Hi everyone,

First time poster here. I need some quick help and advice on an rapidly upcoming trip to Rome. I know I should have posted earlier but, well ... I've read several guidebooks (Rick Steve's Rome 2008, Frommer's Europe) which provide some broad basics but no specific help.

My wife and I are leaving for Europe this Thursday (9/20). We'll be in Switzerland initially from 9/21 to 9/26, then flying into Rome on Thursday, 9/27. We arrive in Rome at 1:30pm in the afternoon. Our biggest concern is how to get from Fiumicino Airport to our hotel, the Visconti Palace. We understand the cabs are notoriously expensive and that the traffic is horrible getting into the city (1 1/2 to 2 hours). The flip side, it seems, is that a cab will get us directly to the hotel and that they're fairly reliable without having to worry too much about getting ripped off.

On the other hand, we've heard that the train from the airport to Termini Station is a good alternative. But our problem is that we're not sure about:
(1) where to go to catch the train from the airport
(2) how to catch the right train
(3) how to pay for it and how much it costs
(4) which station would be the closest in terms of walking to the hotel
(5) are pickpockets and "rip off artists" that significant of a concern on the train? The guidebooks seem to imply that they are.

We don't understand a word of Italian and at least one of us is "directionally challenged" so we're concerned about easily getting lost and being taken advantage of if that happens.

Any advice and/or specific directions (by Wednesday evening PST) on how to get from the airport to the hotel will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Your airport is around 20 miles from Rome city centre, and a taxi will get you there in half an hour (they drive like crazy!), although at a cost of around 60 EUR.

It may be worth contacting your hotel as they could arrange a private transfer for around 55 EUR (normally a nice sedan such as a Chrysler 300C); otherwise you can book yourself.

There are also buses and trains from the airport, return fares are 12 EUR per person - I myself would advise against it because Rome is such a hectic place. It's nice to walk out of the airport and into the car, and be able to easily get your luggage into your hotel room.

The Termini Station has the Metro lines which will run near your hotel, but catching a Metro train with your luggage (if your partner is anything like mine) wouldn't be fun.

I'd advise you to try just a small bit of Italian, as they really do love to see people try - you'll get better service and lots of smiles.

You're welcome to PM.

Hi, welcome to Flyertalk!

Regarding cabs - they now have fixed rates to and from the airport. So no more fears of being ripped off by cab drivers, atleast while driving to/from the airports and the city center. Details in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...eferrerid=9641

There's ton of info on this forum - and the search function works great. To get you started see this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...eferrerid=9641

Do a search and you will find lots of recommendations.

We used these folks and had excellent service.

http://www.airportshuttle.it/

Follow the signs w/the picture of the train

Its called the Leonardo Express - its pretty much the only option from the airport

There are automatic ticket machines w/English as a language choice, it costs 11EU/person

From Termini Station take a taxi to your hotel, do not walk w/lots of luggage, its a sure way to attract pick pockets

Yes & no - Use good sense. If a stranger on the train offers to exchange you money for you, to take you in their car to your hotel, etc... don't do it. In addition, on lengthy train rides, do not leave your luggage unattended in the baggage storage area as its notorious for "hop on hop off" theft. This can't happen w/the Leonardo Express b/c its direct from the airport to the main train station and back.

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post ... and apologies for not using the Search function or reading the "sticky". Should have known better and the only excuse I have is that with only 2 days left before we leave, I'm in a rush to get everything done that I didn't think about them. Sorry.

I really appreciate the suggestions. Haven't decided yet whether to grab a taxi (since there seems to be a flat rate now) or possibly have the hotel provide a limo service (assuming they do that). Probably not going to take the train, don't want to be obvious tourists and be easy targets for the unscrupulous.

Again, thanks everyone!

PK

what did you think of the Visconti Palace Hotel? Did you walk from there for any of your visit to venues? How was the area in and around the hotel? I have reviewed the hotel internet site, but we, like you have not been to the area before.

The daytime fixed rate cab fare from FCO is 40 Euro or a little over $60. If you do ride the train to Termini and then take a cab, you will be paying the 11 Euro x 2, plus the cab fare from Termini (? - 10 to 15 Euro). You are starting to get pretty close to that 40 E total for the full ride.

If you do opt to take the train into town and want to continue on using public transportation, "From the Roma Termini train station take underground line A towards Battistini and get off at Flaminio."

Romelle