Subway or taxi with bags in Rome?
Feb 25th, 2001, 05:08 AM
#1
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Subway or taxi with bags in Rome?
I chose a small hotel near the Spanish steps and close to a subway stop thinking we could go from Station Termini to the hotel via subway without a problem. After reading some posts, I'm wondering if we are going to have trouble hauling our wheeled duffles through the crowds and subways while keeping our 2 teenagers in sight. Any thoughts?
Feb 25th, 2001, 06:10 AM
#2
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If you're backpacking you may not find the subway a particular problem.
Otherwise if you've much luggage at all you may find the l o n g stairs and long corridors a bit of a problem. Spagna, in particular, has some of the longest corridors and stairs I've ever seen.
There are escalators many places (including Spagna), although escalator maintenance and repair seems not to be an especial Italian strength.
Fitting four into a cab might be a bit of a problem, but you really should look at a taxi or hire car for your trip from the airport.
Some cab drivers will cooperate. If not, there is a desk inside the arrivals area where you can hire a car. You should pay no more than LIT100,000, which you may find won't turn out to be much of a premium over train/subway route given the problems with toting the luggage.
That's a long way of saying, "After an over-long transatlantic flight there's no way in Hades I'd schlep my bags on the subway and down Rome's cobblestone streets."
Ed
Otherwise if you've much luggage at all you may find the l o n g stairs and long corridors a bit of a problem. Spagna, in particular, has some of the longest corridors and stairs I've ever seen.
There are escalators many places (including Spagna), although escalator maintenance and repair seems not to be an especial Italian strength.
Fitting four into a cab might be a bit of a problem, but you really should look at a taxi or hire car for your trip from the airport.
Some cab drivers will cooperate. If not, there is a desk inside the arrivals area where you can hire a car. You should pay no more than LIT100,000, which you may find won't turn out to be much of a premium over train/subway route given the problems with toting the luggage.
That's a long way of saying, "After an over-long transatlantic flight there's no way in Hades I'd schlep my bags on the subway and down Rome's cobblestone streets."
Ed
Feb 25th, 2001, 06:26 AM
#3
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I interpreted your question to imply that you were arriving in Rome by train from some other point in Europe - - not that you are arriving from the airport.
I would personally take a taxi too.
And Ed was modest in not pointing out the compilation of info available on the Ed'n'Julie web site - - www.twenj.com - - inlcuding this one noteworthy excerpt from the "Getting around" page:
==========================
Be aware of surcharges for evenings, Sundays, holidays and luggage. These and the basic rates will be posted in licensed cabs in several languages. There are, as in any city, a number of unlicensed cabs operating, especially out of the Termini area; these should be avoided.
There are so many alleys in Rome, closed and one-way streets that there's no perfect route from A to B. Often we thought we were being fleeced only to discover the total fare was less than the last similar trip.
==========================
I would personally take a taxi too.
And Ed was modest in not pointing out the compilation of info available on the Ed'n'Julie web site - - www.twenj.com - - inlcuding this one noteworthy excerpt from the "Getting around" page:
==========================
Be aware of surcharges for evenings, Sundays, holidays and luggage. These and the basic rates will be posted in licensed cabs in several languages. There are, as in any city, a number of unlicensed cabs operating, especially out of the Termini area; these should be avoided.
There are so many alleys in Rome, closed and one-way streets that there's no perfect route from A to B. Often we thought we were being fleeced only to discover the total fare was less than the last similar trip.
==========================
Feb 25th, 2001, 07:10 AM
#6
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Ed's right! You can hire a van quite easily from the train station or airport too. Taxi rides in Rome are an E-ticket. Be clear on the price before you go in. Taxi rides should be inexpensive compared to most cities. And, most drivers are friendly, honest people, but some will take advantage.
Finally, I ride subways all over the world but Rome's. Others will probably not feel so extreme, but picpockets are notorious on the subways, they are incredibly crowded and the lines are very limited. Rome is such a beautiful city, I'd take a taxi to get around since they are so cheap.
Finally, I ride subways all over the world but Rome's. Others will probably not feel so extreme, but picpockets are notorious on the subways, they are incredibly crowded and the lines are very limited. Rome is such a beautiful city, I'd take a taxi to get around since they are so cheap.
Feb 25th, 2001, 07:53 AM
#8
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I, too, had my only experience ever with a pickpocket on the subway in Rome. not very skilled, as I felt the fingers, and I didn't lose any of the (considerable) cash I had there (front pocket, not rear (wallet) pocket.
It was quite an odd experience. The doors were already closed, and I just shouted "NO" and I never could tell who had done it, but presumably it was someone who remained just a few feet away from me - - at least until the next stop.
I'm not saying to NEVER use the subway in Rome. But chances are, you will want to factor these experiences into how you DO use it.
