I just got back from a week in Rome with my daughter and had to share a really nice thing that happened there. On the way back to FCO(the Rome airport) we ended up taking a prearranged taxi that our hotel had set up-35 Euros. I had decided to put two 20 Euro bills in my ID holder around my neck (to pay the driver)so that I would not have to open my purse,etc. when we arrived at the airport. I paid the driver and proceeded to walk in to my airline ticket counter. Imagine my horror when I found out that the ID holder had unclipped from the lanyard and I had nothing. I was frantic to say the least as it had my work ID and other cards I needed to fly home to the states. The airline called my hotel(Hotel Aberdeen-absolutely wonderful place to stay at a reasonable price and great location for getting to things) and the gal at the hotel tried to find the driver. About a half hour went by and they still could not get ahold of him so I went down to the taxi stand to see if they could find him. I finally gave up and went back upstairs to my daughter only to find that the taxi driver found my ID's in the back of the cab and drove back to give them to us. My daughter did not have any money to give him as I had taken my purse but he said only "to have a safe trip and thank you for visiting his city!" I cannot tell you how much grief his returning my ID's saved me. It has really made me realize despite hearing horror stories all the time that there are honest people our there. His cab number was #4203 and I just had to share. Thanks!

dutyfree,
Welcome back..What a lovely story and thanks to sharing it with us..It is nice to know that in this turbulent indifferent world there are still people who care...
Perhaps, you should send a nice thank you card to the taxi driver..What a great and caring person he was..
ciao,
kismet

Great story, dutyfree. We have had so many instances of kindness from strangers in our travels that I always try to pay it back (or forward) whenever I have the chance.

Paying it forward is the best way!

I had an experience like yours with a taxi driver - he was kind enough to let me plug my phone in to charge. Of course, I got out and left it there. He parked and somehow found me in Heathrow!

Two weeks later, I found a cel phone in a pub near my home. I called one of the numbers in the call list, found the guy and drove his phone to his place of business.

Dutyfree : I agree with the above posters - that in current times, when the kindness of strangers and human goodwill seem to be at a low ebb, instances such as these where people go above the call of duty are very reassuring. I've a few such stories myself (one involving the return of a ring that had us choked to tears) but I'll defer them in place of a question for you. Now that you are home and, given the headaches you were spared and, that you have the driver's cab number, how far would you go to try and communicate your appreciation to the cab driver ? Just curious, nothing else.

I did email the Hotel Aberdeen as they have a special contract with this taxi driver and explained how I would like to thank him(both verbally and possibly in Euros?) They responded that they would pass on my thanks to him and that it was not necessary to send a reward to him. So I will definitely try to "pass it on" but wanted to share something nice about traveling with others on this board.After hearing some horror stories about people paying 70-80 Euros to get from the Rome airport into town-I was pleased to pay 35 Euros for two. I should say that Sabrina who works the desk at the Hotel Aberdeen is one in a million for service,informative tips,etc. on Rome and it was she who was "looking" for my driver via the phone.I did convey to her how much it meant to me.

Thanks for sharing your story, Dutyfree. It's good to know that there are still honest people out there willing to help their fellow man (or woman as the case may be) without expecting anything out it.

Very nice story. And, your mention of Sabrina at the Hotel Aberdeen reminded me of a kindness ... knowing I wanted to go to the Rome Opera (which is located right down the street from the Hotel Aberdeen), and was having some difficulties with schedule discrepancies, she offered to go there herself and find out the definitive information for us, and then to purchase the tickets for us, which we could pay for when we arrived. No extra charges. She said, "It's only just down the street!" These are the things we remember....

Dutyfree: Thank you for sharing this experience. It is particularly nice to hear about an honest and caring taxi driver. We hear so many stories from people who have been cheated, or warnings to watch out for taxi drivers in this city or that. Nice to hear about a kind and honest one!

It is always a pleasure to hearsomething nice for a change.
Thanks,

After reading about the bad taxi drivers in Rome in another posting,I just had to bring this to the top again to let people know that there are some wonderful people out there when you travel. Happy Travels!

>It is always a pleasure to hear something nice for a change.<

ditto