I should add that we will be at FCO.

You want a taxi registered in the city of Rome, it will have the SPQR city shield on the door. Yes, it is a good idea to confirm the fixed fare before you set out. Also smart have your destination in writing and a print of a google map (or similar) with its location highlighted.

It did go up---I think to 48E for that location.

Hi kwren

According to Ron in Rome, it has gone up to 48 from FCO to the centre city

http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/new-taxi-rates-take-effect-in-rome

See you on Sunday!

Thanks for all the info everyone. That's just the info I needed.

Hey it's johnnyomalley! I can't believe I'm going to meet my first Fodorite - you! - in just 4 days! You got your itinerary I'm sure. It sounds great doesn't it! Is your mom excited too? I haven't started packing yet, but have been thinking about it and got the passports out today. Now it's getting real.

I would use Rome Shuttle Limousine for three people. 40€ for three.
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/en/airport-transfer.php

Hi ky - we used rome Shuttle Limo last year and it was wonderful. I've already written to them for the ride back to FCO at the end, but it's difficult to use them to get to Rome since I don't know what time I will arrive at the airport. A taxi would be easier, but it's a great suggestion! They are great!

Whenever I've booked a limo for Rome, you tell them your flight/time and they schedule accordingly. Limo services (I've used others beside Rome Shuttle) build in a certain amount of wait time to your booking. Some have a small extra charge if they have to wait over 1 1/2 hours, but these days, most use flight tracking programs so they know if your flight has been delayed.

The problem is that we aren't coming in by plane. A van is bringing us in from about 3 hours away (I asked if they could drop us off in Rome but they said no) and they are being vague about when they will leave the Palazzo and therefore can't give me an exact time of arrival. I thought of having them call the shuttle once we are on the road, but will wait until we arrive to work all that out. That way I can talk to the driver in person.

We paid EUR45 + 5 Tip, from FCO to Vatican area. 3 adults + 3 suitcases.

That's annoying. Can they just drop you at a train station enroute? It appears you are coming from the east and will have to go past Rome to the airport and then have to backtrack to Rome.

My thoughts exactly ky, but they said no when I asked. We're on a weeklong visit to cook and I'm hoping I'll get the chance to talk to the driver, who might be the owner of the palazzo, sometime during the week. I can see, however, that it would be a pain to deliver lots of people to different places in Rome, get stuck in traffic and cause some people to get to the airport late.

But don't I deserve to be an exception ?

kwren. So. You are meeting your first Fodorite! Great.
I remember, many years ago now, when I had my very first meet. My family thought I was nuts. What if they are axe murderers and cut me up in little pieces!
I am sure this will be the first of many meetings for you.
Have a wonderful time in Italy.

Sher...I hope the only thing being cut up is pasta or mozzarella!
Thanks for the good wishes!

Reporting from Rome:

The taxi info desk at FCO has a big sign saying 48E. The taxi driver also said 48E. It must be fairly new because the info desk one level up told us it was still 40.

Also beware of the guys who approach you in the airport. They gave us a ridiculously high price and if it weren't for Fodors we would have gone for it. As a matter of fact, the rest of the group was just saying OK to the guy and I pulled them away telling them "Fodors say don't do it, Fodors says don't do it!" my frinds thought I was crazy, but it paid off. The guys followed all the way to the taxi stand coming down in price, but not fast enough. We took the Rome cab.

Thanks Fodors!

I think the taxi price increase went into effect last week of May as did all Rome transport (bus/metro/tram). It increased from 1€ to 1.50€.

Here's the new rates taxi rates and how to tell a legitimate taxi.

http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en-/pax-fco-taxi

kwen--So happy your taxi price confirmation and plan worked out for you. Great job! This is such a perfect update post for those going to Rome.

Speaking of the scam transport, those guys can be really persuasive, as we know from personal experience. My husband hopes that one of these days I'll forget this incident, but I'd say that's not going to happen soon.

As we were landing at FCO, I turned to my husband and said, "Word of warning--according to Fodors, there are going to be scam artists grabbing tourists for transport away from the taxi ranks. Do not fall for it."

We get off the plane, I have to use the restroom for less than 60 seconds, and I'll be darned by the time I come out if we're not being escorted by one of the scam artists to a waiting car.

Luckily, the price wasn't bad (I think that's why husband's scam antennae didn't go on alert--he loves deals), but it took awhile for my husband to connect the dots between my warning and the car we were riding in. His only clue was that I stared at him all the way from FCO to the Piazza Navona.

Lol both kwren and I brushed the scam artists off this afternoon. We were quoted 60 e to go the centre city.
The guy that approached my group said "i'm a supervisor". I asked of what because your ID card is not a Rome cab ID.

And neither kwren nor I are axe murders

I can just hear your "Of what?" Great going.

Now be sure to report back ASAP when you get your first, "Are you Americans? I love Americans. Let me give you these leather coats..." of the trip.

Hi Johnny! They weren't so bad with you I see! "Only" a 12E markup! Great comeback to the "supervisor"!

We needed a van for 5 of us going into Rome together, but to 2 nearby addresses. They said 120 Euros! What would have been reasonable would have been a total of about 60: 48E to the first and maybe 10 more (according to the driver we ultimately used) to the nearby address. By the time we got to the taxi stand, that guy was running after us shouting, " OK, OK, I only charge you the price of 2 taxis!"

Unfortunately, there were no vans in sight, and my part of the group was late to meet the woman letting us into our apartment so we didn't have time to wait for one. We ended up using 2 taxis anyway, but at least it wasn't through the scam artists!

Here's the end of the story...the taxi zoomed into Rome so amazingly fast that we were only about 10 minutes late. He wanted to drop us off at the end of a little cobblestone street instead of taking us to our address. Of course I'm thinking everyone is out scam us at this point, and we had not packed with a long shlep in mind. I asked (well, motioned, he didn't speak English) him to drive in. He said no, he couldn't drive in. I motioned for him to drive around to the other end in case he was thinking it was one way. He said no. Stalemate! So I asked him to wait while I checked to see how far the address was and hopped out leaving this poor guy sitting there with his mouth hanging open. I'm glad I did this as the numbers on this strange street were all over the place. By the time I found ours, sure enough, here comes the taxi down the street to our address. One point me!

Next, the lady letting us in wasn't even there so now she's later than we are! Visions of last year when the Sleep in Italy guy was 1 1/2 hours late to let us in flashed through my mind, but at least then there was a cafe across the street. This time, there was nothing except one tiny step in front of a door. Luckily, we only waited about 10 minutes. And here she comes, cheerfully trotting down the street with 2 adorable tiny girls saying, "I just went for a coffee!"