This is the second time we stayed at the Ripa (August 08). The previous time was in July 06. Obviously we returned because we had liked the hotel. But we did find the hotel in a bit of a worse shape than our previous visit.

As other reviewes say, the first time it took us a little to find the hotel, and the view from the windows is not very romantic, as you see other apartment buildings.

We did find the overall location convenient to the nearby tram, which takes you right into the Centro Storico, and across the tram to Trastevere. So both times we came in a car, and parked the car for our whole stay.

We stayed for 3 nights.

The whole hotel has a good design theme, which will appeal to Wallpaper style aficionados. (It's actually featured in the Rome guide). The rooms, the lobby, the breakfast area have a consistent style.

The unfortunate aspect, is that some details like paint, or cables visible, or loose fittings make you forget about what otherwise would be a perfect stay. The bathroom in our room was a sample of this.

The breakfast was good, but nothing out of the ordinary.

We got good attention from the staff and didn't find them neither rude nor super friendly.

I stayed here in March 2008 and was very disappointed with the hotel. We stayed in a essential room which was not refurbished. The heating did not work, we had a hole in the front door, wires hanging out where electrical works should be and there were holes in the bathroom wall.

What a disaster!! This hotel is really really hard to find. Directions from the website are totally useless. We took the H bus and got off at the stop outside the white building. So far so good.............NOT! We walked around for ages trying to locate the hotel, rang them to tell them where we were but was told it was too difficult to explain how to get there. None of the locals seemed to know where the hotel was either. It was late and hard to track a taxi.
So for anyone who is going to stay there here are directions which will save you a lot of bother : take the H bus from the Termini. Get off at the second stop along the Trastevre -at the big white building. When you get off the bus and as you stand with your back to this white building cross the road, Head to your right where you will see a little holy statue which has lots of candles around it. Go to the top of this street...100 metres or so. To your left you will see a parking garage. Vere right on this road towards the apartment blocks. After another walk of approx 200 metres the hotel will be down the lane on your left.
Reception staff was unfriendly upon arrival.
Room was nice which lifted our spirits.
Breakfast was adaquete.
Location is good with trams and buses running frequently. If you wanted to you could walk to all major sites.

Initally the hotel was difficult to find. I took the train from Roma Termini to Trastevere station, but from there the bus route dumped me in the rain at an intersection for which I had no clue how to get to the hotel. I hailed a taxi and he chuckled and said oh yes, I know where it is and proceeded to take back roads and I arrived at the hotel with a 3.45 euros ride. I was close, but the maps were not helpful.

I was happy with the room, however, the restaurant did not offer much. I was the only customer in it at 14:00 so that was a hint. Also, 25 euros for wireless for 24 hours? In the US and other hotels in Europe, wireless if free to business travelers.

The staff was helpful and curtious, no complaints there.

The Ripa should have a shuttle service....to the Roma Termini. To get to the Fiumicino airport, I had to take a bus, then a local train from Trastevere station to Roma Termini, and then the train to the Airport...hauling two pieces of luggage on and off the entire way. I can do that, but there are many travellers who cannot. A taxi to the airport was 75euros.