In March I will arrive at FCO in mid-afternoon, by myself, from Frankfurt. What are my alternatives for getting to my hotel near the Pantheon? I looked in the Arriving in Rome part of the website and didn't see any advice.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 2054 | Location: Suburban Philadelphia | Registered: 08 July 2002
You can take the train from FCO to Roma. The issue here is where you can get off. If you take a local train and exit in Trastevere you are not too far from the Pantheon area but its still a hike or taxi ride.
Check with where you are staying. When I have stayed with hotels or with apartments, I have often been able to arrange for them to get me transportation to and from the airport. The advantage of this is that your driver will probably speak not a word of English, drive like a maniac and have a car just a little too small to fit you and your possessions. But what the hey??? How hard can it be to balance you luggage on your lap while you life flashes before your eyes?
Failing that, I usually take a cab ride from the airport into Roma because its so convienient. It usually runs about 50 euro. Its best to get a taxi that will take you on the meter but I have found this to be hard to do sometimes. If so get a price up front and make sure you get a real live taxi with a liscence.
If life is an opera by Puccini... I want to be Calaf!
Posts: 4600 | Location: Casa del Fenicottero Rosa, Silver Spring, MD USA | Registered: 06 August 2002
quote:Originally posted by Carol M: In March I will arrive at FCO in mid-afternoon, by myself, from Frankfurt. What are my alternatives for getting to my hotel near the Pantheon?
Carol, Dean posted good information ... I'll just add that the small train station at FCO is across the street from the terminal. As I recall, the signage is good between the terminal and the train stop. You can easily buy a ticket from the self serve machines at the station.
If you take the local train from FCO to the Termini train station in Rome, a taxi from there to your hotel should only take a few minutes, and cost less than â¬10. (I took a taxi from my hotel near Piazza Navona to Termini last January, and it was â¬7.)
Colleen in California
Posts: 13712 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Another vote for a taxi. Or, even though everyone tells you not to do this, I grab one of the guys who hang around the airport exit and have a private car. You set the price with them before you get in. We have done this many times and the guys are always great, the cars are clean and nice and they are happy to help you with your luggage.
These are just private car service guys who are either hanging around to pickup some work or have dropped someone off at the airport and are looking to make some money driving back into the city.
I watched those guys for a couple of hours while waiting for luggage at FCO. They seemed like regular guys, but I didn't do any negotiating, so it's interesting to hear you've used them without regrets.
Posts: 2054 | Location: Suburban Philadelphia | Registered: 08 July 2002
To me it is well worth the cost of a driver to take you into Rome on that first day. A friend of mine owns a limo service. His name is Sandro Pagnotti. I truely don't know how his rates compare. But here is his e-mail address. ROMALIMO@aol.com You can tell him I told you to contact him and that he should "treat you right".
Actually I didn't negotiate - I am not good at that - I just asked the price to be sure I knew what I was getting into. We have done this a few times - always has been a good experience.
There's a very reliable, professional airport limo service called "Airport Connection", I've used them dozens of times to pick up guests from the airport to bring them to the apartments, and they've never missed once. The driver waits for the passenger at the arrivals area, with name-card in hand, and takes them directly to their destination. The cost for a mercedes sedan is Euro39.00, luggage and tax included. You could call them at their office: 06-338-3221 to reserve a pickup, they speak fluent english. I've no business collaboration with them, I recommend them only because I've had nothing but positive experiences with them. Helen Comfortitalia
Thanks Helen - that is a good price too. Is this them? http://www.airportconnection.it/ ------------------------------------ Yes, that's them. Didn't know they had such a professional looking website.
quote:Originally posted by Pauline: These are just private car service guys [...].
I am not saying to refure their services from now on, but be very careful, most of these people are not regular "private car service guys", they are irregular taxi drivers doing an illegal job, therefore making an illegal earning on which they will not pay taxes and not subject to any control neither in terms of security for the passengers nor in terms of tariffs. I very strongly doubt that you risk being kidnapped, drawn to a dark corner and killed ^____^, but you risk for sure being ripped off, and, in any case, you are feeding an illegal "traffic", although one that has little "social risks" (I mean, it is not like buying dope on the streets!) but that helps increase the difficulty of Italian economy (and decrease our official PIL ^_^).
Alice Twain -- I know I was born and I know that Iâll die The in-between is mine I am mine
quote:Originally posted by Pauline: These are just private car service guys [...].
