Are taxis easy and affordable in Rome? I don't speak any Italian so what's the best way to communicate?

I consider them easy and affordable. And writing down your destination is the safest way to communicate. If you're staying at a hotel in an obscure area, they may be able to provide with printed business cards, which might even include a little neighborhood map, if it's an unusual location.<BR><BR>Do you have any other specialized needs you want to communicate to the driver?<BR><BR>Don't get into any cab that doesn't have a meter. Reading it and paying doesn't particularly require communication skills.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I agree with Rex. We took taxis all over Rome and always arrived quickly and the far was inexpensive. <BR><BR>Of course, it helps if you can communicate, but if not, just write down the address or destination.

topping, for Gloria...<BR><BR>

Just asked a somewhat similar question on a post about Borghese Gallery. How can we get a taxi that will carry four adults there and back from the Vatican?<BR>

They cannot really be hailed on the street easily like in London, but it is not too hard. We found most fares for short jaunts of 1 - 2 miles ran around $8-$10. Your best bet to catch on is to:<BR><BR>a) find the nearest official taxi stand<BR>b) go to the main entrance of the nearest hotel.<BR>c) go to the nearest big tourist site, there's often a taxi or two parked waiting for a fare.<BR><BR>You don't really have to speak Italian. Just have to pronounce the name of where you want to go and be able to read the numbers on the meter. You can write down the name/address or point to it on a map also. Always prefix your request with "Per favore" and say "Grazie." We found the taxi drivers to be very nice.<BR><BR>If in a restaurant or such place, you can have them call a dispatch taxi for you but the meter will run from the time the taxi is dispatched.

I think that the point of the question was missed. Has to do with the difficulty of finding a taxi driver who will actually take four adults.<BR>

I am interested in the answer to this question too. About 4 people in a cab.<BR>

Just back from Italy a few days ago and the four of us used taxis several times in Rome--one person sat in front and three in back seat. Not once a problem including the two times we had our luggage.

Ditto Rex's advice about no meter. I got into a cab without a meter and was totally ripped off. I warned a friend about this, she was tired and did it anyway and was also charged way too much. The drivers come into the train stations etc., offer to help with luggage (try to take it to their cab), you are tired, and go with it. Don't do it - it will cost you 3 times as much!

ditto the whole thread<BR>

The 4 of us want to take the land taxi (not water taxi) from Marco Polo Airport to Venice train station. We understand taxi will let us off at Pizzale Roma, and we must walk the rest. How long will is the taxi ride, how much should it cost, and can taxi take 4 with baggage? Thanks.

Before you get in a taxi make sure it has a number plate on the back displaying the taxi number, check for the big yellow sticker on the side with the wolf and s.p.q.r written and check for the sign on the top. call 064994 for a taxi that seats up to 5 people and if you have any trouble simply call 112 for the police, they don't like cabbies!