Rome to Naples, reservations or not?

Two adults arriving FCO at 12:30 pm Monday, April 23. Hoping to catch
the 14:25 from Termini to Naples. From what I can figure out from
Trenitalia website we will lose our tickets if we miss the train. Would
prefer to sit together so reservations would be nice but I'm thinking
the risk of having separate seats for a 14:25 train on a Monday should
be low. Any thoughts? Thanks.

"Sara Li" wrote in message news:jhYGh.6$1g.3@trndny05...
Two adults arriving FCO at 12:30 pm Monday, April 23. Hoping to catch the
14:25 from Termini to Naples. From what I can figure out from Trenitalia
website we will lose our tickets if we miss the train. Would prefer to
sit together so reservations would be nice but I'm thinking the risk of
having separate seats for a 14:25 train on a Monday should be low. Any
thoughts? Thanks.

Problem with this train, Sara, is that it has compulsory reservation, as
does the next train at 14.45. The first train with "walk-up" availability
and no reservations is the slower but cheaper "regionale" at 1449, arriving
1728. (This train is second class only, and the cost is EUR 10.50; the 1425,
slightly strangely, seems to have no "standard" ticket availabilty!)

Alan Harrison

Sara Li wrote:
Two adults arriving FCO at 12:30 pm
Monday, April 23. Hoping to catch the
14:25 from Termini to Naples. From what
I can figure out from Trenitalia website we
will lose our tickets if we miss the train.
Would prefer to sit together so
reservations would be nice but I'm
thinking the risk of having separate seats
for a 14:25 train on a Monday should be
low. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Sara, I assume you're taking the Airport-Termini train?

If so, the 13:05 train certainly would be out timewise.
And the next train is 13:35 arriving Termini 14:06.
So you have 1:05 from landing to deplane, clear Immigration, collect
luggage, get over to the station and on that train.
Myself I wouldn't try it unless I had an EU Passport and only carry-on
luggage.
But I have done the former *once*, I was lucky and the 'Travel Gods'
smiled upon me that day :-).
On the extreme I have waited at Immigration for almost 1hr once and
~45min for my luggage.

Personally if I was going to prebook my tickets I would do the 14:45 ES,
this way there is still the 14:05 train available with 9mins to get to
it.

You *can* change your tickets for free within 3hrs of the train's
departure.
There is a link below of a post that explains it but if you search on
Trenitalia the info is there also (a bit of a hassle to find IIRC).

Myself if that weekend had no train strikes on Sunday and there was no
type of 3 day holiday I would just get my tickets either at the Airport
or Termini from the vending machines.
Ask around here esp from the Italy posters like Barbara V. about if
they think you would have *any* problems purchasing tickets on Monday
Apr 23 for an early afternoon ES train to Naples.
I can't imagine those trains being crowded in that timeframe or any
problems sitting together.

Below is a past post of mine with directions, info and how to time and
purchase train tickets on arrival if you decide to go that route.
Regards, Walter

[Past Post]
You will be arriving at Rome/Roma 'Leonardo di Vinci' Airport also known
as 'Fiumicino Airport', the 'Airport Code' is FCO.
http://www.adr.it/content.asp?L=3&IdMen=199 * *

*The Airport has 3 Terminals A, B and C. I'm going to pass on
'Terminal A' because that is rarely used by we tourists, it's for
Charter and some Domestic flights.
The majority of international flights arrive at 'Terminal C' (extra
Schengen),
'Terminal B' is mostly for domestic flights and some international
flights (Schengen).
**For all intent and purposes Terminal C and B are the same
terminal, it is just one long rectangular building.

**These directions will be for taking the AIRPORT TRAIN to Rome's
TERMINI Train Station and other options (esp check-out 'Limo Drivers' at
the end). *
*The train is called the 'Leonardo Express', it's a direct train and
its only stop is the Termini Train Station. **It takes 31min and
costs 11e in 2007, this train is unaffected by any type of Rail or local
transportation strikes.

*These directions will be from Terminal C but easy to follow from
Terminal B or even Terminal A.

**From TERMINAL B after getting your luggage, clearing Customs and
walking into the main terminal you could just turn right and walk to
Terminal C.
**Or take the escalator or elevator outside on the sidewalk up 2
levels to the skybridge with moving walkways over to the Airport Train
Station. The website below will show you what I mean.

**Ok so your plane lands at TERMINAL C either at the main terminal
or its' Satellite Terminal. The Satellite Terminal is connected to the
main terminal by an automated monorail that leaves every 2min (it's no
big deal, it's the only way in or out just follow the herd ).

*Your 1st obstacle is PASSPORT CONTROL. I've usually gotten thru in
10-25min but once it was an hour. Of course if you hold an EU Passport
it's a walkthru.

**Next stop is the LUGGAGE CAROUSEL and to make it more interesting
there is often a few flights on the same one. So more people jamming
together along the belt.
**
With a usually long crowded wait here and multiple flights on the same
carousel it can get very confusing as to when your flight's baggage
actually arrives on the carousel.
**So notice people while on your flight who are different that you
will remember. For me it's usually the pretty women. * Look for them
standing around your luggage carousel, so when they start grabbing their
luggage you'll know your flight's luggage has arrived. **And when
they have all left, it's time to start worrying. But wait awhile
longer and look around perhaps some clod took it off the carousel by
mistake and didn't put it back on. **If it doesn't show-up walk to
the far end of this hall (keep the carousels on your left) and make a
lost luggage claim. *
*Also there is an ATM in this luggage area, I believe it's along the
same wall as Customs and the Exit.

