Taxis in Rome

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

On the websites of my bed and breakfasts, the Chaplin Hostel Rome and the Bed and Breakfast Little Italy I clearly write that the fixed price of a taxi from the budget airport of Ciampino to the center of Rome, and hence the B&B’s, is 30 Euros. I also write that the official rate from the international airport of Fiumicino to downtown Rome is 40 Euros. When I confirm a reservation I always attach the directions from the airports, again stressing the fact that there are fixed prices from the airports to the center.

Despite all the instructions and warnings 9 out of 10 of the b&b guests who arrive by taxi end up having paid prices of up to 100 Euros for rides that ought to have costed 30 or 40. Therefore this lengthy instruction of the taxi system in Rome and how to protect you from dishonest drivers.

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

Legal and illegal taxis in Rome

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

Rome’s illegal taxi drivers

As soon as one arrives at Rome Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci airport), one is addressed by a number of men, who, shaking a bunch of keys into one’s face, offer taxi rides. The same occurs at the main railwy station Termini, especially at the main exit onto the bus square Piazza Cinquecento and at the Via Marsala exit.

How to recognize legal taxis

Legale taxis are white (some, very old taxis are still yellow, but this rarely happens anymore) and have a “Taxi” sign on the roof. They also have an identification number, consisting of the name of a city and a number (for instance, Rome 12).

A regular taxi also ought to have a list with all the rates, prominently displayed (usually hanging of the car’s back seat).

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

Ciampino Airport: fixed taxi rate

There is a fixed price from the airport of Ciampino to the centre of Rome. That price is 30 Euros, day and night, weekdays, sundays and holidays. There is no luggage surcharge and it doesn’t matter how many of you there are (though remember that the maximum number of people allowed to board a cab is 4).

Ciampino Airport taxis: What to watch out for

Reality is often different: When you get to the taxi stand, you are first asked what your destination is. If the mini-mafioso in charge likes that destination you are asked at least twice as much as the official rate. If you accept you can get in; if not, there is a good chance you will get insulted into the bargain.

There is no specific order. There is a small group of drivers that seem to have the first pick of gullible tourists. This is known as a maffia (not THE maffia, that is something else). The preference for foreigners sometimes goes so far that italians arriving at Ciampino are refused entrance into taxis.

If you a smart, and you refuse the first guy, a second guy comes and overcharges you slightly less. And if you keep refusing often enough you will finally find an honest driver who will bring you to Rome for the official 30 Euro rate.

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

By taxi from Fiumicino to Rome

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

Fiumicino Airport touts

If you look like a tourist (which is rather likely when you are carrying luggage with you), after having gone through customs and entering the arrival hall you will be accosted by numerous men offering you a “taxi” to the center of Rome. It is best to ignore them, since they are not legal.

Apart from the fact that they will probably overcharge you, there is also a good chance that you will not even reach your destination, since, during certain hours, a special licence is necessary to enter the centre of Rome. Official taxis are obviously in possession of this licence, but the fake ones don’t and you will not want to be kicked out of the car when you reach the beginning of Via Nazionale when your hotel is near Piazza Navona.

Fixed taxi rate from Fiumicino to Rome

The fixed taxi rate from Fiumicino to the center of Rome is 40 Euros, however many people you are (maximum 4 though, since a taxi is not allowed to accept more than 4 passengers), whatever time of the day it is and however much lugage you carry.

Always ask the price first, though, to avoid arguments when you reach the destination. If the driver wishes to charge you more, either wait for the next one or call the police.

A lot of confusion is caused unfortunately by the fact that drivers based in the city of Fiumicino (and not in Rome itself) are not allowed to take fares abck to the airport. In return they are allowed to ask 60 Euros for the trip to Rome. Therefore be careful: The office at the airport with the big sign claiming that taxis to Roem cost 60 Euros is legitimate, but you are far better off going to the taxi stand and getting a 40 Euro ride.

Minibus to Rome

Other airport touts offer minibus rides for 20 Euros per person. This is convenient for single travellers, but when there are two of you it is of course far better to take a taxi and be driven directly to your hotel instead of having to see the other passengers getting dropped off first at destinations all over Rome.

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

A taxi from Rome to the airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

Official Rome airport taxi rates

The official rates of 30 Euros to Ciampino and of 40 Euros to Fiumicino are also valid on the return trip to these airports.

The chances of being cheated are smaller on the way back, since the taxi drivers know that you have already stayed in Rome and have probably had some information from the hotel or bed and breakfast about the way things work.

Call a taxi

It is of course best to let your hotel or b&b in Rome call the taxi for you since that way the ride is traceable.

Do not let the receptionist of your hotel talk you into letting one of his “friends” drive you to the airport. He or she will get a commission and that commission is coming out of your pockets.

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

Taxi from Rome Termini

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

The Termini surcharge of 2 Euros

In the year 2007 the city of Rome decided to give out more taxi licences, which was necessary because, especially at the main railway station Termini, long queues of tourists were waiting at empty taxi ranks. The taxi drivers did not agree and sabotaged the city by occupying Piazza Venezia, the most central square in Rome. This blackmail resulted in the agreement that, as of the beginning of 2008, there is a surcharge of 2 Euros when you take a taxi from Termini. This surcharge is added when you reach your destination. (This is a true story!)

The taxi meter

Make sure the driver turns on the taxi meter and that tariff 1 is applied when you remain within the city limits. Tariff 2 is applied beyond the G.R.A. (the ringroad around Rome) and the chauffeur is obliged to warn you wehn he starts applying it. For the airports of Ciampino and Fiumicino there are fixed rates of 30 and 40 Euros, respectively (and no 2 Euro surcharge).

The meter starts running at 2,82 Euros (2008). Depending on the speed of the taxi a certain sum is added, either per minute or per kilometer.

Some short advice

Before arriving in Rome and taking a taxi, take some time to find out how far your hotel or bed and breakfasts is situated from Rome Termini, so that you will not find yourself right around the corner from the station after having been aimlessly driven around Rome for half an hour or more. Ask your hotel or b&b in advance how much the rate should be and print out a map of Rome so that you know more or less what route the taxi is supposed to follow.

Do not pay until you have been dropped off at your destination. Taxidrivers having tricked you into driving around Rome are obviously reluctant to enter into arguments in front of a hotel where they might be identified by a receptionist.

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

Phoning and booking taxis in Rome

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

Phoning taxis in Rome

It is easiest to ask the Rome hotel or b&b where you are staying to call a taxi for you, but in case you need to phone one yourself, the procedure is as follows: You call the company and spend some time listening to inane easy-listening music after which you get to talk to an operator. You tell them where you wish to be picked up and you are put on hold (the inane music starts from the beginning): after some time the operator comes back and tells you how long you will have to wait before the taxi will show up and also what the identification number of the car will be (usually the name of a city with a number, for instance Rome 21).

Booking taxis in Rome

To book a taxi in advance is more complicated and some companies will even refuse to do this (especially when the client is not italian). At the Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy we usually call +39 063570, the number of the most customerfriendly company. It is the only company accepting foreign cell phone numbers, which is important because wheh you reserve a taxi in advance, except for your address, you will also have to tell them your destination, your name and a cell phone number. A couple of minutes before the agreed time you will get a text message with the identification number of the cab. (In case your hotel or bed and breakfast has made the phone call for you, they will be contacted and given this number).

It is best to make sure you have your luggage packed and ready, because taxi drivers can tend to be slightly impatient.

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

How to protect yourself from dishonest Rome taxidrivers

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

What you need to know before taking a taxi in Rome

When taking a taxi to or from Fiumicino (40 Euros) or Ciampino (30 Euros) make sure to always ask for the price first.

Cab drivers often try to trick their clients at the moment of payment. You give them a 50 Euro note, they walk away, accidentally check their breast pocket, take out a 5 Euro note and say that you only gave them that. Make sure that you are aware of what you are giving them. If they threaten to call the police, let them. Better, call the police yourself (113 for the carabinieri).

When you come into the main railway station Rome Termini late at night, make sure that you know more or less how far your hotel, hostel of bed and breakfast is away from the station.

Do not pay until you have been dropped off at your destination and call out the hotel receptionist in case there are problems. (If the driver claims he cannot drop you off at the destination, this usually means something fishy is going on and he or she does not want to be seen by by someone who knows the law).

Do not accept rides from “taxis” which do not have a sign and an identification number on the door.

Generally your chances of being cheated are smaller when you phone a taxi company, because this means the fare will be registered. The following is a list of the main Rome taxi companies.

 

Taxi companies in Rome
Name Company	Phone
Autoradiotaxi Roma	063570
La Capitale	064994
Tevere	064157
Pronto Taxi	066645
Samarcanda	065551
Cosmo	0688177

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates

Rome taxi rates 2008

This Rome information blog is written for the guests of Bed and Breakfast Chaplin Hostel Rome and B&B Little Italy.

Rome hotels ◊ Italy Hotels ♣ Rome Hostel Chaplin ♥ Rome Bed & Breakfast Little Italy ♦ Florence Hotels

Why the taxi rates in Rome were raised

On Januari 7th 2008 the rates for taxis in Rome were raised substantially, by 18%, as a result of blackmail by the Roman taxi drivers, who parked their cars on Piazza Venezia, Rome’s most central square and thereby effectively made the city come to a standstill.

Their motive?: The city of Rome had announced that they were going to give out a number of new taxi licences, which would mean that the value of the existing licences would diminish. Even though it is against the law, taxi drivers, upon retirement used to sell their licences at high prices. Veltroni, the mayor at the time, the same guy who allows himself to be used as a doormat by tax evader, briber (and head of government, o course) Silvio B. allowed himself be blackmailed. This led to the following:

Rome taxi rates for 2008

• The meter no longer starts running at 2,33 Euros, but at 2,82 Euros.
• When you call a taxi, you pay 2 Euros if you have to wait for 5 minutes, 4 Euros in case the waiting time is between 5 and 10 minutes, and 6 Euros if your wait is longer than that. So the worse the service, the more you pay!
• When you take a taxi from the central station Rome Termini, you pay a 2 Euro surcharge (to be added at the end).

De rates from and to Ciampino (30 Euro) and Fiumicino (40 Euro) have not changed.

In exchange the taxi drivers allowed Little Walter Veltroni to give out 100 new taxi licences.

Lees verder:

Taxis in Rome
Legal and illegal taxis
By taxi from the airport of Ciampino to Rome
By taxi from the airport of Fiumicino to Rome
By taxi from Rome to the airports
To take a taxi at Rome Termini
To call and reserve taxis in Rome
How to protect oneself from dishonest taxidrivers in Rome
Rome 2008 taxi rates