I am not saying to refure their services from now on, but be very careful, most of these people are not regular "private car service guys", they are irregular taxi drivers doing an illegal job, therefore making an illegal earning on which they will not pay taxes and not subject to any control neither in terms of security for the passengers nor in terms of tariffs. I very strongly doubt that you risk being kidnapped, drawn to a dark corner and killed ^____^, but you risk for sure being ripped off, and, in any case, you are feeding an illegal "traffic", although one that has little "social risks" (I mean, it is not like buying dope on the streets!) but that helps increase the difficulty of Italian economy (and decrease our official PIL ^_^).
Alice Twain -- I know I was born and I know that Iâll die The in-between is mine I am mine
Actually, I used these guys a year ago for my trip to Rome. The driver arrived on time and got us to our hotel in one piece. His driving was actually pretty good too.
Alice, you took the words right out of my mouth. I read this post a few days ago but didn't have time to reply. I'm happy to see that you replied and strongly agree with what you wrote.
It's not just about whether you made it safely to your destination and didn't get ripped off. Many of Italy's serious problems are due to the huge illegal economy here.
And as you can see from the posts on this thread, there are alternatives.
Some hotels, like the Portoghesi near Piazza Navona, will send a car for you at the airport for the same 50 â¬. I didn't have Dean's harrowing experience but then I'm used to car services in NYC.
But who are we to decide if someone pays taxes or not? I bet many of the vacation rental places that ask for payment in cash are skipping out on taxes. Or the restaurants where they take back the receipt after you pay. Or the agencies based in Italy but you pay your deposit to a US account.
The taxi guys never help us with our luggage or talk to us as they drive us into Rome. The "other guys" do.
We have a somewhat active "underground economy" here in the US, and many use it regularly, so "let him who is without sin (on this score) cast the first stone." Just a note on the arrangements one can make with hotels for a pick-up at FCO, the one time we did that was a no-show, and when I called the hotel (un'altra storia!) I found out that they thought we were arriving the next night. A happy ending to that particular problem; we took a (legal) taxi into Rome and had a nice room.
Posts: 2054 | Location: Suburban Philadelphia | Registered: 08 July 2002
Just to clarify the train situation, there are two services from Fiumicino. One is the express, non-stop service from the airport station to Roma Termini that goes twice and hour. From Termini you have to grab a cab - - can be a hassle at peak hours -- to your in-town location. The second is a local service that goes from Termini to the Tiburtina station on the east side of Rome which makes a number of stops. The most convenient stop for those going to the center of Rome is the one at Trastevere, but we have found that getting a cab there can be difficult and if you have some heavy luggage you have stairs to navigate. If you decide on the train route, the express to Roma Termini is the best solution. As others have pointed out, the cab/limo route is the one with the least amount of hassle.
Not much use to the original poster, but just a reminder that if you book an apartment with Underground Viaggi, an airport pickup (in Mauro's Kia people carrier, proudly pictured on his site) is included in the price. Some time this weekend I'll post my (favourable) review of the apt we rented from UV for 4 nights over the New Year.
Jonathan
Posts: 2785 | Location: Stroud, UK | Registered: 18 November 2001
FWIW, "Gypsy" cab drivers in NY are not permitted to solicit fares at airports. It is illegal and takes work away from yellow taxis. But they do it anyway. When they get in my face, and are obnoxious, I yell at them and reminded them that what they are doing is illegal! I'm not sure if the situation is similar in Rome.
David, usually in New York
Posts: 4790 | Location: New York City | Registered: 15 June 2001
My last few trips to Rome, including my present trip, I have taken the train at FCO to Termini, then, taken the metro, because the place I stay at is just a few steps from the metro stop near St. Peter's. I forget the cost of the FCO train, maybe 7-8 Euro. So, my total cost is under Euro 9. I can only do this because my bag isn't too heavy. But, when I go to FCO in 2 days, I will use Airport Connection mentioned in other posts. I have bought a carry-on piece of luggage to take back the many books and CDs I bought, and it's too much of a hassle going up and down steps in the metro. AC has 2 services. The shuttle service is 25 Euro. You share a van with other people. The limo for one person is Euro 39. By the way, the metro here is very convenient. It doesn't service the whole center, but, with stops like Flaminio (piaza del Popolo), Spagna, Barberini, Republica, Termini etc., you can get to key spots very quickly. You can also make easy connections to buses from some metro stops to get to other cities.
Posts: 89 | Location: NY,NY | Registered: 28 September 2002
quote: I'm not sure if the situation is similar in Rome.
David, yes it is the same. They have no license and pay no taxes. They hang out at the train stations and the airport and say "taxi, taxi" in a sort of clandestine tone.
I have taken both the train and taxis many times. The train works well when I am not too tired or am traveling light. Taxis work well otherwise.
I have never had any problems getting an official cab to use the meter and they have always helped with my luggage. Sometimes they chat, other times they don't.
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