*Now head for the EXIT, just before the exit into the main Arrivals
Hall you'll pass thru CUSTOMS which is just a walk-thru.
You'll then pass thru the Security Door enter into Terminal C's Arrivals
Hall.

*The ARRIVALS HALL isn't very wide (~25m), to the right it ends in 50m
and to the left it takes you to Terminal B. My point is everything you
need is a 'stone's throw' away. *

*To the RIGHT 50m are 2 ATM (sometimes shutdown), a wc/bathroom
usually closed and 'Luggage Storage'.

**To your LEFT in 20m is a Book/candy shop which I believe also
sells Airport Train tickets.
**Then in another 20m is an ATM (use this one) and farther down as
you enter Terminal B there is a w.c. that will be open . **There
is also a cafe across from the book/candy shop. *

*In FRONT of you along the wall are 3 booths that provide SHUTTLE
TRANSPORTATION and limo services.
'HOTEL RESERVATION' is the most popular one
(http://www.hotelreservation.it) which provides a shuttle service into
Rome (Info & booking
http://www.hotelreservation.it/shuttleservice.asp ). **But for 36e
for 2 people that they charge you might want to consider a private limo.

**Also in FRONT of you is a small mob of people. Limo drivers
holding their signs, friends and family awaiting someone's arrival and
the illegal aka "Gypsy" taxi drivers. Their latest touch are ID badges
either hung around their necks or clipped-on their lapel to *look*
official. They will rip you off on the cost and their insurance might
not cover you in the event of an accident. *

*Now 45deg to your LEFT and ~20m away is an escalator that will take
you under the street and up to the Train Station. *If you need an
elevator go out the front door by the escalator and turn right, this
elevator (press #2) will take you up to the skybridge with moving
walkways over to the AIRPORT TRAIN STATION.

*Also right outside this door is the official TAXI QUEUE (White taxis
with a 'Comune di Roma' sign on the door, 'Taxi' sign on roof and a
meter on the dashboard).
Now as of Oct '06 there is an official 'Fixed Taxi Rate' of 40e from the
Airport to Rome.
I don't know but I assume there is still the old 'Luggage Surcharge' of
1.04e for each bag placed in the trunk/boot. Also it wasn't mentioned in
any of the articles I read but I wonder if there is still a fairly small
surcharge for Sundays, holidays and off-peak hours? And make sure the
taxi has a 'Comune di Roma' sign on the doors because there might
possibly be a local 'Fiumicino Taxi' in the queue and they can legally
charge 60e for a Rome trip.
**Just a thought and maybe a heads-up? Many of the airport
taxidrivers were dishonest before this 'fixed rate' came about and it's
hard to imagine that suddenly they now see the error of their old ways
and have turned over a new leaf. Also many taxi drivers are notorious
switching large Euro bills for smaller ones. Say you hand the driver a
50e or 100e bill and seconds later he turns around with a 5e or 10e bill
in his hand. **So make a point when handing them a large bill, say
it just in passing 'Cinquanta' for 50 or 'Cento' for 100.* * *

**Ok to give you a better idea of the AIRPORT'S LAYOUT go to
http://tinyurl.com/qclry OR
http://www.balenablu.it/store/defaul..._fiumicino.gif
*The train station is directly across the street (100m) from Terminal
C, it's that long purple building (Stazione Ferroviaia) in the website's
diagram. It's connected to all the terminals by covered skybridges with
moving walkways which are those yellow tubes on the map. *Actually
it's very easy to find because it is signposted thru-out the airport
(STAZIONE ƒ RAILWAY STATION) plus one look outside from 'C' or 'B' and
you can see the odd-shaped train station with a big 'ƒ' on it and
those skybridges.

**Also keep this in mind; Arrivals is on the 'ground floor' or
European floor '0'. Departures is on floor '1' and the skybridges are on
floor '2'.
* *
AIRPORT TRAIN STATION:
Ok ya got yourself over to the train station . It's a 3 Track station
and very small, everything is an underhanded 'stone's throw' away.

**I will go into other options and info about this train station but
the FASTEST and EASIEST way to get TICKETS to Termini is to just go over
to the Newstand/Tabacchi (ya can't miss it, it's signposted GIORNALI)
and buy them...no line, no hassle and no messing around with machines or
queues. They also sell Rome metro/bus tickets.

*There are also 2 CC machines by the escalator exit into the station
and 2 by track #1 that sell Airport-Termini tickets (Visa, MC, AE, DC,
PayEasy).

*Next to the Newstand/Tabacchi there are REGULAR TRAIN TICKET WINDOWS,
where you can purchase train tickets for onward journeys like Rome
Termini to Florence, Venice, etc.
They will also sell Airport-Termini tickets but you will very likely
have to wait in a line/queue.
**But a BETTER OPTION if you need onward journey regular train
tickets is to use 1 of the 4 self-service ticket vending machines (cash
or CC) in front of these 'regular train ticket windows'. They have an
English option and are *very easy* to use...Trust me, if I can navigate
them so can you . *
*You can also get Airport-Termini tickets from these vending machines
but more of a hassle compared to the other type of ticket machines I
mentioned above.
***
So if you have time and want tickets for a later train journey or are
leaving Rome as soon as you arrive at Termini you can get your tickets
right there.
**If you don't have time you can get your tickets at Termini from
vending machines also.

**And there is a 'Travel Agency' booth that also sells regular train
tickets either for no or very little commission in this Airport Station.

*So if you are TRAVELING ONWARD FROM TERMINI by train figure this
timeline if you are going to buy tickets. Give yourself 31min *after*
your Airport-Termini train leaves plus a minimum of 10min at Termini to
find your track and the correct car (esp if reservations are required).
** *
*You can find the regular train schedules at
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html (If you want the Airport-Termini
timetables use 'Fiumicino Aeroporto' and 'Rome', Termini will be listed
as 'ROMA TE').
**You can also buy your Eurostar (ES) and InterCity (IC) online on
the above Trenitalia website up to 90 days in advance (registration
required & some info below).

**Also in the Airport Train Station; ATM, a cafe, 2 rental car
booths, police, and {hotel reservations, money exchange, ferry & train
tickets} at the 'travel agency' booth.

**The 'LEONARDO EXPRESS TRAIN' (Airport to Rome's Termini Train
Station) leaves every 30 min, at :05 and :35 past the hour starting from
06:35 to 23:35.
**It will have TERMINI on the Departure Board, remember there are
only 3 tracks and only 1 train goes to Termini.

*MAKE SURE YOU VALIDATE YOUR TICKET BEFORE BOARDING THE TRAIN! An
unvalidated ticket is like having no ticket at all and the fine is ~50e.
**A 'Validation' is just a 'date and time' stamp and you get it by
sticking your ticket in any of the 'Yellow Boxes' on the platforms.
*But the trick is , if you have a large airline-sized ticket gotten
from the train ticket windows or the regular train self service machines
you just stick it in the middle of the long slot.
*But if you have the smaller (half the size of a CC bought from the
Newstand or CC machines) you must put it the part of the slot with an
artsy blue arrow =~=~^ pointing to where it goes on the left side.

*Go to the *far end* of the train, this will put you in the front cars
and ahead of the herd when you arrive at Termini plus you will avoid
most of the arriving and departing passengers who will be crowding each
other at Termini's platform.
**Sit on the leftside of the train because after you cross the Tiber
River you will catch fleeting glimpses of some ancient sites (city
walls, aqueducts, city gates and even a pyramid. And as you are
slowing down and entering the outer train station area you will see a
large round shell of a bldg in ruins (24m x 33m high) on the left. It is
wrongly ID'ed as the 'Temple of Minerva Medica' but it was most likely a
~300AD dining pavilion of a very wealthy Roman's residence. *

**BOTTOMLINE: Just follow the signs in the Airport to the train
station,
buy your ticket at the Newstand, validate it and hop-on .


*ARRIVAL AT TERMINI TRAIN STATION
**The main station area has 24 tracks and this train as of Dec '06
now arrives at Track 24 (it used to arrive at Tracks 26-29 which was a
few hundred meters away from the main station).

**TERMINI*TAXIS: Licensed legal taxi drivers will never solicit
you either inside or outside the station, they will always be with their
taxi. Those that do solicit are illegal Gypsy taxis who will overcharge
you big-time.
**So you can either follow the Herd straight ahead to the Taxi Stand
in front of Termini and wait in the queue/line. [Make sure the meter is
set on 1 rather than 2, I believe it's under 'Tariff', *many* posters
seem to pay double for these Termini to central area hotels journeys
from this front taxi queue.]
**Or just follow the Herd a short distance (under 50m) into the
*Large Arcade* (2 floors of shops and restaurants) with *huge* exits to
the outside at each end, then exit left onto Via Giovanni Giolitti.
**There is a taxi stand there and I have always just walked-up to
the 1st taxi waiting.

**CATCHING AN ONWARD TRAIN UPON TERMINI ARRIVAL. **The wide
corridor in front of the train platform will have TV monitors like in an
airport but they will only show the trains departing in the next
20-30min or so.
And of course each platform will list that train's info (Departure
time, train type and final destination).

**If your train is departing later than that go into that *Large
Arcade* and on the wall above you as you enter is the huge Arrivals
Board. But if you turn right and walk down a bit you will see the huge
Departure Board. *
*
Remember the Departure Board only lists the train's *Last Stop*. So say
if you are taking the 0930 Eurostar Train to Florence it might be listed
as the '0930 ES Venezia', so on the way to Venice it will stop in
Florence.
**So on the Board look for your Time 1st, then the Type of train 2nd
(ES, IC, IR etc) and the Final Destination.
And then listed to the right will be the Binario or Platform number.

USEFUL REGULAR TRAIN TICKET & MACHINE INFO: http://tinyurl.com/pnevx

MISSING YOUR ES OR ICP TRAIN & CHANGE OR REFUND TICKETS Especially if
you buy your tickets online and have problems with late arriving planes,
Customs, lost luggage, etc. http://tinyurl.com/o3hat
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...1?r=6321047871

STRIKES
**This website is in English with updated strike info and the
easiest to use but always check both websites.
www.seekitaly.com/news/from_roma.html Click-on the 'Strikes,
Demonstrations etc in Italy' link on the left. **Italian
transportation strike website (in Italian)
www.infrastrutturetrasporti.it/ click-on 'Calendario Scioperi
Nazionali'.


LIMO DRIVERS
Also consider do you really want to take the train into Rome? For 2
people it's 22e, if your hotel is walking distance from Termini or you
are comfortable taking the bus or metro to your hotel it's a good deal.
**But if you have to take a taxi from Termini figure ~10e or higher
with 2 pieces of luggage and if you give the driver a 1e tip. So let's
figure the train for 2 and an *honest* taxidriver it's 32e minimum. *
*The shuttle is 36e for 2 people and you might have to wait a bit at
the airport plus drive around dropping off the others. *

**But a LIMO DRIVER waiting at Arrivals with a sign with your name
on it and driving a new Mercedes for 35e for up to 4 people
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/Inglese_p.htm or
http://www.limoservicerome.com for 45e up to 3. **I have used both
companies and they are both good and there are others but the 1st one is
the cheapest

**LUGGAGE STORAGE (Deposito Bagagli)
Alongside Track 24 there is an signposted elevator that will take you
downstairs to luggage storage.
**Be warned though the line esp in the morning can be long and slow
moving, I'd say ~100 people lined-up ~0930 in May'06. A person's website
mentioned waiting 2hrs in Oct'05. All left luggage is X-rayed.
**There are NO self-service luggage lockers in Italy since Sept'01.
*
*Melissa (Nicolas Inn) mentioned this option on the Frommer's
messageboard and I checked it out. There is a laundromat that provides
luggage storage for 2e on the northside of Termini. **It's on Via
Milazzo #20 just after the cross-street Via dei Mille. There is a yellow
laundromat sign hanging over it easy to see from down the block and it's
called 'Bolle Blu', in the window is a sign saying '2euro Deposit
Baggages Open 0800-2200'.
**She also posted that this place also has luggage storage and
another poster said that they had used it; "Navigator Internet Cafe on
Via Marghera between Via Marsala and Via Magenta".

*In front of Track #20 is also 'Hotel Reservation' booth.

**The Termini Train Station is *very safe* as far as any type of
physical crime but always watch your bags and your wallet and brush-off
strangers that approach you like in most of the World's train stations.

"ALAN HARRISON" wrote in message
...


Problem with this train, Sara, is that it has compulsory reservation, as
does the next train at 14.45. The first train with "walk-up" availability
and no reservations is the slower but cheaper "regionale" at 1449,
arriving 1728. (This train is second class only, and the cost is EUR
10.50; the 1425, slightly strangely, seems to have no "standard" ticket
availabilty!)

Alan Harrison


When I flew to Rome and then took the train to Naples I bought a ticket for
a fast train from an automatic ticket machine in Termini station about 15
minutes before the train left. It included the compulsory reservation. The
machines have an English language option.

Poetic Justice wrote:
Sara Li wrote:
Two adults arriving FCO at 12:30 pm
Monday, April 23. Hoping to catch the
14:25 from Termini to Naples. From what
I can figure out from Trenitalia website we
will lose our tickets if we miss the train.
Would prefer to sit together so
reservations would be nice but I'm
thinking the risk of having separate seats
for a 14:25 train on a Monday should be
low. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Sara, I assume you're taking the Airport-Termini train?

If so, the 13:05 train certainly would be out timewise.
And the next train is 13:35 arriving Termini 14:06.
So you have 1:05 from landing to deplane, clear Immigration, collect
luggage, get over to the station and on that train.
Myself I wouldn't try it unless I had an EU Passport and only carry-on
luggage.
But I have done the former *once*, I was lucky and the 'Travel Gods'
smiled upon me that day :-).
On the extreme I have waited at Immigration for almost 1hr once and
~45min for my luggage.

Personally if I was going to prebook my tickets I would do the 14:45 ES,
this way there is still the 14:05 train available with 9mins to get to
it.

You *can* change your tickets for free within 3hrs of the train's
departure.
There is a link below of a post that explains it but if you search on
Trenitalia the info is there also (a bit of a hassle to find IIRC).

Myself if that weekend had no train strikes on Sunday and there was no
type of 3 day holiday I would just get my tickets either at the Airport
or Termini from the vending machines.
Ask around here esp from the Italy posters like Barbara V. about if
they think you would have *any* problems purchasing tickets on Monday
Apr 23 for an early afternoon ES train to Naples.
I can't imagine those trains being crowded in that timeframe or any
problems sitting together.

Below is a past post of mine with directions, info and how to time and
purchase train tickets on arrival if you decide to go that route.
Regards, Walter

[Past Post]
You will be arriving at Rome/Roma 'Leonardo di Vinci' Airport also known
as 'Fiumicino Airport', the 'Airport Code' is FCO.
http://www.adr.it/content.asp?L=3&IdMen=199

The Airport has 3 Terminals A, B and C. I'm going to pass on
'Terminal A' because that is rarely used by we tourists, it's for
Charter and some Domestic flights.
The majority of international flights arrive at 'Terminal C' (extra
Schengen),
'Terminal B' is mostly for domestic flights and some international
flights (Schengen).
For all intent and purposes Terminal C and B are the same
terminal, it is just one long rectangular building.

These directions will be for taking the AIRPORT TRAIN to Rome's
TERMINI Train Station and other options (esp check-out 'Limo Drivers' at
the end).
The train is called the 'Leonardo Express', it's a direct train and
its only stop is the Termini Train Station. It takes 31min and
costs 11e in 2007, this train is unaffected by any type of Rail or local
transportation strikes.

