Leoni

My husband and I have a 6:00 a.m. flight out of Naples, Italy which means we would probably need to be there by 4:30 a.m. the latest. Does anyone have any suggestions on Hotel and mode of transportation to the airport? We keep reading the horrors of taxi gauging for even a short distance. Are there any hotels that offer airport shuttles?

Desperate,
Leoni

kybourbon

Taxis in Naples have set fees so as long as it's an official taxi (Comune Napoli), then it shouldn't be a problem, but you are supposed to request the flat fare. There is probably an extra night charge. On this link, scroll down to the pdf's and click on the visualizza le tariffe. Print it to take with you. Page 2 is in English.
http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/.../IDPagina/1193

greg

I am sort of suspicious about taxis in any city. Before getting into one I always 1) find out how much it is supposed to cost 2) ask the driver to say about how much it would cost. If the figure is close enough, I get in. If the driver mumbles or pretends he does not understand me, I don't get in or allow him to put luggage in the trunk. For me, it is a telltale sign of the intention to gauge.

It makes more difficult for a driver to gauge you later on with a figure significantly higher than what the driver said before the trip.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

With the airport alarmingly close to the centre of the city, and not particularly welcoming to businesses making casual pickups and dropoffs, few of the hotels go to the expense of providing shuttles.

If concerned about gouging (?), do be sure to read up on how to use the city taxis - an English version of that sound advice from the authorities in Naples can be seen here:

http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/.../IDPagina/6665

... although, with little traffic so early in the morning, you'd probably pay less on the meter than under the 'Flat Fare' scheme - whose homogenised (?) prices supposedly take the likelihood of such things into account!

But in case you choose to use the scheme, might I suggest something?

.... before starting an argument with the driver, be sure you know quite which of the various districts your hotel falls into - if need be, by asking when making the booking the previous evening. A combination of suspicion and ignorance is rarely productive?

For accommodation, you might have a look at what's been proposed to people asking a similar question "elsewhere"...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/SearchF...el&x=0&y=0&s=D

Peter

ekscrunchy

See ideas here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ious-night.cfm


For the record, I always stay in the center city before a flight. I do remember an attempt at taxi overcharging, however.