Dear all, a friend of mine recently had this experience. Exiting from Terminal C at FCO she went straight to the taxi stand last Saturday evening, having just arrived on a late flight from Paris. There were several people waiting and a crowd of men, presumably taxi drivers clustered at the head of the queue, along with some hustlers trying to entice passengers into their non-licensed taxis. When it came her turn, she was surrounded by a small group of men, all talking to her at the same time. She doesn't speak Italian well, so she couldn't understand them, but she was distressed that there didn't seem to be any official person assigning taxis to clients as the cars drove up. It was just a free for all. Needless to say, after she had got in her taxi and had been delivered to her destination, while looking in her purse for her wallet, she found she had been robbed....The next day she went back to the airport to pick up a friend, and noticed that the same situation seemed to be happening at the taxi stand: general chaos and clusters of people. Her impression was that some taxi drivers were in cohoots with whoever was doing pick-pocketing -- not a very reassuring thing
I haven't flown in or out of FCO since last summer, but I didn't notice anything like this happening. Has anyone else out there had a similar experience at FCO or Termini?
How ironic! Just a few days ago I was reading on a link (which I unfortunately can no longer find) on this message board that the mayor of Rome had declared that there would be a crackdown on "funny business" at Fiumicino.
But the distressing story is one more reason why I will reserve to have a shuttle service pick me up at Fiumicino.
Eloise, this was not going on with regular taxis. As long as you stay away from illegal "taxi" drivers and stick to the line for regular taxis (those that also don't rip you off) you should be safe. As soon as you arrive, if you wnat to take a taxi, look for aline of people with a line of white cars with the taxi sign on the roof and stick to it. You will be surrounded by other travelers and the legal taxi drivers don't feel much simpathy for the illegal ones.
In any case, it's always safer to stick with legal, authorized taxis everywhere in Italy. Unless you have reserved a reputable car service, always make sure that your taxi has the sign on the roof, a working meter (it must always be turned on!) and a small plaque inside the cabin stating a three, four or five ID number, to be used in case (honestly unlikely with authorized taxis) of problems or scams.
Thank you, Alice. I always proceed according to your advice at Termini (even though the line sometimes seems endless, and there is still no guarantee that the taxi driver is going to be perfectly honest...), but I prefer not to take a taxi from Fiumicino.
The scam that I have encountered a few times with taxis in Rome is that the meter has been set at "double speed". I know there are times when that is perfectly legal, but it has also happened to me at times when it was not.
This is one case when it's wise to write down the ID number and report the driver. If your report is validated by the police, the driver will have his licence retired and could be fined or even be taken to court.
The incident I reported took place at the official taxi stand where apparently thieves were mixed in with the drivers. I often use taxis for my job and know a couple drivers I frequently call. I asked one of them today what she thought and she said that it was well known among her colleagues that Terminal C can be a treacherous place, but not only for pick pocketing She said that there ought to be someone watching out to make sure that this sort of thing doesn't happen, but that the guards generally turn a blind eye. Even though there are 6500 taxi drivers in Rome, the airport is a choice location, and very often many of the same taxi drivers are there day after day, vying for the "best" client -- someone who doesn't know Italian and can be taken for ride. Though most drivers are probably honest souls, not all of them are, and among colleagues, they have some select nicknames for the ones who are not. In general she suggested not waiting in line, but calling a taxi on your cell phone, which is all right for us Romans, but not so easy for a tourist. In any case, forewarned is forearmed.
In Milano official taxi drivers tend to be... uh... quite unfriendly towards the illegal ones, so they stay at some distnace. At Centrale station (yet another choice location) the illegals tour the line calling out for clients in low voices.
I got scammed by a "fake" taxi driver the first time I arrived at Termini via the Leonardo Express. Since then I have been very careful to book specific drivers to and from FCO (who wait for me as I exit the baggage claim) and only use taxis with meters once in Rome.
Interestingly enough, one of the drivers said it was fine to use the "gypsy cabs" as long as I made it clear in the beginning what I would pay them - certainly not a situation I'd like to attempt in the future!
While we were not robbed, our experience in mid-March at FCO Terminal C left a lot to be desired. We had arrived from Florence via Termini and the Leonardo Express and merely wanted to price a taxi to the Courtyard by Marriott---located 1.5 miles away. I know that the Courtyard would charge us 6 Euro pp one way and was willing to pay a bit more to avoid the 45 minute wait for the next shuttle.
We went to the line near the white cabs and someone who appeared to present himself as the "guy in charge" quoted 35 euro! When I repeated our destination, he affirmed that price. Another driver, seeing my disbelief, offered the same trip for 25 euro. I told him "non grazie" and he asked me how much I would pay. I said no more than 15 euro, but by then I was so disgusted I decided to go ahead and wait for the Courtyard shuttle.
It was the end of our trip and the only time I felt an attempt to take advantage of us.
I'm glad I read this post. I've been working with my Italian tutor - who lived in Rome - here in the States and he just avoided the whole taxi topic altogether and told me to take the train.
Someone else here suggested a driver. But my tutor doesn't think I can hire a driver for 40 euro. I can find the link . . .
I have a lot of luggage (I'm coming to Italy for six months) . . . and a taxi would be ideal, but I don't want to pay that much money, and I assume the train into Termini is just as well.
Don't overlook the FR-1 train. It's cheaper and goes to stations other than Termini (Trastevere, Ostiense and Tiburtina). One of those might be closer to your ultimate destination.
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