We have a flight out of FCO on July 15 departing at 6:30 am on Brussels Airlines. This flight takes us to Brussels where we change airlines for a flight back to the US.

I contacted Rome Shuttle Limousine and got a quote of 60 euro to take 5 people, with 5 carry on size bags and a personal bag each. They recommend leaving for the airport 3 hours before the flight. We are staying at the Hotel Artorius near the metro stop Cavour and they say it is about 30 km from the airport.

1. Is 60 euro a decent price given the off hour, number of people, etc.?

2. Do you think it is necessary to leave for the airport at 3:30 am?

Thanks very much.

I think that the price is more than reasonable. Remember to figure in a tip. As to a 3:30am departure? Well, I am always more comfortable erring on the side of caution. My guess is that you will likely have plenty of time to spare because you will not encounter traffic at that hour and 6:30 is one of the earlier departures so the lines at the airport will be shorter too. I think that 4am would still give you plenty of time. You could ask the airline what they recommend for advance arrival at that hour, but you can always head to an airport bar for a more relaxed breakfast if you have time to kill. I hate those early flights.

the train to FCO is not running at that time of night--unless you want to try the night Cotral buses that leave from --I think-- Tiburtina, a cab is what you have left--
think that is a very reasonable price for that number of people and luggage==would just make sure that everyone/thing will fit...so would want to know the specific type of vehcle--that company has pretty good reputation for showing up too but probably would confirm once in Rome...

quote:

Originally posted by LynK:
We have a flight out of FCO on July 15 departing at 6:30 am on Brussels Airlines. This flight takes us to Brussels where we change airlines for a flight back to the US.

I contacted Rome Shuttle Limousine and got a quote of 60 euro to take 5 people, with 5 carry on size bags and a personal bag each. They recommend leaving for the airport 3 hours before the flight. We are staying at the Hotel Artorius near the metro stop Cavour and they say it is about 30 km from the airport.
1. Is 60 euro a decent price given the off hour, number of people, etc.?
2. Do you think it is necessary to leave for the airport at 3:30 am?
Thanks very much.

That seems like a great price!!
Our hotel told us that it is more expensive before 7 AM--plus you have quite a few people and luggage.
I heard that you still have to arrive 3 hours ahead of time for International flights. You will have a little more than two when you get there--time for everything plus coffee.

quote:

you can always head to an airport bar for a more relaxed breakfast if you have time to kill. I hate those early flights

I would be surprised to find any bars (or any other services) open at the airport much before 6 am.

That is a fair price for 5 people and bags.
And, Jim is right: no coffee, no food, nada at that time of the morning!!
They always seem to open 5 mins before you are due to board your flight!!!
We have had 06:30 flights, and there can still be a huge lineup at that time; so do get there 3 hours before!!!

Have you thought about staying at an airport hotel that last night instead? You could at least get another hour or so of sleep!

Kathy

I was ready to say that the airport doors just open at 5, but the Brussels Airlines site says that their ticketing office at FCO opens at 4.30.

This is a timely thread (pun intended).

I have a 6:45 flight out of FCO (lufthansa) and am staying near the Spanish Steps. Is the Rome Shuttle Limousine company mentioned earlier the way to go? Is there a contact for them now to arrange something for May? Is a taxi a reasonable option?

We are only 3 people, including a 3-year old.

thanks.

Bryan
Oakland, CA

Remember that a flight from one EU country to another is not an international flight. Ask the airline when they want you to show up, because it isn't always as early as that.

I received an email advert from a Taxi company in Rome quoting 30 Euro for 1 to 8 passengers, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
I do not know anything about the company but the email came from NCC Roma, contact name Mauro (do not know if he speaks English) phone +39338/5234985. The email came from presvidero@tin.it although I do not know if you can contact him through that address. He also quotes 160 Euro for a 4 hour guided tour but do not know more than that. If anybody uses him and has some feedback I am sure it would be appreciated.

Thanks for all the advice. I have looked at the Brussels Airlines site and can't figure out from there what time they want you to be at FCO so I've e-mailed...I'll let you know what they respond.

