Just back from a long weekend in Rome. We booked it as a last minute thing, so had limited options when choosing a hotel. Booked Hotel Petra as 1. It had a room available 2. It looked great on the website 3.It was (just) within our budget.

Firstly, yes, it's miles from Rome - to get there from the city itself you must get the metro to the furthest stop, Anagnina which takes 20-25 mins from the main terminal (the Metro is clean & efficient and a 75 min pass only costs 1 euro from the machine) from there to the hotel you have 2 options, the number 46 bus which runs every 15 mins and drops off 150 metres from the hotel, or the local taxis - DO NOT use these unless your very tired or in a desperate rush as they are a rip off ! The first time we were charged 13 euros for what is about a 2 mile journey and the second time the driver shot off at 80 mph in the wrong direction! After i protested he turned around, took us to the hotel but still insisted on taking 15 euros from me.
The Hotel offers a shuttle bus, this is not, as it states, a free service. You can use it at 9am or 10.15 in the morning and twice again in the evening, and that's it. We were told by the receptionist, who was rude and abrupt with us throughout the stay, that this service was at a cost of 5 euros per person each way. We used it the first day, until we found the bus, there were 6 people in the shuttle bus that day, all paying 5 euros each so the 30 euros they made for the 2 mile trip made the taxis look reasonable!!

First impressions of the Hotel, it needs a make-over and a gardener - all a bit shabby but the pool area is nice and once you're in, the reception is clean & tidy. As mentioned, the receptionist was rude, un helpful and abrupt but the bar staff and waitresses ( they have to do both jobs so if the restaurant is busy don't stand at the bar - you will have a long wait) ! were pleasant and helpfull. Felt sorry for them, they are woefully understaffed, three staff must have done 120 meals that night and as i say, had to look after the bar as well !
We booked B&B but on checking into the hotel the receptionist said breakfast was to be charged extra untill i argued otherwise and he backed down. Also tried to charge us 5 euros each when i asked for a towell for the pool, later saying it was just a deposit when we questioned this charge.

The rooms are ok, think old style travel lodge without the tea/coffe making facilities, small, but clean & tidy and they have a balcolny with poolside view if thats your fancy.

Breakfast was typical continental but with a good choice and decent selection of teas/coffees.

Evening meal, expensive, but Italy is. The food it self was delicious, had Carbonara & Fillet steak, the steak was fantastic and their was a good choice of local wines. We ate there twice but we found a great little Pizzeria about 250 meters away, difficult to find but if you ask, someone will direct you, it's literaly the only place nearby to eat but it's where all the locals go.

PS There is a mini market just around the corner where you can get all your essentials, beer and wine (2 euros a bottle)!

Frankly, we stayed in this hotel just to save money, it’s quite good but is very far from the city centre and from the subway, but there is a bus stop next to it or you could leave your car on the hotel’s parking space, as we did. The room we were accommodated first was an apartment with a kitchenette equipped with a microwave and a fridge, though it was humid and one wall was moulded. To take a shower you should stay right on the floor, there wasn’t a screen in the shower, only a curtain. When they gave us another room it was much better, but there wasn’t a kitchenette in it. The staff was ok, someone was friendly, other not so much, but always polite. To sum up, the hotel is ok if you want to save money and have enough time to move by car and subway.

I've stayed at petra several times for work, the hotel part of it isn't so bad, the restaurant is pretty good and the people are very kind, but the residence is another thing, I had roaches in my room, sometimes I din't have hot water, appliances and lights were always having to get fixed. It's not a 4 star hotel at all its more like a 2 star but the staff does try to make up for it w/ kindness and complimentary items. The breakfast is nothing special just breads and more breads and jelly but the coffee is good of course we are in italy! The location of the hotel is terrible, there is nothing with in walking distance, if you plan to travel to the center of rome and you dont have a car plan ahead!!! their is a bus that does NOT come often and it takes 10 min to get to the metro. Its a half hr train ride to the center. By car is more like 40 min.....If you are not working in cinecitta I would not recommend to stay here.

Good hotel. Rooms are good, breakfast was ok, not a big range, but good quality. Recepetion staff were very helpful and can speak in english without problems. The bonus is the free shuttle to nearby places.
The only negative thing is the location, it is outside the centre, but the bus stop is right in front of the hotel, jump onto the 046 bus and go to the metro station which is a 5 minute drive. From there, the metro takes 30 minutes to the centre of the city.
Overall, not bad, it's well connected to the city, the neighbourhood around it has nothing in it, so you have to go to the city for anything.