hotel were looking for food. We walked east past the popular new Zombie Burger but passed on it both times due to extended waits. We ate at Quentin's a little further east on one day, and the other day we returned to the hotel to try the hotel's bar and grill. It wasn't bad food but probably was a little over-priced for what it was.
Room Tip: West side rooms overlook the river. East side rooms should have a view of the Iowa capitol building.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC