Hello. My wife and I will arrive in Rome FCO at 9:45 p.m. August 9 and plan to take the train to the Termini in Rome and then walk the mile or so to our B&B by the Colosseum. So, we would each be pulling a rolling carry-on through the streets of Rome close to midnight.

Is that reasonably safe or should we just spend the extra for a cab to the B&B (either from the airport or from the Termini). I don't think the metro will be running that late. Any other suggestions? Anyone else arriving at FCO at that time and date who would like to share a cab?

Thanks. Branton

No offense, but your kind of talk makes me seem like a big spender. Scary, no?

Take a taxi, at least from Termini it will be really cheap. Do you really want to be searching for your hotel at midnight ? Just make sure you get in the line for the official taxi, dont get taken in by someone offering you a taxi before you get in line, those will rip you off.

Have fun!

Hi Blackman, The cab from the airport will probably run 50 euro or so. We were just in Rome 2 weeks ago, and spent never more than 10 euro in the old city to go from place to place. The ride from the airport cost us 45 euro. We used ROmecabs, that some have recomended here. There are several services recommended on this forum. Usually the driver can meet you right outside baggage claim. Have a wonderful trip! (If you are like me, it is more difficult to navigate a map and directions at night. So if it was me, I would spring for the cab.) pp

The metro typically runs until 23:30. You could see if it is still open when your train from the airport arrives. Or take a taxi. The area around Termini is not the nicest to be walking late at night.

My LW is always berating me for walking to hotels instead of taking a taxi. It should be around 6-8E from the Termini.

Definitely get a cab from the termini. You'll be tired, and a mile is a long way on Rome's narrow streets with its crazy traffic. Plus, it will be dark and you could have a tough time finding your little B&B. Make sure you have a good street address, with cross streets, too-- give the address to a cabbie and splurge that little bit for a pleasant arrival in Rome. You can skimp on lunch the next day to justify it! Have fun in Rome.

Blachman,

I echo the recommendations about taking a cab to your B&B. Also, you probably thought of this already , make sure your B&B knows you're arriving that late. Sometimes they don't have a person at reception late at night.

When DH & I were in Rome last fall, we dropped off our car near Termini and planned to take a cab to our hotel. Several cabbies we talked to wanted around 20 euros to take us to our B&B near the Colosseum. We decided just to walk since it really wasn't that far. I can tell you that after driving a few hours to get to Rome, then having to pull our luggage down those streets to our B&B, we were not very happy by the time we checked into the room!

When we left Rome though, we had arranged for a shuttle take us to FCO. Taking the shuttle to & from the airport is definitely the way to go. Sure, it cost around 50 euros, but it was so nice to get picked up at the door and dropped off at the airport. No pulling bags along the street, no dealing with the train station.

Since you are getting in so late, I recommend a cab or shuttle from the airport. Don't waste your time dealing with the train station!

Thanks, everyone, for the great advice. I will plan to take a shuttle (I've heard cabs double in price after 10 p.m. Is that true?)

We're getting into Rome so late because of an 8-hour layover in London (changing planes from American Airlines to British Air). I'm going to try to get on an earlier flight once we arrive in London if space available. For that reason I'd rather not pre-book a shuttle since I rome arrival time might change at the last minute.

The shuttle websites all state pre-reservations are a requirement. However, I wonder if any of you have had success just "catching" a shuttle, especially late at night?

Thanks. Branton

Branton....for pete's sake, take a cab and pop for the extra euro's...a day after you get home it will not have made the slightest dent in your net worth. Honest!

Stu T.

I would take the shuttle directly to the b&b.

Hello blachman, I agree with Stu. You will have had a long flight (hope you can take an earlier flight from London) but even than you will be ready to make everything as easy as possible I would think.

But, do keep an eye on the news regarding taxi service in Italy, especially in the large cities like Rome.

I just posted on another thread that the taxidrivers started an unannounced wildcat strike today in all of the large cities and the airpots in Italy.

They are furious as Prodi's new government has announced plans to deregulate the taxi business. Consequently there will be a lot more taxis which have been needed and it is anticipated due to competition the taxi fares will go down.

The taxidrivers are furious. In Italy it is the law that strikes have to be announced in advance and can only last so many hours.

The "annnounced" taxi strike was for July 11th but as previously mentioned the taxidrivers are holding a wildcat strike and they say they will as long as necessary. The PM, Prodi, has said the taxibusiness WILL be deregulated, end of discussion.

Sounds like it was a mess today, especially at the airports.

So do keep that in mind.
Here is a website that will be useful to you. It is http://ansa.it.
No "no www" in the address. The News in English can be clicked on, that is on the left side of the screen. Best regards.

Well, the airlines are saying no luck on changing to an earlier flight for our ticket class. So, we're coming in late.

Stu (tower), I hear what you're saying and if it was 50 euros I think it would be a no brainer. But, is it true that taxi fares double after 10 p.m.? I'd be spending almost as much on the taxi as a night at my B&B.

Graziella5b, the shuttle idea sounds good. From another Forums post (http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34808734) I got this site for a door-to-door limo pickup for 35 euro. http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com Has anyone tried them?

LoveItaly, thanks for the new site. I will keep checking it.

I guess what is making this difficult is our late arrival and trying to figure what will actually be available at that time.

All of you have been wonderful in taking time to provide such excellent nformation.

Thanks again.

Branton

Here's a recent negative review of Rome Shuttle Limousine.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34821955

balchman, have you confirmed your first night in your B&B and paid for it? Here’s a suggestion.

An alternative that I personally love when arriving late in a city, is to stay at a nameless, faceless hotel at the airport instead and then hit the city next morning, fresh and revived. Have to admit that I normally stay in 4-STAR hotels IN the airport, and they are expensive, but I am sure you can look for a 2-3-star hotel that offers a free shuttle, they could arrange a low-cost taxi ride, maybe going into the city as far as EUR, and next morning you could get up early and be ready to brave the public transportation system.

Wow, kybourbon, am I glad you pointed me to that review site. What a nightmare that must have been for those people even if they travelled in the daytime. I can only imagine what it would be like close to midnight.

OReilly, I have confirmed my reservation and they have my CC number, but from what I understand from the site there is only a cancellation fee if within 24 hours of the first night. So, I will investigate your idea to see what is by the airport. My B&B has offered to arrange a shuttle (hopefully, not the Rome shuttle lomi) for 40 euro, but I'm not sure if that was their stock answer ub their confirmation e-mail or if they actually realize the shuttle would be picking me up between 10 and 11 p.m. I will contact them again and see if I can get more clarification. For what it's worth, the B&B is called Arena House http://www.arenahouse.com/

Thanks again, everyone, for your continued help.

Branton

Hello blachman, the hotel at the airport is a Hilton Hotel. It is not inexpensive. Not to far away is a Holiday Inn and they do have a shuttle service from the airport but I don't know how late the shuttle operates. Just for your information. Best regards

Great idea,O'Reilly. I would rarely choose to stay near the airport vs.the city,but this is one of those cases.

Does Priceline have hotels near the airport? You could have a look at www.biddingfortravel.com to see if others have booked airport hotels and how much they paid.

I would never want to prolong the agony by spending one night near the airport, then having to move again the next day.

Blachman, it's not as if you are ariving in the dead of night. If the flight lands at 9:45 p.m., you will be out of there by 10:30, in plenty of time to get a shuttle into Rome and settle in immediately at your B&B.

It's true, though, that most shuttle services have a surcharge for pick-ups after 10:00 p.m. If the shuttle your B&B is offering you costs only 40 Euro for an after 10:00 p.m. pick-up, grab it.