cathies

Hi, We will fly into Rome at about 11.30am on a Friday from Australia. I cannot for the life of me work out how to get to our accommodation which is a convent at Via del Casaletto, 538 Rome 00151. If anyone can help I would be so grateful. We would prefer to catch a train, as the cost of our last experience with a taxi in Rome still gives us nightmares!! thanks in advance Cathie

viking

On arrival I would first check the shuttle bus / van kind of kiosk and see if they handle that outskirt location. When I used it they were fast and cheap even though they are dropping other folks off along the way. The airport train line has a special very high fare, and will land you on the wrong side of town with awkward transfers I think.

Grinisa

Your convent is far off the beaten track so public transportation would be an involved trip. You are not located near any metro stops so you would have to take a bus, more than likely two or three different buses to reach this remote location and that's afer you take the airport train to Termini. The convent is located closer to the train station at Trastevere, but you would still need to take public transportation from there. Maybe take the train to Trastevere (it doesn't run as frequently from FCO as does the Leonardo Express to Termini) then a taxi from the Trastevere station to your convent. But after a long flight from Australia, I would not want to be on various modes of public transportation and the price of a taxi or private shuttle would be well worth it. I'm not sure what happened with your last taxi trip, but I suspect you took a non licensed cab and got the run around. Licensed taxis have a fixed rate from the airport to central Rome, 40 or 50 Euro. When taking a taxi, it is important to ignore the taxi shills inside the airport or on the curb trying to pull you into one of their cabs. Go out to the official taxi stand and get in line.

kybourbon

Actually the local train from the airport to Trastevere runs more often (about 4 per hour 5.5&eurothan the Leonardo Express which goes to Termini(2 per hour 11.5&euro. I would ask the convent about connections from the airport or you can use www.atac.roma.it to plot your route.

www.romeshuttlelimousine.com is 35€ for up to 3 passengers.

Therese

kybourbon is correct: the FR1 train is more frequent and cheaper than the Leonardo Express. It does stop en route, but is still a convenient means of accessing Fiumicino airport. You catch it at the same place you'd catch the Express, on a parallel track. You can buy your ticket from the window right next to the track (validate it in the yellow machine at the head of the track before boarding).

As per the ATAC website, you'll take the FR1 for six stops, getting off at Villa Bonelli. You'll transfer to bus #44 (headed towards Piazza Venezia) and travel 8 stops, disembarking at Colli Portuensi/Newton. Your final address is not far from this stop: via del Casaletto is right off of of via Portuense (plug your address into google maps and you'll see it).

The transfer to the bus will require that you buy a ticket (and were I you I'd go ahead and get a pass, as your location means that you'll be taking lots of buses; the weekly pass is called a CIS and requires that you validate only once, the first time you board a bus or tram). This is easily done at any small shop that sells tobacco and newspapers (there will be one in the station when you come up) and you'll be able to ask for precise directions to the bus stop at the same time. It will be nearby, but it can be a bit disorienting to try and find it when you first emerge from the station, so don't hesitate to ask.

The bus driver will be happy to let you know when your stop is approaching if you ask him to do so, and can also point you in the right direction for your street.

This trip is neither difficult nor complicated.

bobthenavigator

www.airportshuttle.it

Therese

Okay, I just checked the map at http://www.atac.roma.it/ to see precisely where your stop is relative to your street address as per google maps, and you will want to look carefully at the map to see the orientation of the roads there. The satellite version is also helpful, I think.

Therese

The establishment's web site suggests this alternate routing, which requires another transfer but drops you right in front:

"Dall'Aereoporto : Trenino metropolitano delle F.S. fino alla Staz.Trastevere, quindi prendere il tram 8 fino al capolinea e poi l'870 fino all'ingresso della Casa di Accoglienza"

So, the same train as I mentioned above, but to Trastevere station (one stop farther along). Transfer to the tram (ask the person at the shop selling tickets precisely where the stop is---the trams are light green) to its end (not the Largo Argentina end, but the other one) and then transfer to bus 870. This bus runs all the way down via del Casaletto, and I have the feeling you're going to be riding it quite a bit.

When you're ready to do some sight seeing you'll find that tram 8 up to Largo Argentina (the other end)is very convenient, dropping you an easy walk from Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Navona.

More info for the venue at: http://www.alcasaletto.com/index.htm

jabez

Ditto with www.romeshuttlelimousine.com .

KTtravel

I highly recommend taking one of the shuttle/limo services as suggested by several of the posters here.

After a negative taxi experience our first time to Rome, we arranged for a car service the second time and what a difference it made! Our plane was delayed several hours but our driver patiently waited for us. On top of that, there was a taxi strike that day so I don't know how we would have managed otherwise. (I have also been in Italy when there were train strikes so would be reluctant to count on the train.)

JoanneH

bite the bullet take the rome shuttle it should run about 35-50e

cathies

Thank you everyone, especially Therese for such detail. I hope we haven't made a mistake with the location of the convent. Is it going to be a lengthy trip into the centre of Rome for sightseeing? Cathie

WillTravel

If you could, I'd get a place nearer the center. Basically it sounds like you will have to take the 870 bus and then the tram to Largo Argentina (as described previously) in order to be in the main sightseeing area. How long is this going to take every day? I think going back to your room during the day will be very time-consuming.

If you look at a map of Rome, Largo Argentina is sort of the tourist epicenter for convenience and sightseeing.

Therese

This is not necessarily a bad location, IMO, as it's quiet and surrounded by what looks to be a lovely park, so possibly a very nice respite from crowds depending on the time of year.

The tram ride to Largo Argentina is not prohibitively long by any means, and will take you through Trastevere (which you should definitely visit) and across the Tiber before ending at Largo Argentina, from where you can either walk to sites, or catch another bus to farther sites.

cathies, how did you find this lodging? Is there a curfew? I would guess that the rates are quite good, and it looks to have very good services.

cathies

Hi Therese, I'm so pleased you feel that the location is ok. I googled convents in Rome and amongst others I got monasterystays.com. It is quite inexpensive (breakfast included) and I did like the pretty gardens etc. I don't have the paperwork in front of me, but from memory there maybe an 11pm curfew, however, I don't think it will be a problem for us. We like to get up and out the door early when we are on hols, so by about 10pm we are absolutely exhausted and happy to be back at our base. We will be there in mid May for 5 nights. It's not long now and we are very excited!!

Grapestoo

Romeshuttlelimousine~~ worked perfectly for us. Our flight arrived one hour early...and the driver met us soon after we walked in to the arrivals lobby! 35€ for two w/two pieces of luggage. Took us to the door of our accommodation, helped w/luggage. We used the service on 21 Feb. After a long trip we were happy to have car service instead of dealing wluggage, train etc. At departure we took the Leonardo Express. Both options worked well for us.

Mamaw

We Loved Stefano from Romecabs. He is such a nice gentleman and speaks great english. He was on time (when we were delayed we just called him from CDG)We also used him for tours in Rome. We had 8 family members and some left early while other's stayed on, so he made 2 more trips to the airport with us.

Check him out...

kurochca

I am planning to use Rome Shuttle Limousine from Flumichino. When should I pay: at the booking or to the driver? Thank you.

Statia

I also used Stefano with Rome Cabs for airport transfers and a couple tours (since my mother had mobility issues) and was very, very pleased.

yeadonite

I used rome shuttle limousine based on Fodor recommendations and they were great. www.romeshuttlelimousine.com