We're ending our trip thru the Cote d'Azur and Tuscany with 2 days in Rome for Easter 2000. We're staying at the Crowne Plaza Rome-Minerva. Should I arrange to drop off my rental car at Fiumicino and then take train or taxi into hotel OR drive in and try to arrange parking? Is there any place at airport to leave excess baggage? Please help me pick the simplest solution!!! Thanks.

Jan, in March we drove into Rome and dropped off our rental car at the train station, which is pretty much centrally located. Driving in Rome was a pain in the ___. Then my husband and kids stayed double parked while I ran into the station to find the car rental desk, which sent us around 1-1/2 blocks to where we actually left the car. The whole thing was somewhat stressful. However, I have taken a cab out to the airport and know that it is a long way, and about a $80 taxi fare. I honestly don't know if there is a train or subway, but I would guess that there would be hotel courtesy vans, ride sharing vans, etc. from the airport to the center of Rome. Perhaps you could ask your hotel's concierge for their assistance. One thing I wouldn't do is keep your car in Rome.

The train service from Rome airport is excellent.I think the trains into the city centre are every 30mins. <BR>I would not dream of driving in Rome,unless I had a death wish.Excess baggage might be a problem.The security at the airport is one of the highest I have ever seen.

Jan: www.airwise.com/airports/europe/FCO/FCO_03a.html claims that there is a "Left Luggage" in the arrivials hall open 24hr. I'd go with the taxi, with the cost of the airport train (~15,000L per person) and a taxi to your hotel (great location, next to the Pantheon) it should only cost ~35,000L more to take a taxi directly from the airport. <BR>Catherine: I must disagree with you on Fiumicino security, I found it to be very lax (feb98). I'd forgot my suspenders beneath my vest and set off the metal detector (twice) and was just waved thru on an international flight. I *should* have been pulled aside and checked with the metal wand detector or searched. Did the same in Athens last Feb. only my boots this time and was just waved thru. HTH Regards, Walter

Walter you must have an honest face!I think we went to Italy in 1995 so your trip was more recent.I think at the time we were there,there had been some international incident or maybe it was the gulf war? Anyway the airport was swarming with guards holding assault rifles and big dogs.I was scared to death,but secretly thrilled.

Last time I went to Rome I drove in. As dumb luck would have it, I arrived around 2 pm (siesta) on a Sunday afternoon (very little traffic). My hotel ordered me a cab - which led me to the AVIS office to drop off the car. Unfortunately, even though I was told the office would be open, it wasn't. We followed the cab BACK to the hotel (and paid him, of course). It became complicated but the concierge at our wonderful hotel took the car off our hands, told AVIS that the contract should end on Sunday (and not on Monday) and had AVIS come to the hotel to pick up the car. Depending on your arrival time, you, too, may be lucky. In any event, I'd ask the concierge of your hotel what he would suggest. I'm sure they go through this all the time... <BR> <BR>Have a great trip. <BR>

Catherine: Honest face, well US Customs and LHR security don't think so but my mom does). Check-out my past post in the "Search" type-in custom searches click-on "Match exact phrase" click-on "General Interest" and "Find". I'm going to Italy again in Nov, I wonder if I'll be adding to my original post. But Catherine the worst part is sometimes because of my appearance I'm mistaken for a *Liberal* (joke from a past post. Regards, Walter <BR>

Jan, If feasible, why not drop it in <BR>Florence, save a day of rental, and train to Rome. The airport in Florence <BR>is easy to access and not in town.

Walter, I found the post lol.You need a t shirt that says don't judge this bloke by his cover.Imagine the problems you would have coming back from Amsterdam.I heard that American customs even search little old ladies off those flights. <BR>Hope you have a hassle free trip this time.

THANK YOU all for your responses! It had never occurred to me to take the train fom Florence! I'll look in to that. And Walter, I too wish you all the best on your Nov. trip after reading your "customs searches" post!