These directions will be from Terminal C but easy to follow from
Terminal B or even Terminal A.

From TERMINAL B after getting your luggage, clearing Customs and
walking into the main terminal you could just turn right and walk to
Terminal C.
Or take the escalator or elevator outside on the sidewalk up 2
levels to the skybridge with moving walkways over to the Airport Train
Station. The website below will show you what I mean.

Ok so your plane lands at TERMINAL C either at the main terminal
or its' Satellite Terminal. The Satellite Terminal is connected to the
main terminal by an automated monorail that leaves every 2min (it's no
big deal, it's the only way in or out just follow the herd ).

Your 1st obstacle is PASSPORT CONTROL. I've usually gotten thru in
10-25min but once it was an hour. Of course if you hold an EU Passport
it's a walkthru.

Next stop is the LUGGAGE CAROUSEL and to make it more interesting
there is often a few flights on the same one. So more people jamming
together along the belt.

With a usually long crowded wait here and multiple flights on the same
carousel it can get very confusing as to when your flight's baggage
actually arrives on the carousel.
So notice people while on your flight who are different that you
will remember. For me it's usually the pretty women. Look for them
standing around your luggage carousel, so when they start grabbing their
luggage you'll know your flight's luggage has arrived. And when
they have all left, it's time to start worrying. But wait awhile
longer and look around perhaps some clod took it off the carousel by
mistake and didn't put it back on. If it doesn't show-up walk to
the far end of this hall (keep the carousels on your left) and make a
lost luggage claim.
Also there is an ATM in this luggage area, I believe it's along the
same wall as Customs and the Exit.

Now head for the EXIT, just before the exit into the main Arrivals
Hall you'll pass thru CUSTOMS which is just a walk-thru.
You'll then pass thru the Security Door enter into Terminal C's Arrivals
Hall.

The ARRIVALS HALL isn't very wide (~25m), to the right it ends in 50m
and to the left it takes you to Terminal B. My point is everything you
need is a 'stone's throw' away.

To the RIGHT 50m are 2 ATM (sometimes shutdown), a wc/bathroom
usually closed and 'Luggage Storage'.

To your LEFT in 20m is a Book/candy shop which I believe also
sells Airport Train tickets.
Then in another 20m is an ATM (use this one) and farther down as
you enter Terminal B there is a w.c. that will be open . There
is also a cafe across from the book/candy shop.

In FRONT of you along the wall are 3 booths that provide SHUTTLE
TRANSPORTATION and limo services.
'HOTEL RESERVATION' is the most popular one
(http://www.hotelreservation.it) which provides a shuttle service into
Rome (Info & booking
http://www.hotelreservation.it/shuttleservice.asp ). But for 36e
for 2 people that they charge you might want to consider a private limo.

Also in FRONT of you is a small mob of people. Limo drivers
holding their signs, friends and family awaiting someone's arrival and
the illegal aka "Gypsy" taxi drivers. Their latest touch are ID badges
either hung around their necks or clipped-on their lapel to *look*
official. They will rip you off on the cost and their insurance might
not cover you in the event of an accident.

Now 45deg to your LEFT and ~20m away is an escalator that will take
you under the street and up to the Train Station. If you need an
elevator go out the front door by the escalator and turn right, this
elevator (press #2) will take you up to the skybridge with moving
walkways over to the AIRPORT TRAIN STATION.

Also right outside this door is the official TAXI QUEUE (White taxis
with a 'Comune di Roma' sign on the door, 'Taxi' sign on roof and a
meter on the dashboard).
Now as of Oct '06 there is an official 'Fixed Taxi Rate' of 40e from the
Airport to Rome.
I don't know but I assume there is still the old 'Luggage Surcharge' of
1.04e for each bag placed in the trunk/boot. Also it wasn't mentioned in
any of the articles I read but I wonder if there is still a fairly small
surcharge for Sundays, holidays and off-peak hours? And make sure the
taxi has a 'Comune di Roma' sign on the doors because there might
possibly be a local 'Fiumicino Taxi' in the queue and they can legally
charge 60e for a Rome trip.
Just a thought and maybe a heads-up? Many of the airport
taxidrivers were dishonest before this 'fixed rate' came about and it's
hard to imagine that suddenly they now see the error of their old ways
and have turned over a new leaf. Also many taxi drivers are notorious
switching large Euro bills for smaller ones. Say you hand the driver a
50e or 100e bill and seconds later he turns around with a 5e or 10e bill
in his hand. So make a point when handing them a large bill, say
it just in passing 'Cinquanta' for 50 or 'Cento' for 100.

Ok to give you a better idea of the AIRPORT'S LAYOUT go to
http://tinyurl.com/qclry OR
http://www.balenablu.it/store/defaul..._fiumicino.gif
The train station is directly across the street (100m) from Terminal
C, it's that long purple building (Stazione Ferroviaia) in the website's
diagram. It's connected to all the terminals by covered skybridges with
moving walkways which are those yellow tubes on the map. Actually
it's very easy to find because it is signposted thru-out the airport
(STAZIONE ƒ RAILWAY STATION) plus one look outside from 'C' or 'B' and
you can see the odd-shaped train station with a big 'ƒ' on it and
those skybridges.

Also keep this in mind; Arrivals is on the 'ground floor' or
European floor '0'. Departures is on floor '1' and the skybridges are on
floor '2'.

