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Ripplewood Resort: Traveler Reviews

47047 Hwy 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Hotel amenities
Ripplewood Resort
Ranked #6 of 8 hotels in Big Sur
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162 reviews from our community

Traveler rating
    64
    73
    16
    6
    3
See reviews for
Families
35
 
Couples
100
 
Solo
1
 
Business
0
 
Rating summary
  • Location
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Sleep Quality
    4 of 5 stars
  • Rooms
    4 of 5 stars
  • Service
    4 of 5 stars
  • Value
    4 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    4 of 5 stars
Date Rating
San Francisco, California
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
5 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
“Just the basics...”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed December 5, 2012

We stayed at the Ripplewood for a weekend getaway to explore Big Sur (California coastline). We knew that most of the hotels in the area are pricey (just look at the list) so we aimed for a basic, no frills place, and picked Ripplewood. Unbeknownst to us we picked the weekend it rained all the time, heavy rain with winds! We had already paid for the first night as part of the booking deposit and being new to the area were told there would be many floods and roads might be closed. We called the resort and they informed us they would honor a full refund if we decided not to risk driving up there but they were still open for business and had our cabin ready, a very nice gesture I may add. We however felt adventurous and drove there anyway. We arrived late in the afternoon and checked in, the lady at the front desk (which is also a general store) was nonchalant and handed me the key to our cabin, I asked about where to get a bite to eat and what she could recommend, she said "anywhere is fine". Ripplewood does have a small diner-style restaurant next to the general store/front desk but it is only open for breakfast & lunch...
We got to our cabin (which had a designated parking space), it was very clean and tidy and as the title suggests, just the basics; a room with a full-sized bed, table & couch. A clean bathroom with shower. We did have a fridge (very clean inside), a coffee maker (with all the stuff to make coffee/tea) and even a small balcony where you could sit outside. The bed was well made and clean, however it was extremely soft (we are used to hard mattresses). There was no TV in the room and the heater worked perfectly with the thermastat. We were very comfortable in our cabin. We had breakfast the next day at the Ripplewood restaurant and enjoyed the tasty omelettes they served up, the coffee was good also (breakfast was not included in the stay)...
Overall it was a very good experience staying at the Ripplewood, we have no compliants. It is a basic hotel with clean cabins to use for overnight stays as there is not much else to do there when it rains...

Room Tip: Each cabin is different so look at the photos on their website and pick the one right for you!
See more room tips
  • Stayed November 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 8
See 2 more reviews by hollands for Big Sur
Ask hollands about Ripplewood Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
London
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
8 hotel reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
“Good place to stay in Big Sur”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed November 19, 2012

We broke up our journey between SF and Cambria with one night's stay in a cabin. It was perfectly fine for one night and enjoyed the sound of the nearby river/creek. Not sure I'd want to stay for several days but the cabin had everything we would want. Made a great change to impersonal hotels.

Service at the desk at store over the road where you collect keys could be friendlier. Bit brusque and weren't very forthcoming with information.

  • Stayed October 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask JAMC7 about Ripplewood Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Peterborough, Canada
2 reviews
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
“Think twice before booking here”
2 of 5 stars Reviewed November 9, 2012

We really like rustic places so we booked here. This place is basic at best and overpriced for basic. We had no hot water. The place was cold so the fireplace at least helped. The highway runs right through the middle of this spot therefore not as quiet as we hoped. We phoned (since this is the only way you can book) and booked cabin 6 in August, we received a verbal confirmation number and the cost for our October stay. When we arrived, the cabin we had booked was not the one we received and the cost was $40 more. They asked for our email confirmation which we never received since they wrote down the wrong email address even though we spelled everything out. There was nothing they would do at the time and in emailing with the owners upon our return home, they offered us a discounted rate for our next visit. We live out of the country and will never return and all we wanted was the difference ($40) between the rate we booked and the rate they charged. This is likely equal to a discount for a future trip. Wasn't going to happen. They already had our money. We were even blamed for not following up on our email confirmation that we never received. Really!! Very disappointing. I'm sure there are better places to stay in Big Sur who understand customer service. This is not one of them. On the other hand, if you are in the area, go to Nepenthe for dinner - fabulous meal and great views.

  • Stayed October 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 9
Ask Brenda T about Ripplewood Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Monterey
Top Contributor
166 reviews 166 reviews
12 hotel reviews
Reviews in 41 cities Reviews in 41 cities
39 helpful votes 39 helpful votes
“Everything that you need for a Comfortable Stay”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed October 19, 2012

I stayed here with some friends on October 16, 2012. The weather in California that week was phenomenal, to say the least. There was an off-shore flow that pushed the marine layer well out in to the Pacific Ocean and warmed the normally chilly air. It was fantastic!
The management was kind enough to let us check in early, about 3 hours early!!! Very nice of them despite the claims of others here that customer service is lacking. It is not!
The cabin is set up with all necessary to live comfortably. The kitchen is stocked with glasses, plates, utensils, etc. There are outside pits fro fires and fireplaces inside too. Bring extra wood with you if you are going to cook outside or use the fire for heat inside.
Cabin 15 has one bedroom with a Queen bed in it and there is another Queen and Twin in the Main Room. This setup could accommodate 5 or 6 persons but would be cramped.
This resort is a great place to make a base camp for daily excursions in to Big Sur and all it has to offer. Check out some of the beaches in the area if you go, you owe it to yourself to see the natural beauty of the California Coastline. Bring a camera with you because your friends will not believe your description when you tell them how nice it is in California!

Room Tip: Cabins away from the highway. It is soooooo quiet at night.
See more room tips
  • Stayed October 2012, traveled with friends
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 2
See 6 more reviews by Dan M for Big Sur
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Irvine, California, United States
2 reviews
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
“HORRIBLE customer service”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed October 14, 2012

My husband and I decided to drive up highway 1. One of our stops was in big sur so I looked up this cabin on trip advisor and yelp and decided to make a reservation. They took all of my credit card information and confirmed the transaction. I asked them to email me a receipt which they weren't able to do. So I called them back and made sure that my email in their system was correct, which it was. We finally left our trip and after hours of driving reached the destination. The lady told me that our reservation was canceled and that our room was given to another tenant. I was very dissapointed because they actually charged me a cancellation fee on top of canceling the reservation without my knowledge. We were pretty much left stranded to find our own place. I have never given a place a bad review but their customer service was appalling.

  • Stayed September 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 14
Ask Zainab H about Ripplewood Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Additional Information about Ripplewood Resort

Also Known As:
Ripplewood Hotel
Ripplewood Hotel Big Sur
Ripplewood Big Sur
Address: 47047 Hwy 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Region: United States > California > Big Sur
Amenities:
Free High-Speed Internet Free Parking Kitchenette Restaurant Suites
Hotel Style:
#6 Family Hotels in Big Sur
#7 Romantic Hotels in Big Sur
Price Range: $
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Ripplewood Resort features a grocery store that has a little bit of everything, where you can purchase last minute supplies for your visit. Our gas station, which often has the cheapest gas in Big Sur, is the only Chevron station in town. The Café at Ripplewood serves a hearty breakfast and lunch from 8am until 2pm daily. The 17 Cabins are rustic and old fashioned, many have kitchens and fireplaces, and some overlook the river. ... more   less 

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