It was quite an odd experience. The doors were already closed, and I just shouted "NO" and I never could tell who had done it, but presumably it was someone who remained just a few feet away from me - - at least until the next stop.
I'm not saying to NEVER use the subway in Rome. But chances are, you will want to factor these experiences into how you DO use it.
Feb 25th, 2001, 11:45 AM
#11
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Hi, good advice everyone...thanks! We're flying into Rome at the end of March. I know that a train runs from the airport to Termini, but don't know how easy it is to get to. For instance, is there a station right at the airport or do you need to catch some kind of a shuttle bus to the train station? We'd like to take the train to save money but not if it's going to be a real hassle to get to it, and then worry about pickpockets besides. Also, Ed...you mentioned that a taxi would be about 100,000 lira from the airport; would that be per person, or for the taxi? (there will be two of us) Thanks, in advance, for any advice.
Feb 25th, 2001, 01:21 PM
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C. Craft-
On our trip to Italy three years ago, we took the train from the airport to Termini, then the underground to Spagna after a trans-atlantic flight to Frankfurt, then another flight from Frankfurt to Rome. It was just the two of us, as our teens were at camp, but we had absolutely no problem doing it this way.
The train station is right at the airport, not too far from passport control, if I remember correctly. And when we got to Spagna, there was a lift that took us right up to the street behind the Spanish Steps where we had maybe a 200 foot walk to our hotel.
I'm not saying this is easier than a cab, but it is definately doable. I found it easier than the train/Metro connection from Charles de Gaulle into central Paris. And I never had a problem with pickpockets in any part of Italy. I did so, though, in Line 1 of the Paris Metro near the Louvre. He got nothing, as I felt his fingers and turned around and scared him off.
The train station is right at the airport
On our trip to Italy three years ago, we took the train from the airport to Termini, then the underground to Spagna after a trans-atlantic flight to Frankfurt, then another flight from Frankfurt to Rome. It was just the two of us, as our teens were at camp, but we had absolutely no problem doing it this way.
The train station is right at the airport, not too far from passport control, if I remember correctly. And when we got to Spagna, there was a lift that took us right up to the street behind the Spanish Steps where we had maybe a 200 foot walk to our hotel.
I'm not saying this is easier than a cab, but it is definately doable. I found it easier than the train/Metro connection from Charles de Gaulle into central Paris. And I never had a problem with pickpockets in any part of Italy. I did so, though, in Line 1 of the Paris Metro near the Louvre. He got nothing, as I felt his fingers and turned around and scared him off.
The train station is right at the airport
Feb 25th, 2001, 01:26 PM
#13
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Capo:
The train is right outside the terminal on the departure level; no transport other than feet required. Service twice hourly ... I think at :21 and :51 or close to that.
The price I quoted for C. Craft was for a minivan or large car since they are four and many cabs will not let the fourth person ride in the front seat.
A regular taxi from the airport should run LIT80,000-90,000, roughly perhaps a bit less, usually not more. That's for the taxi, not per person.
Here are the numbers, in very round numbers, for two:
Train $16
Taxi $40
Savings: $24
Add subway from termini to hotel, plus walk: $1.50
Add taxi from termini to hotel, $5. Strongly recommended, though it often can be a bear to get a legit taxi at Termini.
Net savings run from under $24 to less than $20.
The extra expense is more than worth it for us after a long transatlantic flight, then taking into account steep, long stairs, long corridors (forgot to mention ... corridors 'carpeted' with dimpled rubber so if you have rollabouts the sound is super), and cobblestoned streets.
As the French say: Chacun a son gout.
Ed
The train is right outside the terminal on the departure level; no transport other than feet required. Service twice hourly ... I think at :21 and :51 or close to that.
The price I quoted for C. Craft was for a minivan or large car since they are four and many cabs will not let the fourth person ride in the front seat.
A regular taxi from the airport should run LIT80,000-90,000, roughly perhaps a bit less, usually not more. That's for the taxi, not per person.
Here are the numbers, in very round numbers, for two:
Train $16
Taxi $40
Savings: $24
Add subway from termini to hotel, plus walk: $1.50
Add taxi from termini to hotel, $5. Strongly recommended, though it often can be a bear to get a legit taxi at Termini.
Net savings run from under $24 to less than $20.
The extra expense is more than worth it for us after a long transatlantic flight, then taking into account steep, long stairs, long corridors (forgot to mention ... corridors 'carpeted' with dimpled rubber so if you have rollabouts the sound is super), and cobblestoned streets.
As the French say: Chacun a son gout.
Ed
Feb 25th, 2001, 01:52 PM
#14
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Elaine, thank you very much for your info about the train station at the airport...I really appreciate it. I thought I'd remembered reading that the station was quite some distance from the airport, or hard to find, but from what you (and Ed) wrote, that does not appear to be the case. (Although, by now, I'm used to connecting to the RER into Paris from CDG, the first time I found it very confusing and am puzzled that CDG doesn't make the connection easier.)
Ed, thanks very much for your info as well...I appreciate it, especially providing $$ for comparsion. From the numbers you mentioned, it certainly appears that taxing a taxi from the airport would be a minor "luxury" that is well worth the small additional cost, especially since we'll arrrive jet-lagged. "Chacun a son gout." Oui! Très vrai, très vrai!
One more question, if you wouldn't mind. We have a super-early flight when we depart from Rome, around 6:00 am, meaning we'll probably need to leave our B&B around 3:00 am or so. I presume taxis run at all hours? Can you pick them up anywhere, or can you make a reservation ahead of time? Or, do you think we'd be better off trying to get a hotel near the airport for our final night? Thanks again.
Ed, thanks very much for your info as well...I appreciate it, especially providing $$ for comparsion. From the numbers you mentioned, it certainly appears that taxing a taxi from the airport would be a minor "luxury" that is well worth the small additional cost, especially since we'll arrrive jet-lagged. "Chacun a son gout." Oui! Très vrai, très vrai!
One more question, if you wouldn't mind. We have a super-early flight when we depart from Rome, around 6:00 am, meaning we'll probably need to leave our B&B around 3:00 am or so. I presume taxis run at all hours? Can you pick them up anywhere, or can you make a reservation ahead of time? Or, do you think we'd be better off trying to get a hotel near the airport for our final night? Thanks again.
Feb 25th, 2001, 02:05 PM
#15
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I'm a strong believer in staying in the city the last night. Any of the many hotels we've stayed in will happily reserve a cab for you the night before ... do check when you get there. Traffic to the airport is light at that hour as you can imagine and the trip should take little more than 30 minutes at that time of day.
If you decide you want to stay at/near the airport you'll find a short list of eligible hotels at www.twenj.com/romehtlapt.htm
As far as I know none of their shuttle services would start early enough to make an 0600 flight. The Hilton, though, is directly at the airport ... with, usually, a budget-blowing price.
Ed
If you decide you want to stay at/near the airport you'll find a short list of eligible hotels at www.twenj.com/romehtlapt.htm
As far as I know none of their shuttle services would start early enough to make an 0600 flight. The Hilton, though, is directly at the airport ... with, usually, a budget-blowing price.
Ed
Feb 25th, 2001, 02:18 PM
#16
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Thanks again, Ed! Since we're not staying in a hotel, but a B&B, our final night, I guess I'm not sure they could reserve a cab for us, but we'll think of something. Anyway, I think we'll probably stay in Rome that final night.
By the way, I found your website via a link from, as I recall, a B&B website and both my girlfriend & I have been tremendously impressed by the information you guys have put together. You obviously love Rome and your love and enthusiasm for it are helping to get us even more excited about our first trip there than we already have been. We're busy copying down a lot of your recommendations. (Since Paris is my favorite city in Europe, by far, I'm wondering if Rome might end up replacing it as my favorite, or whether it will be a city that I really like, but wouldn't like enough to consider returning to.)
By the way, I found your website via a link from, as I recall, a B&B website and both my girlfriend & I have been tremendously impressed by the information you guys have put together. You obviously love Rome and your love and enthusiasm for it are helping to get us even more excited about our first trip there than we already have been. We're busy copying down a lot of your recommendations. (Since Paris is my favorite city in Europe, by far, I'm wondering if Rome might end up replacing it as my favorite, or whether it will be a city that I really like, but wouldn't like enough to consider returning to.)
Feb 26th, 2001, 05:35 PM
#20
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My husband, mother-in-law, daughter & I were in Rome 2 1/2 yrs ago & my spouse & I returned again this last October. We tried to get a taxi from the Bus/Train station in the heart of Rome to our Hotel on Via Cavour the 1st time w/o a very good idea of the location. The taxi driver argued & tried to charge us the equivalent of $14 to drive to our Hotel when my daughter looked up & saw the sign within 1/2 block of the station. We walked & despite being tired, 10:30 pm & my mother-in law being 79, trundeling our carry-on's behind us.
I also had the unpleasant experience of nearly being pickpocketed with my huge FBI looking husband, by my side, on a bus that is labeled as the "tourist/pickpocket bus" from the Vatican in a rain storm ---?#9.
The rest of the trips were fine, just heads up, look @ your maps & watch your wallet.
Have a great trip!
I also had the unpleasant experience of nearly being pickpocketed with my huge FBI looking husband, by my side, on a bus that is labeled as the "tourist/pickpocket bus" from the Vatican in a rain storm ---?#9.
The rest of the trips were fine, just heads up, look @ your maps & watch your wallet.
Have a great trip!