AIRPORT TRAIN STATION:
Ok ya got yourself over to the train station . It's a 3 Track station
and very small, everything is an underhanded 'stone's throw' away.

I will go into other options and info about this train station but
the FASTEST and EASIEST way to get TICKETS to Termini is to just go over
to the Newstand/Tabacchi (ya can't miss it, it's signposted GIORNALI)
and buy them...no line, no hassle and no messing around with machines or
queues. They also sell Rome metro/bus tickets.

There are also 2 CC machines by the escalator exit into the station
and 2 by track #1 that sell Airport-Termini tickets (Visa, MC, AE, DC,
PayEasy).

Next to the Newstand/Tabacchi there are REGULAR TRAIN TICKET WINDOWS,
where you can purchase train tickets for onward journeys like Rome
Termini to Florence, Venice, etc.
They will also sell Airport-Termini tickets but you will very likely
have to wait in a line/queue.
But a BETTER OPTION if you need onward journey regular train
tickets is to use 1 of the 4 self-service ticket vending machines (cash
or CC) in front of these 'regular train ticket windows'. They have an
English option and are *very easy* to use...Trust me, if I can navigate
them so can you .
You can also get Airport-Termini tickets from these vending machines
but more of a hassle compared to the other type of ticket machines I
mentioned above.

So if you have time and want tickets for a later train journey or are
leaving Rome as soon as you arrive at Termini you can get your tickets
right there.
If you don't have time you can get your tickets at Termini from
vending machines also.

And there is a 'Travel Agency' booth that also sells regular train
tickets either for no or very little commission in this Airport Station.

So if you are TRAVELING ONWARD FROM TERMINI by train figure this
timeline if you are going to buy tickets. Give yourself 31min *after*
your Airport-Termini train leaves plus a minimum of 10min at Termini to
find your track and the correct car (esp if reservations are required).

You can find the regular train schedules at
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html (If you want the Airport-Termini
timetables use 'Fiumicino Aeroporto' and 'Rome', Termini will be listed
as 'ROMA TE').
You can also buy your Eurostar (ES) and InterCity (IC) online on
the above Trenitalia website up to 90 days in advance (registration
required & some info below).

Also in the Airport Train Station; ATM, a cafe, 2 rental car
booths, police, and {hotel reservations, money exchange, ferry & train
tickets} at the 'travel agency' booth.

The 'LEONARDO EXPRESS TRAIN' (Airport to Rome's Termini Train
Station) leaves every 30 min, at :05 and :35 past the hour starting from
06:35 to 23:35.
It will have TERMINI on the Departure Board, remember there are
only 3 tracks and only 1 train goes to Termini.

MAKE SURE YOU VALIDATE YOUR TICKET BEFORE BOARDING THE TRAIN! An
unvalidated ticket is like having no ticket at all and the fine is ~50e.
A 'Validation' is just a 'date and time' stamp and you get it by
sticking your ticket in any of the 'Yellow Boxes' on the platforms.
But the trick is , if you have a large airline-sized ticket gotten
from the train ticket windows or the regular train self service machines
you just stick it in the middle of the long slot.
But if you have the smaller (half the size of a CC bought from the
Newstand or CC machines) you must put it the part of the slot with an
artsy blue arrow =~=~^ pointing to where it goes on the left side.

Go to the *far end* of the train, this will put you in the front cars
and ahead of the herd when you arrive at Termini plus you will avoid
most of the arriving and departing passengers who will be crowding each
other at Termini's platform.
Sit on the leftside of the train because after you cross the Tiber
River you will catch fleeting glimpses of some ancient sites (city
walls, aqueducts, city gates and even a pyramid. And as you are
slowing down and entering the outer train station area you will see a
large round shell of a bldg in ruins (24m x 33m high) on the left. It is
wrongly ID'ed as the 'Temple of Minerva Medica' but it was most likely a
~300AD dining pavilion of a very wealthy Roman's residence.

BOTTOMLINE: Just follow the signs in the Airport to the train
station,
buy your ticket at the Newstand, validate it and hop-on .


ARRIVAL AT TERMINI TRAIN STATION
The main station area has 24 tracks and this train as of Dec '06
now arrives at Track 24 (it used to arrive at Tracks 26-29 which was a
few hundred meters away from the main station).

TERMINI TAXIS: Licensed legal taxi drivers will never solicit
you either inside or outside the station, they will always be with their
taxi. Those that do solicit are illegal Gypsy taxis who will overcharge
you big-time.
So you can either follow the Herd straight ahead to the Taxi Stand
in front of Termini and wait in the queue/line. [Make sure the meter is
set on 1 rather than 2, I believe it's under 'Tariff', *many* posters
seem to pay double for these Termini to central area hotels journeys
from this front taxi queue.]
Or just follow the Herd a short distance (under 50m) into the
*Large Arcade* (2 floors of shops and restaurants) with *huge* exits to
the outside at each end, then exit left onto Via Giovanni Giolitti.
There is a taxi stand there and I have always just walked-up to
the 1st taxi waiting.

CATCHING AN ONWARD TRAIN UPON TERMINI ARRIVAL. The wide
corridor in front of the train platform will have TV monitors like in an
airport but they will only show the trains departing in the next
20-30min or so.
And of course each platform will list that train's info (Departure
time, train type and final destination).

If your train is departing later than that go into that *Large
Arcade* and on the wall above you as you enter is the huge Arrivals
Board. But if you turn right and walk down a bit you will see the huge
Departure Board.