What is an appropriate tip for the Rome Shuttle Limousine driver?

I would also be interested if anyone has dealt with the company that offers 30 euro trips 24 hours a day. I have read about Rome Shuttle Limousine on this forum and they seem to have a good reputation. You certainly don't want to contract with a company that has a good price but doesn't show up!

To add my 2 cents It's a super price especially since you are leaving rome on what is considered "night rates" go for it and give him a good tip it will be worth it.

To be clear, Rome Shuttle has quoted me a price of 60 euros; I have e-mailed the company that Mick and Angela mentioned but have not had a response yet. They don't give price estimates on their website.

Rome Shuttle is more of a known entity since I know folks on this forum have used them successfully. But their price is apparently double that of NCC Roma.

quote:

What is an appropriate tip for the Rome Shuttle Limousine driver?

As you probably know, tipping in Italy is not as common in the US because people get paid a living wage. In this case, it is not necessary to tip. For what it's worth, I'd go with the known as you don't want to be stranded in the middle of the night. ---Marlene

there is an old saying (which is not always true) that you get what you pay for...
if you can't find any review of that other cheaper agency I would not risk booking with them...

We have booked shuttles from Rome for early FCO departures as well, altho I don't remember who the company was. We assumed at the time that we were booking a private car, but it turned out to be a van, and one of the reasons we had to be picked up so early was because the shuttle had to pick up several other people at other locations. I'm not sure if this will apply to your situation, but just thought I'd mention the possibility.

Rome Shuttle Limousine is reliable; I've used them half a dozen times. It's a limousine service (your party and no one else), not a shuttle service such as Barb (and Art) used.

Frankly, the Mauro service sounds like one guy with a cell phone who owns a van...

Matt D. said

quote:

Remember to figure in a tip.

Marlene said

quote:

As you probably know, tipping in Italy is not as common in the US because people get paid a living wage. In this case, it is not necessary to tip.

So what is the general consensus on this? Tip a limo driver or not? And if so, how much on a 60 euro fare?

Sorry, Lynn - I completely disagree on this one. Tipping a charter bus or limo driver is the right thing to do. The amount of the tip would depend upon the number of hours involved, the amount of luggage, the number of people and the hour of the day. I do not tip a set percentage. I would say that for the original poster 10 euro would be the absolute minimum considering the above.

Sorry, Matt D., I completely disagree with you, at least as far as the limousine driver goes. He is not an employee (so it has nothing to do with a living wage); he's an entrepreneur. He owns his limousine/van and the license to operate it. What he takes in is his, except perhaps a small fee to the booking agency, in this case Rome Shuttle Limousine. That said, I'd probably tip a limo driver who picked me up at 4:00 am and helped with luggage for five people, but 10 Euro (over 16%) seems excessive to me.

Hi Zerlina - I guess we will have to disagree then. I do not think that a 10 euro tip is at all excessive for 5 people with 5 bags at 3:30am regardless of who owns the vehicle. I would be interested to hear what others here think, but I have always tipped drivers and will continue to do so. I guess it was marlene's comment and not Lynn's that I was responding to - just offering my opinion.

Update on limo costs--I've asked NCC Roma about a transfer and this is their reply:

For the requested service July 15 2008 at 04:00 a.m, ( for 4 o 5 peaple) the price is 65 € + 20% night servize, totale * 78€* If you want, we can do another car at 07:00 ( for the peaple , that his flight does not leave until after 09:00 a.m.), the price is *45 €*

(We have one member of our party who has a flight after 9 am from Terminal C to the US, whereas 4 people will go to Terminal B for the flight to Brussels)

The 60 euro quote from Rome Shuttle Limousine is looking good. Apparently the person who contacted Mick and Angela from NCC Roma saying the price was 30 euro 7 days a week, 24 hrs a day is not in line with the company price. Too good to be true.

Regarding the tip question...I'll look forward to hearing what more people think and do about this...maybe this needs to be a separate thread...though there probably already is one somewhere on the board!