We will be traveling in November to Rome. Our vacation package charges alot for "private car transfer" but the guidebooks talk about taxi problems and suggest taking the train from FCO to our hotel. So the 2 of us are wondering which would be best on a Sunday AM arrival?<BR>

We took the train, with our two piees of luggage. It wasn't a problem, especially since our hotel was only a few blocks away from the central train station. I believe a taxi will be expensive.

Neither--try www.airportshuttle.it

Lyn,<BR>on our arrival in Rome we went to the Hotel Reservations desk at the airport and bought 2 tickets for the hotel shuttle. I had the name and address of our hotel written down to show them as my Italian is a little basic. The shuttle van fitted about 6 people plus luggage. Cost was 10.50 euro per person. Very convenient, they dropped us at the hotel door.<BR>Kay

I've been to Rome a few times and have always taken the train, which is a far cheaper alternative than taking a taxi. I got into a taxi once from the airport and got out once I was told the fare would be US$100 to the city center!? Not sure if I just got a rogue taxi driver, but I have taken the train since. However the hotel shuttle bus that someone mentioned on this post sounds like an even better alternative, especially since the train to the city only runs a couple of times an hour and you will most likely have to take a taxi from the train station to your hotel.

We took a taxi - it cost us just under 40 Euros from the airport to Rome (it's about 10 or 11 Euros cheaper the other way, incidentally - something to do with tolls, I think)<BR><BR>Be very very careful at the airport, though, and ignore all the official looking people asking if you want a taxi as you walk out the door. Just walk straight past them all and go to the taxi rank. Make sure it's on the meter when you go, but that shouldn't be a problem. They should change the rate from 2 to 1 at the city limits. All the rate info is displayed inside the taxi.<BR><BR>We were offered the hotel shuttle, but wanted the convenience of going straight to our hotel.<BR><BR>If you go for the train, remember to factor in the cost of a taxi from the station, unless your hotel is near the station or a metro station or bus route that's easy from the station. It all comes down to convenience versus cost, I suppose.

Are all hotels in Rome available through the Hotel Reservations desk at the airport? We have reservations at Grand Hotel Gianicolo. Thanks

Alex:<BR><BR>The taxi you entered was probably and unauthorized one. No regular Italian taxi driver is able to tell you how much the ride will cost you, except in a very generic way, because all regular taxis are equipped witha meter that calculates prices according to a sistem of tariffs which is quite complex. Yet, the train is still far cheaper than the taxi: depending on the traffic and the hour of the day, a taxi ride from the airport to the center of Rome costs 40-65 euro.

Lyn: There are many of us who cannot stress enough that if you choose the taxi, go straight to the taxi ranks. Do not be stopped by the impeccably dressed, very mannerly drivers who roam the entrance with walkie talkies. They are not official taxi drivers. They charge 80-100 Euros for a 40 Euro or less ride. <BR><BR>Otherwise, same advice as above. If you must take taxi from train to get to hotel, then just take the taxi or the shuttle as Bob suggests.