Rome - place to meet and taxis
 

Hello

1. I will be flying to Rome in few days for a conference and arrive there in the morning 7am and I will be meeting a friend who is coming on a different flight around 8 am

none of us have been to Rome and I do know where to meet her. Is it easy to meet next to the airline counter ? we are not going to be going to the baggage area. Any suggestion since I do not know how the airport is set ?


2. Also what will be the cheapest and safest taxis or transportation to Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Via Alberto Cadlolo 101, 00136 Rome, Italy ?


THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP

Here's a terminal map. Yes, you can meet at the airline ticket counter but decide which airline.

Taxis line up outside the terminal, you wait in line and take the next one, just like any airport location. You could also arrange for a private car service. I've used Limo Service Rome.

http://www.ifly.com/rome-leonardo-da...t/terminal-map

http://www.limoservicerome.com/

FCO airport has multiple terminals. An airline such as Alitalia has multiple counter locations within T3, let alone across terminals.

Find a fail-safe alternative. I remember Ron-In-Rome ( http://www.roninrome ) has posted a blog about a good place to meet in FCO airport (something about near a bright yellow-colored column in a specific terminal). Perhaps you may go to his website to search for that article?

Exit through the frosted doors from baggage claim (you have to exit through baggage claim even if you don't have checked luggage) and take a left. There is a cafe with a red awning where you can get something to drink and wait for your friend. That is where I met some friends in June when we were all arriving at different times.

and I believe the new flat rate for official taxis from FCO to the city center is 45 euro.

The Leonardo Express train from the airport to Rome's main train station costs 14 euros. Or there's a bus from terminal 3 also to Stazione Termini for 6 or even 4 euros if on sale: http://www.terravision.eu/fiumicino_...timetable.html.

In both these cases you will have to take a taxi from the train station to your hotel. I don't know what that would cost.

The arrival terminal depends on the routing of your flight. Arrivals from North America usually go into Terminal 5. But if you're coming via a European airport, it might be Terminal 1 or 3.

And getting through immigration can take some time. Probably waiting at a cafe would be most comfortable. I'd research which terminal your flights go into. Or the meeting point could be the train ticket office.

"Find a fail-safe alternative."

Couldn't agree more and I even use the same terminology:).

For that 'Plan B' I would use the 'Left Luggage' (deposito bagagli) area in Terminal 3-Arrivals, that is the *only* Left Luggage service in the airport even if one or both of the parties got lost they could ask at any Info both in any terminal.

Plus being at the very end of that Terminal it's not a crowded area and rather compact so impossible to miss each other. Regards, Walter

Meet at one of your hotels. One of you could have a delayed flight. FCO is just too confusing.

Assuming you are coming from NA and will be landing in Terminal 3

After you pick up your bags you will exit through a set of double doors. Go around the barriers and Look to your left and you will see a big orange concrete pole with a sign that says meeting point. Keep walking left and you will find a small cafe. Grab an espresso and wait for your friend there

Instead of a cab (which will cost 48 euro if your hotel is within the city centre) I would book a transfer with Rome Cabs. Transfer for 2 people in a private car is 50 euro http://www.romecabs.com/transferservice/airports/ I've booked a few transfers through them and they have been excellent.

If you do decide to get a cab, please do a search here about official cabs in Rome, there are scammers hovering around the taxi stand. If someone comes up to you and offers to get you a cab or says you have to reserve the cab through them wave them off. You need to get into the line up behind the barriers along the curb.

oops that should say terminal 5 not 3

Madi,

You don't say where you're coming from - but I'll assume you're not flying in on Alitalia, Air France, or KLM. If you're not on these carriers from a connection in Europe, then you'll probably both come into Terminal 3. The best place to wait - if it's just an hour - would be in the Terminal 3 Arrivals area as outlined in this post: ** http://tinyurl.com/FCO-meet **

As far as getting to the Roma Cavalieri - one of my favorite hotels (see ** http://tinyurl.com/roma-cavalieri **), I'd agree that your best bet is to pre-book a private shuttle. The hotel is outside the "taxi zone" area of Rome so you'll be on the meter if you take a taxi. The price probably won't be much different than the private shuttle. Stefano's team at www.romecabs is great - or you can try Alfredo's folks at www.romashuttle.com. They both do a good job!

For help on getting through T3, you might look at this post: ** http://tinyurl.com/t3-baggage **

Good Luck!!!