Traveling Tips - Arriving in Rome

I just did a trip to Rome for a conference and, though I planned extensively before I left home, there were some important things I didn't know when I got here. The guide books don't have room for the kind of detail you want when first arriving at the Airport in Rome. So I am putting that detail here. Feel free to email me with any questions you have as well! 

Arriving at the Airport in Rome

The airport is where you will be the most confused and the most vulnerable. You are also likely to be exhausted and not thinking clearly. You have to do three things to get out of there: 1) get money. 2) get baggage and 3) get to your transportation. 
 
You have to have Euros to get around in Rome. Most taxis require cash. (though by law they can’t do that they often have “broken” card reading machines.) You will pay exorbitant rates at the airport, even at an ATM, but you have to have it for most of the travel you are going to do and any food you are going to buy. I paid $37 to get e100. 
 
Much of the airport is a big shopping mall. You will have to walk through this to get to the baggage area.
 
You will go downstairs to get your baggage. If your baggage doesn’t arrive, find baggage area #7 and look across from it. There is a Lost & Found office there. You will probably have to stand in a line for a long time, but if you are lucky the line might be empty. They will either find your luggage on the spot or have you fill out a form to claim a missing bag and arrange to have it brought to you when it is found. Most of the time this happens within a day or two. Someone at the desk will speak broken English at least so you can somewhat communicate with them.
 
After you get your baggage, you will exit the baggage area and walk a short ways to the outside door. Note that when you exit the baggage area you cannot return. And when you walk out the outside door you likewise can’t return. You will need Euros in cash to get your taxi, bus or train, so be sure you have gone to an ATM before leaving the baggage area. And be sure you have purchased your bus ticket. There are kiosks for this in the baggage area, but you wont be able to turn around and go back in for those things after you’ve left.
 
Now, walking out the door – this is overwhelming. There is likely to be a big crowd of people holding signs with names on them. These are for people who have reserved a limo or car where they come and get you and take you to their car. In back of them is a line for the taxis, with a big wall blocking off the waiting area and forming the line for waiting. But before you make it there, you will be approached by a private taxi company asking if you are wanting a taxi. DON’T GO WITH THEM. Tell them no and go to the taxi queue. No one stands outside for the real taxis. You just stand in line, then walk up to the first one in line and tell them where you want to go. They tell you if they will take you or not and you go on to the next one or get in. 
 
Those people who come up to you and ask you if you want a taxi are from private companies. They are usually not licensed and can’t be tracked. They will probably quote you something like $75 (it should cost about $50). But when they get you in the taxi they can then say $175 and act like they said that all along. They hold your luggage hostage until you pay, so what can you do? Don’t go with them.
 
If you are planning on taking taxis in Rome, at the airport or elsewhere, read this: https://www.romewise.com/taxi-in-rome.html
 
It’s a great article and covers a lot of detail.
 
If you are waiting for a hotel shuttle, say no to the private taxis people and walk through that whole crowd to the street. Cross to the FIRST island (very small and mostly lined with blue railings). Turn right and walk along the blue railings. Shortly one of the ubiquitous signs on the railings will say, “Hotel Shuttles this way way" then after that there will be a number of signs listing hotels. Find your hotel and stand in front of that sign. Your shuttle will pull up at the appointed time.

To get to the bus, walk through a couple of lines a traffic until you reach the big parking garages at the back. You will see signs for the bus station on the right. Follow those. 
 
You also go through this area to get to the Uber area, though it is not easy to find or marked. Uber is spotty in Rome, though they do have it and it is safer than taxis when it comes to not being ripped off.
 

---