Transfers from FCO
 

My wife and I are flying into FCO (Rome) and staying a couple of nights in Civitavecchia before our cruise. The hotel in CIVI is offering a service for their customers from FCO for 55 Euro per person and non-refundable with possible late charges for delayed flights. etc...

Can anyone recommend a car service from FCO to CIVI and at what cost that service may charge for two people one way trip.

So, can anyone suggest an alternative service.

Thanks
Pete & Sue

It looks as though the hotel offer could be a decent option, here compared to a taxi:

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Rome-Airp.../Civitavecchia

Oops, dollars to donuts, or make that Euros. Maybe not such a good deal after all.

Have you posted this in the "cruises" forum? Maybe more information there.

Taxi to central Rome €48.

I am curious as to your decision to spend a few nights in Civitavecchia. The biggest attraction there is a statue of the Madonna which was observed to be shedding real tears about 30 years ago. If I were that close to Rome, I'd spend my time in Rome. If you're planning to rent a car and explore the area, it might make some sense, as there are lots of things to see and do <b>near</b> Civitavecchia, as opposed to <b>in </b> Civitavecchia.

There is a fixed fare for transfers from Fiumicino airport to the port in Civitavecchia, €120 for up to four people and their luggage. This rate wouldn't hold if you're going to a hotel rather than to the port, but it gives you an idea of what a taxi should cost.

You might want to ask www.romeshuttlelimousine.com and www.romecabs.com what they charge. They are both very reliable and should cost about the same as a taxi.

Anyway, €55 per person isn't out of line.

Thank you so much for that information. I will check out those options.

Another issue has popped up and our itinerary has changed slightly and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a reliable car service from Naples to Positano. And, additionally what would be the best train from Rome to Naples for a car to meet us ?

. And, additionally what would be the best train from Rome to Naples for a car to meet us ?

Fastest or cheapest- fastest trains run hourly or so and take little over an hour- IC trains cheaper and slower - regional trains dirt cheap but very slow - check www.trenitalia.com for schedules and fares - book ASAP and get deep discounts on limited in number discounted tickets- but non-changeable non-refundable but much cheaper than full fare.

Check first class for discounted tickets too - 2nd class is fine but as always first class even finer - fewer seats in same size train car - easier to stow luggage and IME often empty seats vs an oft full 2nd class.

For lots on Italian trains - like different between first and second class check www.seat61.com- great advice on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You could easily go by train from the airport to Civitavecchia but you'd have to change trains once - but these are regional trains where you'd only spend a handful of euros all told. Buy those tickets on arrival - flat fare and always dirt cheap- in case you want to save $100 or so.

Thank you again.

When we arrive in Rome we are heading to Civitavecchia prior to boarding a cruise. When we return from the cruise we will be at the boat dock in Civitavecchia and from there want to get to Positano. We had read that it was best to take the train from termini to Naples and try to arrange a car from Naples to Positano but I forgot we're in Civitavecchia and not Rome when we return, can you provide us with advise on the best way to get to termini from civitaveechia and if the train from termini to Naples and the car from there makes the best arrangements ?

If you have "a couple of nights" prior to cruise, why don't you spend it in Rome center? You may take a regional train from Roma Termini to Civitavecchia on the morning of the cruise embarkation day.

On your return, to get from Civitavecchia to Naples by train, go to Trenitalia.com, search
FROM "Civitavecchia"
TO "Napoli Centrale".
On the results, click on the Vedi link to view the train details and changes.

You train from Civitavecchia will arrive at Roma Termini on a platform (binario 25?) that requires a 10-minute walk to the main hall, then you'll need to find and get to the platform for your connecting train to Napoli Centrale.

The regional train from Civitavecchia to Roma Termini sometimes runs late. I do not know what will happen if it causes you to miss the connecting fast train to Naples after you have already purchased the tickets from "Civitavecchia" to "Napoli Centrale" as connecting tickets. Hope someone more knowledgeable in that area may give you good advice here.