Remember the Departure Board only lists the train's *Last Stop*. So say
if you are taking the 0930 Eurostar Train to Florence it might be listed
as the '0930 ES Venezia', so on the way to Venice it will stop in
Florence.
So on the Board look for your Time 1st, then the Type of train 2nd
(ES, IC, IR etc) and the Final Destination.
And then listed to the right will be the Binario or Platform number.

USEFUL REGULAR TRAIN TICKET & MACHINE INFO: http://tinyurl.com/pnevx

MISSING YOUR ES OR ICP TRAIN & CHANGE OR REFUND TICKETS Especially if
you buy your tickets online and have problems with late arriving planes,
Customs, lost luggage, etc. http://tinyurl.com/o3hat
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a...1?r=6321047871

STRIKES
This website is in English with updated strike info and the
easiest to use but always check both websites.
www.seekitaly.com/news/from_roma.html Click-on the 'Strikes,
Demonstrations etc in Italy' link on the left. Italian
transportation strike website (in Italian)
www.infrastrutturetrasporti.it/ click-on 'Calendario Scioperi
Nazionali'.


LIMO DRIVERS
Also consider do you really want to take the train into Rome? For 2
people it's 22e, if your hotel is walking distance from Termini or you
are comfortable taking the bus or metro to your hotel it's a good deal.
But if you have to take a taxi from Termini figure ~10e or higher
with 2 pieces of luggage and if you give the driver a 1e tip. So let's
figure the train for 2 and an *honest* taxidriver it's 32e minimum.
The shuttle is 36e for 2 people and you might have to wait a bit at
the airport plus drive around dropping off the others.

But a LIMO DRIVER waiting at Arrivals with a sign with your name
on it and driving a new Mercedes for 35e for up to 4 people
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/Inglese_p.htm or
http://www.limoservicerome.com for 45e up to 3. I have used both
companies and they are both good and there are others but the 1st one is
the cheapest

LUGGAGE STORAGE (Deposito Bagagli)
Alongside Track 24 there is an signposted elevator that will take you
downstairs to luggage storage.
Be warned though the line esp in the morning can be long and slow
moving, I'd say ~100 people lined-up ~0930 in May'06. A person's website
mentioned waiting 2hrs in Oct'05. All left luggage is X-rayed.
There are NO self-service luggage lockers in Italy since Sept'01.

Melissa (Nicolas Inn) mentioned this option on the Frommer's
messageboard and I checked it out. There is a laundromat that provides
luggage storage for 2e on the northside of Termini. It's on Via
Milazzo #20 just after the cross-street Via dei Mille. There is a yellow
laundromat sign hanging over it easy to see from down the block and it's
called 'Bolle Blu', in the window is a sign saying '2euro Deposit
Baggages Open 0800-2200'.
She also posted that this place also has luggage storage and
another poster said that they had used it; "Navigator Internet Cafe on
Via Marghera between Via Marsala and Via Magenta".

In front of Track #20 is also 'Hotel Reservation' booth.

The Termini Train Station is *very safe* as far as any type of
physical crime but always watch your bags and your wallet and brush-off
strangers that approach you like in most of the World's train stations.


Thank you, everyone. I'll try to get the tickets at FCO when we land
and if that's not possible I'll get them at Termini. There are too many
uncertainties to be sure that we can take that 14:25 train.

On Tue, 6 Mar 2007 17:25:45 -0500, (Poetic
Justice) wrote:

Sara Li wrote:
Two adults arriving FCO at 12:30 pm
Monday, April 23. Hoping to catch the
14:25 from Termini to Naples. From what
I can figure out from Trenitalia website we
will lose our tickets if we miss the train.
Would prefer to sit together so
reservations would be nice but I'm
thinking the risk of having separate seats
for a 14:25 train on a Monday should be
low. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Personally if I was going to prebook my tickets I would do the 14:45 ES,
this way there is still the 14:05 train available with 9mins to get to
it.

Sometimes I fly into Fiumicino and then take the train to Le Marche,
where I live. I have learned from experience that it's best not to
prebook. You can get a ticket at the Fiumicino train station all the
way through to your final destination. Even if the train to Naples
requires a reservation, by buying at the airport, you're getting it
well ahead of the last-minute rush at Termini station and have an
excellent chance of getting a seat. If second class is full, and you
don't want to wait, pay a little more and get a first-class seat.
(They hardly ever sell out.)

There is a ticket machine at the airport, and also a ticket window
where all the staff are multilingual.

Then when you get to Termini station, you can just go straight to your
departure platform because you already have your ticket.

It's very difficult to predict which train you'll be able to catch.
Often planes arrive early and then you're sorry you prebooked because
you could have got an earlier train. It's true you can change the
ticket to an earlier one, but it's much simpler just to buy the ticket
on arrival. If the plane arrives late and you end up having to change
a prebooked ticket to a later one, there is a penalty to pay, so you
lose part of the value of the ticket.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

On Tue, 6 Mar 2007 17:25:45 -0500, (Poetic
Justice) wrote:


the FASTEST and EASIEST way to get TICKETS to Termini is to just go over
to the Newstand/Tabacchi (ya can't miss it, it's signposted GIORNALI)
and buy them...no line, no hassle and no messing around with machines or
queues. They also sell Rome metro/bus tickets.

