I know, I know, I should just take a taxi instead of asking this silly question. But can anyone tell me if it's permissible/acceptable to take the bus or tram in Rome with a large suitcase? Will the driver tell me it's not allowed? Will I be charged two fares? Thanks.

Not a problem at all. In fact I've seen locals hauling new TV sets in huge crates on the busses -- your suitcase will probably be nothing in comparison. Most of the busses have a sort of corral for big packages. We put our luggage there and stood by them, rather than take seats. When we discovered the bus going direct to Termini stopped right across the street from our apartment, we decided it was silly to take a taxi, so we took the bus.

I don;t know the "rules" in rome - but the bigger issue is where the hell would you put it? Do you think everyone else wants to be trippng over your luggage?

If you tried this in NYC the driver would not let you on the bus - at any price. As for the subway - I've seen passengers physicially removed by the conducteor for trying to get on with strange items (and yes - a large suitcase onto a packed train is a strange item!)

Why are you even considering this?

Thanks Patrick!
To NYTraveler, please note that I was asking about Rome transit, NOT NYC transit. ; )

It is definitely doable (on commuter trains and busses) and is definitely inconvenient.

My goal for my recent 10 day trip to Italy in September was NOT to use a taxi or limo service, unless absolutely necessary. So yes, my wife and I carried luggage on the Leonardo Da Vinci express train (overhead luggage rack) from the airport to Roma Termini. Then onto Bus # 64 (we stood by the luggage in the aisle) that got me close to my hotel, Albergo del Senato.

We moved from Roma to Positano while carrying the luggage from Bus #64 back to Termini, onto the Eurostar train (ample luggage compartments) in Roma onto the Circumvesuviana train in Naples (some luggage compartments in each car), onto the SITA bus in Sorrento (luggage compartments under bus) on to Positano, where we carried/rolled our luggage to the hotel.

nytraveler, I'm not sure why you were so strong in making the case about NY busses compared to Rome ones. As I mentioned, the busses there have a special area -- quite large in fact -- for the purpose of luggage and large packages. It is not the issue it would be in New York. A lot of things in Rome work very differently from the way they work in New York!

Hi DonniD
Can you tell me what size bags you took on the buses and trains??

I can tell you my sister took 2 large suitcases(30" on wheels) on the buses, subways and trains because we all had to take turns helping her. She is an overpacker!! Does anyone really need to travel with a tin of dominoes?

No one looked at us funny or refused to let us travel. There are many people traveling with luggage.

I guess NYC is different from other cites. I go to Boston several times a year and there are always students with luggage on the busses and subways.

To me it's a matter of personal comfort (and somewhat good manners), in ANY city ANY where, if I want to use public transportation then I would pack in a smaller suitcase.

Even if it is an everyday thing people do, and perfectly allowable, still YOU have to get it up the stairs into the bus, on to the shelf or overhead rack or whatever. I would not be able to manage a 30" by myself. A 22" is easy, a 24" fully packed my personal max.

Between my wife and I (both mid-40s), we carried (1) 26'' bag, (2) 22'' bags and a atheletic bag. All except the atheletic bag had wheels.

If you can physically manage your bags on/off the plane, you can get them on/off of a bus/train. Sure it's inconvenient, but it is doable. As mentioned by Patrick, busses/trains have standing areas that accomodate people w/luggage.

The only concern that I had was holding onto my bags, and concerns about pick-pockets when busses were over crowded.