I recommend a private transfer service that you can book on line there are various companies I have traveled recently with www.romeairportshuttlelimoservice.com
the cost is reasonable and the service was impeccable.

What is your last cruise stop before Civitavecchia?

You are getting a lot of somewhat conflicting advice IMO. We have made that run five times so we have it down pat BUT it depends a lot on what you prefer to do and pay. We tend to run on the economy side so what we suggest might not appeal to you.

First, look on the map. Civit... is located about an hour west and a little north of Rome. The airport is somewhat SW of Rome so the actually distance between the airport and Civit.. is reasonable but still about an hours drive via taxi. There is no direct public transit between the airport and Civit.. So the only choice is a taxi or limo in the range of about 100 euro.

Second, there is nothing to see in Civit.. for a couple of nights. A couple of interesting areas outside of Civit.. but not worth a couple of nights -- IMO. Civit is basically an industrial port city.

Third, when we catch cruises out of Civit.. we always spend a couple of nights in Rome both coming and going. The train between Rome and Civit is basically a commuter run between 45 mins and an hour 15 depending on the train and runs three to four times an hour except on Sunday when the number is a couple an hour. Cost is in the range of 8 to 12 euro - again depending on the train.

Our pattern is to take the Leonard Express from the airport to Termini and stay in the Termini area. The LE is 14 euro each, twice an hour. Or the taxi is fixed at 48 euro for four people and luggage.

On the day of departure we will catch a train around noon or so to Civit.. Arrive in Civit around 1 to 2pm. From the train station it is an easy walk along the beach to the port entrance. You can see your ship from the train station. About a third of a mile and flat. For there a shuttle will take us to our check-in point.

If disembarking at Civit... obviously the reverse. But make sure you buy a Regionale train station somewhere prior to Civit... so that you get off your ship, get to the station, validate (time stamp) your ticket in a yellow/blue/green box on the back of the station and board the first R train to Rome. Be absolutely certain it is an R train. About an hour and fifteen. The reason for the ticket ahead of time is that the small station in Civit.. will be absolutely jammed with other travelers headed to Rome. It could take as long to buy a ticket as the ride to Rome. A Regionale train ticket is an open ticket that can be used anytime on any R train to Rome - just be sure to validate. The drawback??? no reserve seat and once we stood all the way to Rome. But all the other times we found a seat.

Positano is a little harder to get to. You could take a fast train to Salerno (about 2 hours)from Termini and then either a bus, taxi, or my preference a ferry to Positano. A great view from the sea. Going via Sorrento requires a miserable train change in Naples. No point in going to Naples and then a car. Via Salerno is a better option.

PS -- Forgot to add. My recommendations is based on a reasonable amount of luggage. With more than a dozen cruises behinds us over the years we have evolved luggage wise into three carry on size bags for the two of us. Use to be two backpack style carry-on with one rolling. Now we are in our mid 70s it is two rolling carry-on size and one backpack carryon. Don't know what we will do if I cannot handle the backpack. But that time is probably coming.

Good luck.

fmpden,

thank you so much for that very helpful advice. Where would you recommend staying around the termini area if we decided to spend our time there rather than the Civitavecchia area prior to our cruise.

Termini has loads of hotels but is not generally the most exciting area - Rome's metro makes it easy to get from Termini anywhere in Rome - or cabs.

The Termini area is safe - I always stay there but because it has a surfeit of cheaper hotels.

We always stay in the Termini area for its convenience to transit both train and buses. We use Hotel Sonya near the Opera house and Hotel Aberdeen. It is a decent area with several good restaurants. Easy to walk to most other sits but it is an hour hike across town to the Vatican but an easy bus ride.

I've stayed at Hotel Giuliana twice and would again. About 10 minutes walk from Termini in a pleasant neighborhood, friendly staff, nicely decorated rooms and modestly priced. There's a neighborhood market some days in the street alongside. http://www.hotelgiuliana.com/index.php