However, if your final destination is not Rome, this is not a good
option, as they only sell tickets to Termini. You are better off
getting a ticket to your final destination either from the machine (I
think it sells tickets to all destinaitons) or from the official
ticket window.

**LUGGAGE STORAGE (Deposito Bagagli)
Alongside Track 24 there is an signposted elevator that will take you
downstairs to luggage storage.
**Be warned though the line esp in the morning can be long and slow
moving, I'd say ~100 people lined-up ~0930 in May'06. A person's website
mentioned waiting 2hrs in Oct'05. All left luggage is X-rayed.

And you pay the same price for each piece of luggage, even if it's a
small paper bag with a sandwich in it. The cost really mounts up
unless you just have one large suitcase.

**There are NO self-service luggage lockers in Italy since Sept'01.

I find it very difficult to doubt you, but are you sure? I thought
they had returned now.
*

--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

I asked a similar question last year and got the following very useful reply

On Wed, 08 Mar 2006 10:20:11 GMT, "Cliff Bott"
wrote:

Thanks. Do I need to reserve or purchase a ticket in advance in order to
secure a seat or can I simply get the train from Fiumicino to Termini and
buy a ticket on the next train when I arrive?

In this particular case, I would recommend buying your ticket when you
arrive. I never reserve a seat when I'm taking a train right after
arrival. You never know which train you'll be able to catch. Either
you get there early and wish you had reserved an earlier train, or you
miss the train you had reserved.

You can buy your ticket all the way through to Naples at the train
station in Fiumicino airport. This will get you an extra half hour, at
least, advantage in securing a reservation if the train is beginning
to fill up. If the train is a Eurostar or Intercity Plus train, it
will have mandatory reservations, included in the ticket price. If it
is an IC train, you have to request a reservation, which is an
additional cost above the ticket price.

If the train you want has no seats left in 2nd class, you might
consider getting a 1st class ticket as these are rarely sold out. Or
you could just wait for the next train.

Make sure there is sufficient time between your arrival in Termini and
the departure for Naples, as the platform for the airport express
train is a long walk from the other platforms.

You can check the train schedules from Rome to Naples at
www.trenitalia.it . They have an English language option. I would
enter Rome Termini as your departure point and Naples as your arrival
point (on the Italian page it would be Roma and Napoli.) Keep in mind
that the trains from Fiumicino leave every 30 minutes at 5 past and 35
past the hour, and arrive in 31 minutes.

You could check the entire itinerary from the airport to Naples on
this site, but I prefer to just check the section from Termini to
Naples, because if you enter the airport as your starting point, the
program will only show the trains that it considers "good
connections", whereas you might want to leave a bit more time between
trains, or take the next train out of the airport even if it doesn't
make a great connection with a train to Naples.

I would print out a page or two of options from Termini to Naples and
take it with you so that you can show the ticket agent which one you
want, depending on your arrival time. Start with an hour before you
scheduled arrival, and print out connections until two hours after. On
long flights you could arrive either quite early.
--
Barbara Vaughan


"Sara Li" wrote in message news:jhYGh.6$1g.3@trndny05...
Two adults arriving FCO at 12:30 pm Monday, April 23. Hoping to catch
the 14:25 from Termini to Naples. From what I can figure out from
Trenitalia website we will lose our tickets if we miss the train. Would
prefer to sit together so reservations would be nice but I'm thinking
the risk of having separate seats for a 14:25 train on a Monday should
be low. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Personally I'd advise to buy the through ticket to Naples at the airport
station, if time allows (say, if the train to Termini has just left and
the queue is short). Otherwise if the train is leaving in 5 min get a
ticket to Termini at the kiosk and jump on.

*ARRIVAL AT TERMINI TRAIN STATION
**The main station area has 24 tracks and this train as of Dec '06
now arrives at Track 24 (it used to arrive at Tracks 26-29 which was a
few hundred meters away from the main station).

I am not up-to-date. The train from the airport used to arrive at
Termini at side platform which are indeed back with respect to the front
of the station, a fair walk with luggage.

However if you already have the ticket for your destination, you can
look at any of the Departure paper timetables the track where your
next train departs, and use the underpass to reach such track, WITHOUT
walking all the way to the front.

You'd have to way to the front of the tracks and beyond to the ticket
office if you need to buy a new ticket. Grandi Stazioni have recently
refurbished the ticket hall and looks nicer, with open counter, and
helpful assistance staff.

It looks however that the Grandi Stazioni web site
http://www.grandistazioni.it has become very unhelpful for what finding
a map of Termini.

--
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On Wed, 7 Mar 2007 11:45:07 +0100, Giovanni Drogo
wrote:

*ARRIVAL AT TERMINI TRAIN STATION
**The main station area has 24 tracks and this train as of Dec '06
now arrives at Track 24 (it used to arrive at Tracks 26-29 which was a
few hundred meters away from the main station).

I am not up-to-date. The train from the airport used to arrive at
Termini at side platform which are indeed back with respect to the front
of the station, a fair walk with luggage.

I was at Termini station in January; it's true that the airport train
now arrives directly into the station, as it used to some years ago.
This is a great improvement.

You'd have to way to the front of the tracks and beyond to the ticket
office if you need to buy a new ticket. Grandi Stazioni have recently
refurbished the ticket hall and looks nicer, with open counter, and
helpful assistance staff.

Where did they send the old surly staff?


--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup