Summoning a cab in Florence when you're not in a hotel
 

I'm ready to rent an apartment in Florence for my next vacation. Have done this before, and it was wonderful, except for the inability to get a cab for the return trip to the airport. I called 20-25 times over 90 minutes to hear that none were available (Saturday morning 10-11 am.) Finally sent my husband to a hotel down the street where the desk clerk kindly offered to call the cab, and we were on our way in a few minutes. I don't want to plan on doing it this way next time. What are my other options if we are not located near a taxi stand? Your suggestions very much appreciated.

We have radio cab in Bologna; and they are amazingly efficient. Did you look specifically for &quot;radio taxi?&quot; I think it's a chain.<BR><BR>

Yes, I specifically called the number for a &quot;radio taxi&quot;. The people who answered were polite and certainly understood my request but after checking, always told me that no cabs were available.

Well, what exactly is wrong with walking to the nearest Taxi stand or hotel and fetching a taxi that way? It would only cost a bit more for them to come around to wherever you are and load up before heading to the airport. Sound like a good plan to me.

Go into a tourist center and hire a car to pick you up, forget calling taxis, the center will most likely provide you with driver's names and numbers. Or go to an high end hotel and get some references for drivers.

I agree with the previous poster, since calling the taxi company didn't work. Forget the taxi stands in Florence. My elderly mother, sister and I stood at a taxi stand in Florence for 30 minutes as they kept whizzing by - no luck. I finally went about a block over to a busy street and flagged one down. This was the only way to get one away from the major tourist sites.

Florence has several radiotaxi companies, their telephone numbers are 055 4242, 055 4390, 055 4798. Also, locate one or more taxi stands near your house, there should be a telephone (in a metal box) somewhere with a telephone number written on it, note down the numer and call directly the taxi stands (this way you have far better opportunities than standing at ONE taxi stand. Another alternative, if you happen to be near the station, talk to a taxi driver and ask him to pick you up at your address, in other words fix a date with a driver. FInally, check if there are bus lines that connect your house to the station: buses are cheaper and easier to use than taxis, as long as you do not have to change lines (http://www.ataf.net/Default_EN.asp).

Thank you for your suggestions. I actually did call all of those numbers for the radiotaxis in rotation, and I did have a list of taxi stand numbers, but none was near my apartment. I think making prior arrangements with a driver may be best, especially via a tourist office, since my italian is very minimal. I would certainly use a bus on those occasions when I had just a small amount of luggage.