As a result there has been a ripple-effect throughout Italy – and notably in any form of transportation. I had the misfortune to travel to Roma Termini Train Station a few times this week – what a mess. Because flights were impossible, train travel became the next best option. And that led to many, many problems at Roma Termini. Below is one of the many signs posted in the train station:

These notes were posted on April 20th. So for the next three days… train travel was impossible. And not to pile on to the frustrations of hundreds of thousands of stranded travelers, but Trenitalia goes on strike for 24 hours on April 23rd. Yep, T.I.I (This is Italy!)

My wife is flying Thursday evening so hopefully the airport congestion will ease and folks can find their way home. One ongoing problem will be the continuing “chaos” at Termini. At least for the near future, much of the normal pattern of travel outside and underneath Roma Termini Station will be disrupted by construction – see below:

The path to the metros underneath Roma Termini is a disaster. Many of the escalators heading down are not working because they’ve changed the direction of the crowd flow – and the escalators are not built to go in those directions. So folks are having to carry their luggage down the stairs. Be prepared if you plan to ride the metro from Roma Termini to your hotel or apartment. For those of us that live here everything is now in the opposite direction! Visitors will not notice the difference but the flow is much narrower and thus much more crowded. Let’s hope they get this done soon!

Wizz Air is a Hungarian owned airline that flies out of FCO. For more info on budget airlines in Euope, like Wizz Air, click here! That morning we put our son on an Alitalia flight back to the States (2+ hours waiting in lines – Good thing we got there early) and so back to FCO we went, arriving early again. Seems like we spent most of our day at FCO! We waited to check in almost 50 minutes and then spent another 45 minutes to go through the security line. Nothing like the organization of FCO. After all this waiting, our plane was then delayed two hours and we did not leave Rome till early evening. Not a great start to our brief getaway!

We wanted to spend a couple days just getting away from the mad rush that is Christmas in Rome. Bratislava in January fit that bill. Yes, it was a little cold… and our last might there it started snowing… which was beautiful. We wandered the city, ate at many Slovak restaurants, and just relaxed. Exactly what the doctor ordered. On one of our days, we walked to the train station and caught the local train to Vienna, a trip that took less than one hour and cost €11 each. After a day wandering through Old Vienna, we jumped back on the train to Slovakia.

Living in Rome, we don’t get snow so it was great to wake up to a winter wonderland. We enjoyed our day wandering through snow-covered Bratislava.

The best part of our trip to Bratislava? No doubt was our stay at the Venturska Residence. The residence is actually a group of apartments located in the Old Town section of Bratislava. If you’re headed to Bratislava, you will want to stay in the Old Town. It borders the Danube River and is the most wonderful part of the city. The Venturska Residence is owned an operated by Jan, a local who lived and worked in Utah during the Salt Lake City Olympics. Jan was a delight. We had arranged for Jan to pick us up at the Bratislava airport, a service he provides for a minimal fee. When we were “stuck” in the FCO airport, I called Jan in Slovakia and he assured me that no matter how late our plane was he would be waiting for us. And sure enough, after a long day – there he was as we exited the terminal, holding a sign bearing our name. Jan drove us into the city and told us about Bratislava.

Jan has operated the Venturska Residence for about five years. Once we arrived, he took us to our apartment (we opted for the studio) and showed us how everything worked. He explained the security door, and then filled us in on sights to see in Bratislava. We asked questions about the train and heading to Vienna and Jan knew all the answers. In my business, finding someone like Jan is a gold mine. He was courteous, helpful, and throughout our stay responded to any queries we had. The pictures you see on Jan’s website are exactly what the apartments look like. We had all this in our studio apartment: a double bed, fold-out sofa, dining table with chairs, wardrobe, PC desk with a swivel chair, private bathroom with shower, cable TV, DVD/CD player, digital alarm-clock radio, free broadband Internet access, iron & ironing board, hair-dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, cooker, microwave, kettle, coffee maker, toaster, crockery & cutlery, cookware & kitchen utensils. And there was a new, modern elevator. Just like the website said…. No wonder this residence is rated so highly. We plan to go back “in season” and we will stay at the Venturska Residence.

So if you’re looking for a quick trip to recharge your batteries, or just wind down after running from site after site, then head to Bratislava… Enjoy a slower pace, wonderful food, and just RELAX!

They’ve been nicknamed Tourist Angels and will be quite visible on specially modified Segways, painted in the deep red colors that represent the city of Rome. They will be wearing yellow jumpers (or raincoats) with “Ask Me” written on the back. The Tourist Angels will speak a variety of languages including English, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, and of course, Italian. Hopefully you will meet one who speaks YOUR language! They will be working seven days a week and will help provide visitors with info on the city’s top sights.

The city’s tourism chief (and deputy mayor) Mauro Cutrufo announced that a 60-strong team of angels on electric chariots is being formed. As of yet, only sixteen chariots are in place to help the millions of visitors who descend upon Rome each year. “They will speed to visitors’ rescue when they look in trouble or simply at a loss where to turn next,” said Cutrufo. They will definitely have some full plates as Rome can be a little confusing! The angels are a mobile version of Rome’s telephone service for tourist information and cultural events; the number to call, which is also printed on the side of each segway, is 060608.

The buses begin their routes at 5 AM – another plus for us early travelers as the Leonardo Express does not start until 05:52 AM. Currently, there are 33 runs during the day so this service is quite a viable option… and at only €8 a very reasonably priced option.

The buses start from Rome at 05:00 AM and run TO the airport until 21:15. Coming from Fiumicino, the buses start at 07:00 and the last bus departs from the airport at 23:30 (The last Leonardo Express does leave at 23:36).

Where can you purchase SITBus Shuttle Tickets?

Tickets can be purchased at: automatic distribution machines, tobacconist’s shops, coffee bars, newsagents and SITBus Shuttle points at your arrivals gate.

Purchase Sites near Termini Station

Map from www.gogglemaps.com

• Aci TRAVEL Caracciolo – Via Marsala, 14/A (under the gallery) – Located outside termini on the north side of the Station. RED PIN ABOVE
• Tobacco shop Bartolomei, Piazza dei Cinquecento – The piazza out in front of Termini Station. YELLOW PIN ABOVE
• News Termini S.r.l., – A newsstand inside Termini Station near Platform #24. LIGHT BLUE PIN ABOVE
• Tobacco shop Rossi Pietro – Located at the Caracciolo gallery, about 2 blocks north of Termini Station. GREEN PIN ABOVE
• Tobacco shop Pinto, Located in the Shopping Center at Termini Station.
• Grandi Biglietterie, Termini Station, also in front of Track #24. Also, LIGHT BLUE PIN ABOVE

Where can you catch the SITBus in Rome to get to the FCO Airport?

Departing Rome (Termini Station) to FCO – at Via Marsala, 5.

Rome Centre to FCO – at Piazza Cavour, 33.

Where can you catch the SITBus at the FCO Airport?

Outside Terminal C at Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

How often does the SITBus Shuttle Run?

Some of the rules for riding the SITBus Shuttle

You can purchase a ticket when you board the bus…. or buy at a a few local vendors in the Roma Termini area –  and you must keep the ticket for the entire duration of the journey and present it every time you’re requested to do so by the company’s inspection, control and verification staff (which usually means the driver!).

Children less than four years of age, less than one meter in height, and who will not occupy a seat, are free.

Every passenger can bring – Free-of-charge – one suitcase or one piece of hand luggage on the condition that it is not larger than 50 x 30 x 25 cm on any side.

The following baggage is not allowed:
- those exceeding 90 cm, on any one side
- those with sharp corners or edges
- inflammable or fragile materials

For links directly to their site in English, click below:
- SITBus Shuttle – Home
- SITBus Shuttle Reservations

Here’s the text translated (Badly) from their website:

On the night of 10/24 small “army” of engineers and workers will take to the field to change the signs of the terminal, roads, car parks and in all areas open to the public.

The change in signage is designed both to rationalize the existing situation but also to realign the signs to the situation as regards the designation of the Terminal, the big international airports. The new nomenclature of reference for the system of the terminals has been determined:

• Terminal A is renamed Terminal 1 (T1)
• Terminal AA is renamed Terminal 2 (T2)
• Terminals B and C (now merged) are renamed Terminal 3 (T3)
• Terminal subsidiary sensitive flight is confirmed Terminal 5 (T5)
• New name, literal B, C, D, G, H, of the boarding areas.

The Director of Aviation Safety and ADR, Elijah Gun, explained in ‘interview, all details of the project:

“Adapting to major hubs in the world, the airport of the capital take the system for identifying the number of terminals and distinguishes them permanently from the areas of shipment, which will be identified by letters A through H.

The revolution in signaling responds to a twofold, says Chief Aviation Security and Elijah Gun, “The renovation project will streamline the existing situation and bring the designation of areas of interest of passengers, terminals, and the interior of the terminals at what happens in the major international airports, with values similar to those of traffic at Fiumicino.

At the airport of Fiumicino infrastructure deployments have occurred gradually over time, which were identified under a name not consequential or misleading with respect to the actual location. For example, the embarkation areas are characterized by the letter C is located at Terminal namesake, is the Satellite West. This happened because, when it was installed the satellite, it was considered appropriate to continue the consecutive numbering of the outputs to those of the terminal is characterized by the same letter of the alphabet. The new releases of Terminal C, made following the Satellite, it continues the numbering, creating a “jump” difficult to understand logical for passengers. Likewise, the use of double A to identify one of the terminals does not match the names of the gates in it placed, identified with individuals.

Only operators engaged in continuous activity knows that some outputs identified by the letter A are outside the pier of the same name. This was because the airport was expanded, in some cases outside of any program, a process that lasted over the years and previous plans for infrastructure development did not take into account the need to harmonize related signs. “

What are the new features?

“The new signage change the previous setting: in the month of October, Terminal A, AA, B and C, respectively, become 1, 2, 3 (because B and C will be merged), plus the existing T 5 which will keep its current name. This is because the future terminal for flights sensitive, which will be located beyond the current area Ceremonial, to be the Terminal 4, in a perspective that takes into account the infrastructure that will arise in the future.

The same goes for boarding areas, whose letter of designation will identify the physical place and will take into account those provided by the development plan to 2020. The new name corresponds to a logic of long-term and use techniques dictated by international custom, consistent with what the passengers are accustomed to find in other airports in the world. The biggest problem orienting, focus principally on the operators, who will give references logistics dictated from memory and pay great attention, at least initially, to the new nomenclature…”

Why we chose the autumn to implement this project?

“This choice stems from the need to avoid possible errors in interpreting the new signs at the most “hot” year, when we can expect one, though partial, recovery of traffic. In autumn, in the presence of a smaller number of passengers, operators can consolidate the knowledge of the new names and limit the possible margin of error. “

Picture of the New Terminal Numbering System

For a close-up of this map, CLICK HERE!

Once you exit at the Ostia Antica station (about 25-30 minutes usually), it’s a short walk – less than 1/2 mile – to the Ostia Antica site. You’ll exit the station, then cross a pedestrian bridge, then go straight until you hit the parking lot, and turn left to get to the entrance. Note – If you stay on this train all the way to the end of the ROMA-LIDO line (C. Colombo Station), you’re directly across the street from the Mediterranean Sea!

This is a map of the Ostia Antica grounds; Note the signage welcoming you to the Porta di Roma, as that’s what is was in ancient times! You’ll find this sign just after you enter the site. Ostia Antica is so quiet and peaceful, quite a change after the “bustle” that is Rome today. The entrance fee is currently €6.50 for site and museum. The site is CLOSED on Mondays.

When you are out here there are no telephone poles in sight. It’s almost eerie… until you realize you are in the landing path of FCO… although the noise from the jets is not noticeable. Note this contrast between ancient day technology and current day technology in this picture!

This is the entry path leading from the ticket booth. As you can see, there are very large “cobblestones” to walk on so definitely wear some comfortable shoes. You can also see a small glimpse of just how big this site is! Be prepared to walk – and bring water with you. I would also dress in layers as it can get hot once the day warms up. You’re only a couple of miles from the sea!

In many places the ruins of Ostia are even more defined than Pompeii. If you can’t do the “all day” trip to Pompeii, then this is a great substitute. We like Ostia Antica because it’s convenient, but also far less crowded. Yes, these pictures were taken in February, but we’ve been out there in season and the crowds are NOTHING like Pompeii.

You’ll find many walkways, streets, and paths all through Ostia. If you like, you can explore this area for hours! By the 2nd century AD this city had grown to almost 100,000 residents so the “sprawl” is huge!

Here is an beautiful mosaic floor in great shape. Throughout the park you will stumble upon finds like these. The detail is amazing and some date from the 2nd century AD. Incredible!

A beautiful path in Ostia – Ostia” in Latin means “mouth”. At the mouth of the River Tiber, Ostia was the seaport of Rome. As a result of the silting of the Tiber, the seaport “moved” to the current town of Ostia. This site is now about 2 miles from the Mediterranean Sea.

Here’s another incredible mosaic. There is evidence suggesting that Ostia was founded by by Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome, in the 7th century BC. There are ruins that date as far back as the 4th century B.C. in Ostia Antica. These mosaics are from a later period in the development of the city.

Okay, so these two pictures are of the public toilets in Ostia Antica – Yep, they had a very impressive “sewage” system, even back in this time. The toilet seats, side-by-side, are made of marble. There are many, many toilets in this one area…. In fact, I would say there are more public toilets in these pictures than in 1 square mile of current day Rome – LOL!

Outside the cafe’/gelateria/gift shop located on the grounds of Ostia Antica you’ll usually find these wild dogs. They are pretty docile and harmless and most often are laying around in the sun. Tourists feed them – so they naturally hang out at the cafe’. It may be unnerving if you’re a cat person!

The Amphitheater in Ostia Antica is beautiful. And it’s a great place to have lunch. When we go to the site, a group of us pack a couple of bottles of wine, water, sandwiches, chips, etc. and we sit here – as you seem folks on the left side of this picture doing. You have a GREAT view (see below) and it’s a wonderful spot to absorb the “magic” that is Ostia Antica!

From the top of the amphitheater looking down, you get a wonderful view of the Market Square. To think that events went on here 2,000 years ago and folks sat in these same seats is incredible!

In the main square, the marketplace, you can see these mosaics which detail what is sold in each shop. Most Romans were illiterate, so pictures were the solution rather than words. Around this square you can still see the mosaics of bakers, vegetable vendors, and here – a shop that sells fish.

After a long day exploring Ostia Antica, simply retrace your steps back to the Metro Station. You’ll go to the opposite platform and ride the ROMA-LIDO train back to the Piramide Metro Station and connect from there. It’s an easy, and an exhilarating, trip. Ostia Antica is an incredible experience – Go have a GREAT time!

Great Ostia Antica websites:

Ostia Antica – The Better Pompeii

Ostia Antica – The Ancient Harbor

Ostia Antica – The Harbor City of Rome

YouTube – Ostia Antica 

It’s importatnt to say it again - When you use your Roma Pass, the FIRST TWO museums or archaeological sites you go to are FREE. After you visit the first two sites, any other sites on the list are then “discounted” when you present the card. The card is only good for THREE DAYS so you’ll have to plan your itinerary in order to maximize your usage of the card. After three days, the card is NO longer valid for sites or transportation. The card is ALSO valid for discounts at exhibitions, events, dance performances, and even the theater.  It now also includes the benefit of the Medical Call Center of Travel Health MET.

From their website, the Roma Pass Kit contains:  

• Roma Pass:  - your public transport and site card;
• Roma MAP: a map of the city illustrating the location of Tourist Information Points, Underground stations, museums/sites of interests.
• Roma Pass Guide: the complete list of museums/sites of interest that have joined the initiative;
• Roma News: the program of events and tourist services that are eligible for discounts divided by area of interest: art, music, theatre, dance, entertainment and sightseeing tours.

How to Use Your Roma Pass at Museums or Sites?

When you purchase your Roma Pass, you must print your name and the date you will start using it on the overleaf form. Then when you go to your first site/museum, the card is “validated.” This starts the clock running – Now you have until midnight of the third day to use your card. So if your first stop is the Colosseo on Monday, then you “site” section of your Roma Pass card will expire on Wednesday at midnight… 

The first two sites you go to are FREE with your card. After that, any other site you go to is discounted and you must present your Roma Pass card at the ticket office to get the discount. The “barcode” information on your card will contain your initial validation date. It also tells the vendor whether or not you have been to “two” Free sites already. By rule, you must present ID when you use your Roma Pass at a site – Frankly, I’ve helped folks used this card over a hundred times and NO ONE has ever asked to see ID. But you probably should carry a “copy” of your passport photo page anyway. In Italy, you must always have a valid form of ID… that’s the law. The card is ONLY good for three days so if you plan to get multiple discounts, you will have to plan ahead.

How to Use Your Roma Pass for Transportation?

You can get free access for THREE DAYS on ATAC buses and trams, the Metro Lines A & B, and specific “local” Met.Ro train lines: Roma – Lido, Roma – Viterbo (in the Roma – Sacrofano section), and Roma – Pantano.  Using the bus and metro system you can get all over town. See our previous posting, Bus Riding In Rome for more help!

Most folks do not use the Pass for trains as it’s a little limited – but the “train line” you might use you r pass on is the Roma-Lido line. This line will take you to Ostia Antica, the ancient settlement, for free – using your Roma Pass transport ticket. If you stay on the LIDO train, as the name suggests, it will take you all the way to the beach and the Mediterranean! Just get off at the last stop (C. Colombo), walk across the street from the Metro Station, and you’re at the Med! Of course, it’s mostly private beaches in this area, but you can use your transportation pass to ride a bus in this area a few stops south to the public beach! If you’ve ever been on the LIDO train, you’ve seen everyone with their ice chest, umbrellas, and bikinis headed to the beach – It’s how we go!

Again, you’ve written your name and the first date you will use it on the overleaf of your Roma Pass.  If you’ve used it for a museum or site, it’s been validated.  If you’re using it for transport first, “validate” it on your first bus, tram or metro ride. If you ”validate” it on your first bus, tram, or metro ride it is now good for 3 days – or really until midnight of the third day, just like the example above of Monday through Wednesday.  THE PASS IS ONLY VALIDATED ONCE - either the first time you get on a bus or by the first museum/site you visit.  After you validate this, you can turn it over and you will see the expiration date and time (23:59) printed on your ticket… that’s how the inspectors will know if your Pass is valid!

With the changes to the Roma Pass system, the Transportation Pass and Museum/Site Card are THE SAME TICKET – THIS IS A CHANGE if you’ve used the ticket in years past! Because they are NOW the SAME card, when you first validate it, either in a musuem or on a bus – the clock is now ticking (concurrently).  Unfortunately, now the two sections of the pass operate DO NOT independently as they used to.

What is this Travel MET Health Benefit?

I’ve never had cause to use the Health Benefit section of a Roma Pass – thank goodness. This is a relatively new feature of the card. It does provide a multilingual CALL CENTER, open 24 hours a day. You can get information about public and private medical facilities in Rome. They will also give you location information (address, phone number, hours open) of facilities in your close proximity. And if you need direct medical assistance, they do provide a service in this area at discounted fees.

If you have an emergency in Italy, the Italian healthcare system is pretty responsive. They do their best work in emergencies – and often you may not even see a bill! It’s when you need to schedule an eye appointment, persistent back pain, etc. that you get in trouble here – so, in most cases, you’ll be taken care of. I think this “Roma Pass benefit” is a good support mechanism, and I would use them as such if I had this card. For an emergency, the Italian system would be my first contact. 

I’ve hear of the Roma&Più Pass, What’s the difference?

The Roma&Più Pass is exactly like the Roma Pass… but whereas the Roma Pass is for the city of Rome, the Roma&Più Pass is for the city of Rome and the province of Lazio. So it has a larger scope. Currently the Roma&Più Pass is listed as €25 – BUT NOT BEING SOLD!  According to the Roma Pass website, it’s coming back soon! So what do you get on the Roma&Più Pass?

On the transport section of the pass you get the same benefits as the Roma Pass AND you can ride the extra-urban COTRAL coaches (regional bus line), and the regional railways of Trenitalia (2^nd class). So in the province of Lazio, you can use your Roma&Più Pass to head to Tivoli on the COTRAL bus or regional train. You can ride trains – other than the Met.Ro trains in and around Rome – as long as you stay in the first three zones of the Trenitalia map! If you are looking to get out of the city to Lake Braciano, than this pass works for you. This always seems to stir up confusion, but according to the lastest updates on the Roma Pass website (April 27, 2009), NEITHER PASS WILL WORK on the Leonardo Express from FCO to Termini or on the FR1 train from the Airport into town – UGH! Sorry, those are big money makers for Trenitalia!

Using the Roma&Più Pass you will also have access to Museums and sites in the Province, not in Rome… so you get a few more opportunities to get discounts or free entry. This is primarily more of a benefit if you plan to travel and visit sites outside the city of Rome.

AGAIN,  NOTE – Currently the Roma&Più Pass is unavilable – it is projected to return soon???

Where are these good at?

Head to the Roma Pass website to get the best descriptions -  CLICK HERE - but this is a list of what they currently feature for the Roma Pass and Roma&Più Pass:

ARCHAELOGICAL MUSEUMS       

• Appia Antica – Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella e Castrum Caetani -Via Appia Antica, 161
• Appia Antica – Terme di Caracalla – Viale Terme di Caracalla, 52
• Appia Antica – Villa dei Quintili – Via Appia Nuova, 1092
• Colosseo, Palatine Hill, and Forum – These three all count as ONE STOP when using your Roma Pass!
• Trajan’s Market – Piazza della Madonna di Loreto
• Capitolini Museum – Piazza del Campidoglio, 1
• Centrale Montemartini – Via Ostiense, 106
• Museo Barracco – Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 166/A
• Museo dell’Ara Pacis – Lungotevere in Augusta
• Museo della Civiltà Romana – Piazza G. Agnelli, 10
• Museo delle Mura – Via di Porta S. Sebastiano, 18
• Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale – Via Merulana, 248
• Museo Nazionale dell’Alto Medioevo – Viale A. Lincoln, 3
• Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia – Piazzale di Villa Giulia, 9
• Museo Nazionale Preistorico ed Etnografico “Luigi Pigorini” – Piazza G. Marconi, 14
• Museo Nazionale Romano – This has four different sites that all counts as ONE STOP on your Roma Pass: The Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Altemps, Palazzo Massimo, and the aggregate of the Terme di Diocleziano.
• Museo Nazionale Romano – Crypta Balbi – Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31
• Museo Nazionale Romano – Palazzo Altemps – Piazza di S. Apollinare, 48
• Museo Nazionale Romano – Palazzo Massimo – Largo di Villa Peretti, 1
• Museo Nazionale Romano – Terme di Diocleziano – Via E. De Nicola, 79
• Scavi di Ostia Antica – Viale dei Romagnoli, 717 (Ostia Antica)
• Villa di Massenzio – Via Appia Antica, 153-

MODERN MUSEUMS          

• Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna – Viale delle Belle Arti, 131
• Galleria Borghese – Piazzale del Museo Borghese, 5
• Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini – Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13
• Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica in Palazzo Corsini – Via della Lungara, 10
• Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Venezia – Via del Plebiscito, 118
• Museo di Roma – Piazza San Pantaleo, 10
• Musei Capitolini – Piazza del Campidoglio, 1
• Galleria Spada – Piazza Capo di Ferro, 13
• Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo – Lungotevere Castello, 50
• Museo Napoleonico – Piazza di Ponte Umberto I, 1
• Museo Nazionale degli Strumenti Musicali – Piazza S. Croce in Gerusalemme, 9/A
• Museo Nazionale delle Arti e Tradizioni Popolari – Piazza G. Marconi, 8-10

CONTEMPORARY MUSEUMS  

• MACRO – Via Reggio Emilia, 54
• Museo di Roma in Trastevere – Piazza S. Egidio, 1/B
• Museo Carlo Bilotti Aranceria di Villa Borghese – Viale Fiorello La Guardia
• Musei di Villa Torlonia Casina delle Civette – Via Nomentana, 70
• Musei di Villa Torlonia Casino Nobile – Via Nomentana, 70
• Museo Pietro Canonica a Villa Borghese – Viale Pietro Canonica, 2 (Piazza di Siena)

SCIENTIFIC MUSEUMS      

• Planetario e Museo Astronomico – Piazza G. Agnelli, 10
• Museo Civico di Zoologia – via Ulisse Aldrovandi,18

MUSEUMS IN THE PROVINCE  - GOOD WITH THE Roma&Più Pass

• Museo Archeologico Nazionale Cerite – Lungotevere Castello, 50 (Cerveteri)
• Museo Archeologico Nazionale Prenestino e Santuario della Fortuna Primigenia – Piazza della Cortina, 1 (Palestrina)
• Museo del Giocattolo – Palazzo Rospignosi, Piazza Indipendenza (Zagarolo)
• Museo delle Navi Romane – Via Diana, 15 (Nemi)
• Necropoli della Banditaccia – Piazzale della Necropoli (Cerveteri)
• Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia – Piazza di Corte, 14 (Ariccia)
• Scuderie Aldobrandini per l’Arte – Piazza Marconi, 6 (Frascati)
• Villa Adriana – Largo Marguerite Yourcenar, 51 (Tivoli)
• Villa D’Este – Piazza Trento, 1 (Tivoli)
• Villa Gregoriana – Largo Sant’Angelo/ piazza del Tempio di Vesta (Tivoli)

The EVENTS that either the Roma Pass or the Roma&Più Pass are viable at are very date specific. So I recommend that you click on the links below if you are interested in “events.”

• Art
• Cinema
• Dance 
• Music 
• Theatre
• Sightseeing Tours
• Festivals
• Tourist Services
• The Lido (Beach)
• Health Service Assistance
• In the Province – Roma&Più Pass only 

Where can I get one of these passes?

You can purchase the Roma Pass and Roma&Più Pass online and at many locations throughout town. I suggest against purchasing online because you’re not sent the packet. Rather, you are given a “code” that you have to take to specific “pick-up points.” Now, if one of these is convenient to your hotel or B&B, then yes, this can be an effective method for you. But more often than not, these pick-points are not. And many do not open until 9 or 9:30 AM! So do know that if you purchase online you WILL NOT walk off your plane with a packet in hand.

You can also purchase these over the phone at their call center, +39 060608. Again, you will still get a code for a pick-up.

The good news is that all participating museums and sites listed above sell the Roma Pass. The bad news is… often they are sold out. So don’t wait until you get to a site expecting to buy the pass and then use it to go. Okay, that’s how it’s supposed to work…. But as we say here, T.I.I. – This is Italy!

You can also purchase your Roma Pass at all the Tourist Information Sites, called PIT, which stands for Punti Informativi Turistici. Again, these open about 9 AM – 9:30 depending on season and location. Some of these include, but are not limited to: 

• PIT Castel S. Angelo, Lungotevere Vaticano (Piazza Pia). 9.30 – 19.00
• PIT Ciampino, Aeroporto – International Arrivals Area in the Baggage collection. Open from 9.30 – 18.30
• PIT Cinque Lune, Piazza delle Cinque Lune (Piazza Navona). 9.30 – 19.00
• PIT Fiumicino, Aeroporto Leonardo Da Vinci - International Arrivals Area in outside Terminal C in the hallway just past the escalator to the train. Open from 9.00 till 18.30
• PIT Minghetti, Via Marco Minghetti (angolo Via del Corso). 9.30 – 19.00
• PIT Nazionale, Via Nazionale (Palazzo delle Esposizioni). 9.30 – 19.00
• PIT S. Maria Maggiore, Via dell’Olmata. 9.30 – 19.00.
• PIT Termini, Stazione Termini – Via Giovanni Giolitti, 34. 8.00 – 20.00
• PIT Trastevere, Piazza Sidney Sonnino. 9.30 – 19.00

You can also pick up the passes at a new information desk in Termini which is adjacent to where you go for car rentals. This is on the far right side of the station as you look at towards the incoming trains, to the right of Track #24. Also, outside Termini, in the main square in front, Piazza dei Cinquecento, you can purchase your Roma APss at the “Trambus Open.”

The zoo in Villa Borghese sells the passes, as does the Visitor Center on Via dei Fori Imperiali – the road leading to the Colosseo (It will be on your left, about 250 yards away, as you are  walking towards the Colosseo).

In addition, you can buy the Roma Pass at many, many newsstands. You’ll see their signs and logo posted everywhere. I’ve bought them in the metro station at the Colosseo, downstairs in Termini, and on street corners downtown. So again, you don’t have to buy this online to find it.

How much can you save with a pass? Click on this link for the prices, as of April 2009, for all the participating sites and museums: Cost of Tickets

Okay, great info, but should I buy either of these Passes?

The bottom line is that if you are going to be in Rome for three days, plan to visit two major sites included in the Roma Pass or Roma&Più Pass, and plan to use the public transportation system, then this is a good buy for you. Let’s do the math.

• The most popular site is the Colosseo. When you use the Roma Pass at the Colosseo, this ticket ALSO includes the Forum and Palatine Hill. These all count as ONE STOP on your Roma Pass… so you still have one site you can visit free. The Colosseo bundled ticket costs €9, but when it has an exhibit (ALMOST ALWAYS!), you will pay €12.
• Let’s select a second “free” site. Many folks use this pass at the Galleria Borghese or the Capitoline Museum. The current price for the Galleria Borghese is usually €8.50.
• A three day metro pass in Rome (BTI – Integrated Tourist Ticket, Biglietto Turistico Integrat) costs €11.

Colosseo, Forum, Palatine Hill           €12

Galleria Borghese                           €8.50     

BTI – Integrated Tourist Ticket         €11

That comes to €31.50 – or a savings of €6.50 if you use the transport system (If you go to the Capitoline Museum, this site, with exhibition fees, is often €10.50). So you basically get to see the Galleria Borghese (or your second site) for free. Now, if you are not going to use the transport system AT ALL, then this pass will not save you money - You must ride the buses/metro  5 times (€1 a ticket) to break even on the Roma Pass – or use it for discounts at yout third or fourth “site.” You still might come out ahead with the “discounts” you get, but you would have to do all this in just three days.

So, I’ll say it again, if you plan on using public transportation, either of these passes make good sense. If you are staying in a central location, like the Pantheon area. you might not as Rome is very walkable if you have no mobility issues). As a local, I live here, ride the buses and metro often, so I spend my day jumping on and off buses to re4duce walking…. but you have to do your homework on the bus or metro system. Obviously, if you’re headed out of the city, the Roma&Più Pass, for two more Euro offers a better deal. (Hopefully they will start selling it again soon!)

Two notes of caution. The Roma Pass or Roma&Più Pass do not work on the trains in from FCO (Leonardo Express or FR1), and also you do not see the Vatican mentioned anywhere. The Roma Pass DOES NOT work at the Vatican – that’s a separate country and is not covered by either pass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Roma Pass to “skip the lines?”

At the Palatine Hill and Forum, you would not have to wait in line to purchase a ticket. With the Roma Pass you already have yours. So at Palatine and the Forum entrance, you can head past the crowds directly to the turnstiles, and using your Roma Pass go right in!

At the Colosseo, in the past everyone had to go through security – Now they have removed the “token” X-RAY machines, so hold your Pass in your hand, go directly towards the turnstiles. First you see three divided areas by ropes – GO TO THE CENTER PATH, pass in hand. You will go directly down the center all the way to the turnstiles. On your LEFT is a line for groups…. On Your RIGHT is the line to purchase tickets. You will blow past both of these lines and go directly to the turnstiles and in! According to the February 1, 2010 update, there is now a “designated” turnstile for Roma Pass holders. Head for it! Frankly, if you’ve had the pass and know the system, you always bypassed the lines!

Can I get discounts first, and then because of my schedule, use the pass at the free locations I want?

No, the FIRST two sites you go to and use the pass will be your “free” sights. They scan the pass and electronically “marks” your card as used. So you have to plan out your first two locations!

Can I buy the Roma Pass tickets at the Airport in Rome, but not use them till I come back the following week?

Yes, you can buy the pass anytime you want and hold it … indefinitely. I’ve had two or three in my possession for more than a month. As long as you DO NOT the pass  (be it for a site or a bus/metro) you can use it when you come back to town. Your three days do start until the card is VALIDATED. That’s either when you put it in a validation box on a bus or tram or enter a metro or it’s the first time you enter a site or museum … they validate it!

Can I use the Roma Pass is Florence for the Uffizi or in Pompeii?

 No, sorry. These passes are only good in Roma, or if you buy the Roma&Più Pass, in the parts of the province of Lazio.  

Is the hop-on/hop-off bus included in the Roma Pass?

No, Bus 110, the hop on/off bus, is not included in the Roma Pass but you can purchase it for a 15% discount using your pass! See Bus 110 

 Roma Pass and Roma&Più Pass – what does Più mean?

Più means “extra” and as you see from these comparisons, the Roma&Più Pass does give you more extras!

Do under 12′s need a Roma Pass?

Okay, this can be very confusing and very subjective. From a transport side, children under 10 do not need a ticket to ride the Metro. Okay, that’s the easy part. On the “site or museum” part of the pass, it is dependent on the specific “site” or “museum” you are going to. So you may have to go to their website for more details. Unfortunately, many sites DO NOT offer children fees to non-EU citizens, so you may be forced to pay full price.

How do I use the Roma Pass at the Galleria Borghese – they say you need a reservation

This question gets asked all the time… and it can be very confusing. First, yes you can use your Roma Pass or Roma&Più Pass for entry into the museum at no cost to you. Unfortunately you need a reservation to get into the Galleria Borghese. When you go online to get a reservation, it asks you for a credit card number, etc. and you have to PAY for the reservation online. This is NOT what you want.

To use the Rome Pass, you must get a reservation “code.” The good news is this costs NOTHING! The bad news is you cannot get this online (at least as of April 2009). To get a code, you must call the Borghese Galleria at +39 (06) 32810. The office is open during ROME HOURS as charted below. Frankly on Mondays I always get a recording they are closed????

• MON – FRI     9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• SAT                 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• SUN                Closed

To save you money and hassle, just email your hotel or B&B and have them call for you. You will need to provide:

• The DATE you want to go to the Galleria
• The NAME to put the reservation under
• The TIME you want to go (2 hour periods at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3PM, and 5 PM – pick your time)
• The NUMBER of tickets you will need

UPDATE - Click on this link: Galleria Borghese  …. to get the info on the NEW, FREE Call Back feature offered by the Museum! It will save you the hassle and cost of having to make an international call!

If you do this, the Galleria operator will provide you will a code. You need this code, and your Roma Pass, when you enter the Galleria 30 minutes prior to your scheduled time slot. Present both at the ticket desk on the right and you will be given passes – it’s that easy!

Often times though you can only book your slot 3-4 weeks in advance, although this time period varies quite erratically. Better to have someone local call, then to waste money and find out they are not accepting bookings for your time period yet! Once I did book about 6 weeks out for someone… no one seems to understand their booking system – including them.

The Galleria website, for more info, is http://www.ticketeria.it/ticketeria/borghese-eng.asp

Can I buy either pass in Rome with a credit card rather than Cash?

At the official Tourist Information points (many listed above), the Info desk INSIDE Termini, and at the Airports, yes – you can use your Visa, MC, or AMEX card. Out at the newsstands and local vendors, no – most do not accept credit cards.

Can I use the either pass at the Colosseo one day and the Forum the next, as they are counted as one site, or do I have to all of them on one day?

The Colosseo, Forum, and Palatine Hill are all counted as one site… but you get two days to enter them. So on Day 1 you could go to the Colosseo and then on Day 2 to the Forum and Palatine Hill. What you cannot do is GO BACK into one of these three. For example, if you went to Colosseo on Day1, then back to Colosseo on Day 2….you have now used 2 sites and your card is not good for anything FREE – except to visit the Palatine or Forum on that second day – so good at all three but only for one entry each!

When you buy a Roma pass can you use it on the trains and buses before you enter a museum or site, or do you have to enter a site before can use the transportation piece?

Now there is only “one card” in the packet. Thus the transportation card is NO LONGER separate from the “site or museum” card. Effective Febraury 1, 2010 they NO LONGER work independently. Now you must use the card as a tranportation and site card concurrently – a big change that will require you to be more organized from the first time you validate!

Let’s take a step-by-step approach to this. I was at the airport last week so I took some pictures. Pardon the “blurred” images but my wife was yelling at me to hurry up (Yes, you were!).

First, if you’re coming to Rome internationally – particularly from the US – you’ll probably exit out of the Terminal 3 Arrivals area. Currently sections of Terminal 3 are under renovation …. for the next year probably. Thus all international flights, (non-EU flights) are exiting the Arrivals Area (Passport Control, Luggage Retrieval, Customs) into the Terminal  3 Arrivals area.  For more info on arriving at FCO, check out our previous posting, Arriving in Rome – Fiumicino (FCO) .

After you retrieve your luggage, or if you’re doing carry-on only, you will pass by Customs (don’t stop, just keep going), and EXIT through the frosted, sliding glass doors. Once you go through these, you are now in Italy and a non-secure area. Immediately after exiting, TURN RIGHT!

You’ll see a hallway on your right that looks just like the picture below! Follow the “Train” signs down this hallway on your right.

After you walk about 150 yards you’ll see a sign above your head that looks like this… This signifies escalator ahead and the train station down the escalator.

You’ll see the escalator on YOUR LEFT. As you see in the picture below, there will probably be some “drivers” standing there asking, “Do you need a ride to Rome?” Don’t even slow down – these guys will charge you far too much to ride into Rome! Just get on the DOWN escalator as you see in the left side of this picture.

You’ll take the down escalator, go under the road, and then take a few UP escalators all the way to the top level.

Once at the top, you’ll go straight towards the wall in front of you and TURN RIGHT.

Now you’re entering the train station. Congratulations!

In the train station, you’ll see to your left, three sets of tracks. The ticket centers are left, right, and straight ahead. For the Trenitalia desk, TURN RIGHT when you enter this area… it will be across the train plaza. Here’s a shot of the Trenitalia Ticket center in the train station plaza.

When you enter, you’ll see these folks [pictured below] on your left. This is a Travel Agency (365 – Travel & Leisure). They are also located in the Roma Termini Station. On short trips their prices are usually the same as TrenItalia. Personally I’ve always gone directly to the source (Trenitalia) or the kiosk. But if the lines were really long at my primary choices…..

In addition, we’ve bought Metro Passes and Leonardo Express tickets from this “Tabacchi” shop, pictured below. As you can see from their “crawling sign,” they do sell tickets to Termini.

And your last option, in the center of the train station plaza are these self-service kiosks. For more instructions on these kiosks and how to use them, see our previous post, Buying a Train Ticket.

This kiosk picture above gives you a great “long shot” of the Train Station at FCO. In this picture you are FACING the three tracks. They are in the distance under the canopy and the “yellow poles” at ceiling level. The Trenitalia ticket desk would be to your immediate right in this shot. You can see the small newstand pictured above in the right-side background of this shot – under the “T” for Tabacchi sign. And as you can see on your left, there’s the other agency you can use to buy tickets. So this train station is not very big… Once you get here, it’s easy to assess your ticket options.

In the shot below we are walking from the kiosk and the Trenitalia counter towards the train tracks….

As you near the tracks, you’ll see the Arrivals/Departures board. Most of the time the Leonardo Express is arrives on Track 2 – the center track. Note in the right foreground the yellow box to validate your ticket. DON”T FORGET TO VALIDATE!

Lastly, you arrive at the Tracks, validated ticket in-hand to get on your train. Here, we are getting on the Leonardo Express. And it’s really that simple!

If you are making connections at Termini, and you buy ALL your tickets here – be it at a counter or at a kiosk – make sure to allot yourself enough time to get from the train you’re leaving the Airport on… to your connecting train! The Leonardo Express “usually” arrives at Track 25, one of the satellite tracks. Thus you will have at least a 10-12 minute walk, dragging luggage, to get to the main part of the station. I’d give myself at least 20-30 minutes MINIMUM on any connection. See this post for more assistance on Termini: Arriving by Train – Roma Termini.

If you get there early, have a caffe’ in the station, or head to the Conad’s grocery store in the lower level (right side walking away from the tracks) and purchase a “picnic” for your upcoming train ride. One of the great things about riding trains is you can bring ANYTHING on board. We’ve carried wine, pizza, sandwiches…. and yes, one time even a crated plasma TV! So there are very few restrictions! There is also a Desparo grocery store UNDER track 29 out at the satellite tracks…

Enjoy the trip – it’s not as scary as you’ve heard. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be a “train veteran” before you get to Rome!

One of the best things about living and traveling in Europe is how easy – and inexpensive – it is to fly from country to country. Often fares are advertised for €1! While flying is inexpensive, it’s not THAT inexpensive! There are so many new, cheap airlines in Europe it can get quite confusing. Prices DO start at extremely low points. As you get nearer to your projected date of departure, if you have not booked your ticket, the flights DO get much more expensive. So book early and you’ll find INCREDIBLE savings. We’ve flown to Sofia, Barcelona, Madrid, London, recently – all under €100 roundtrip!

So what about those €1 fees on RyanAir? Yes they do exist. But then you have to add in taxes, airport fees, luggage charges, a credit card fee, etc…. but the price can still come in under €30 one way. How do you find out who flies where? Try one of these sites:

• flycheapo.com
• Flylc.com
• Skyscanner.net
• Whichbudget
• Europe by Air

So how can these flights be so cheap?

First, the cheapest tickets are nonrefundable, non-changeable, and have to be purchased well in advance. Customer assistance is somewhat lacking. And very importantly, you must be on time! RyanAir closes their check-in gates about 40 minutes before a flight (so those same folks who checked you in can now head to the gate and check you onto the plane!). Once the gate is closed – you WILL NOT be getting on that plane… so be early! And if you miss your flight you will be buying a new ticket on the NEXT flight, at FULL PRICE!

On a budget airline you will pay for everything. Okay, it’s true – RyanAir is floating the idea of charging for toilet usage on flights. If anyone will do it, RyanAir will be the first to crack the toilet-barrier! No, it hasn’t happened yet. But on a budget airline you will pay for food, drinks, checking in your luggage, paying with a credit card, getting an exit row seat, getting on the plane first, etc.

You also pay fines if you exceed the luggage limits. Luggage limits are TIGHT. On many Euro-airlines, you limits are allowed 20 kg for checked luggage and 10 kg for carry-on. (CHECK your specific airline!). Last week we flew Vueling to Barcelona. Pre-checking a bag for one person for a roundtrip cost us €20. We were allowed 20 kg ber pag. Any weight over 20 kg would be charged at €8 per kilogram. So it can get very expensive. You can “pre-purchase” your checked luggage when you book online. If we had waited till we got to the airport, we would have paid €30 instead of the €20. So when you book, plan ahead! Once in Barcelona, my wife went espadrilles and clothing shopping. Four pairs of shoes and multiple outfits later we were destined to be over our 20 kg limit. So we used a small carry-on bag, stuffed it with shoes, carried it on, and managed to cram it in the overhead!

Our worst luggage experience happened many, many years ago. On one of our first trips to Europe we were scheduled on the Orient Express from Venice to Paris. It was to be our 25th wedding anniversary celebration. Unfortunately, the Orient Express folks cancelled our reservation and we were left stranded in Venice. I found an airline with seats for €49 from Venice to Paris. Yet when we arrived to check-in, dragging our huge luggage, we were far over the limits. (That’s what happens when you’re used to flying US-flagged airlines internationally). So our “excessive” luggage fees were €350! Well, I asked if I could BUY A SEAT to put my luggage in – NOPE. Then finally frustrated, I asked where the DHL Shipping Center was so I could “mail” my luggage to Paris – it had to be cheaper. At this point we did what you do in Italy – WE NEGOTIATED! The Gate Attendant and Supervisor agreed to put our luggage on the plane for €80 – Done deal. Of course, we paid… in cash! Hey, this is Italy!

So if you plan on taking a low-cost carrier in Europe, plan ahead, purchase in advance, and PACK LIGHT!

Many times, in order to get the best prices you’ll have to leave and arrive at early and late times. We have arrived in Paris close to midnight and departed Rome at 6:15 AM. So make sure you factor in the cost and mode of transportation to get you to and from the airport. Often these flights, although cheaper, will have higher “transport” costs! And frankly these “arrival/departure” transportation costs may be more than your plane tickets so do your research BEFORE you book that cheap flight to an airport that arrives after everything is closed.

Another factor in the transport cost is where the airport is located. Many of these smaller airlines travel from airports you’ve probably near heard of. And although they advertise Barcelona, Paris, etc., check the fine print. RyanAir’s “Paris” airport location is 60 miles from the city – same thing in Barcelona! Their “Frankfurt” flight arrives in Hahn, almost 70 miles away. Again, the cost and availability of transport to/from the airport may offset the cost savings – or perhaps may be too inconvenient for you.

So who do I book with?

There are too many to list! Here are a few of the Budget Airlines in Europe – And these are certainly not all of them! But this will give you an idea of where some of them fly to and from. For even more options, check out the “who flies where” links above. The descriptions of these airlines below primarily come from their website info… so know that this is their “advertisement,” not my validation. This list is current as of April 2009 and there are many more out there, but these are the larger players in the Budget Airline Wars. Here you go! 

Aer Lingus

A huge airline based in Dublin. They often have some of the cheapest flights – including those “across the pond.” These folks are always a great resource.

Air Baltic

Currently, airBaltic operates direct flights out of two Baltic State capitals – Riga, Latvia, and Vilnius, Lithuania.

From Riga airBaltic offers direct flights to Aalesund, Almaty, Athens, Amsterdam, Baku, Barcelona, Bergen, Berlin, Billund, Brussels, Copenhagen, Chisinau, Dubai, Dublin, Dushanbe, Dusseldorf, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Hannover, Helsinki, Hurghada, Istanbul, Kaliningrad, Kiev, Kuopio, London, Linkoping, Milan, Minsk, Moscow, Munich, Nice, Odessa, Oslo, Oulu, Palanga, Paris, Rome, Simferopol, Sharm-el-Sheikh, Stavanger, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tashkent, Tampere, Tbilisi, Tel Aviv, Tromso, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius, Zurich and Yerevan.

From Vilnius airBaltic offers direct flights to Copenhagen, Milan, Munich, Riga, Stockholm and Tallinn.

airBaltic also operates direct flights between Kaliningrad and Copenhagen.
The airBaltic fleet currently consists of 28 aircraft – 2 Boeing 757-200, 10 Boeing 737-500s, 6 Boeing 737-300 and 10 Fokker-50s.

Air Berlin

Air Berlin is a German low cost airline based at Berlin Tegel airport with other main hubs located at airports in Düsseldorf and Nuremberg. Air Berlin was founded in 1978 and nowadays it is the second largest airline in Germany. In the last few years it has taken over several airlines and integrated them into Air Berlin group. The airline was twice named the best low cost airline in Europe and it also won the award for world’s best low cost airline in 2006.

The airline operates international flights to major European cities or holiday resorts and domestic flights between German cities. Even though Air Berlin offers low cost flights, it serves in-flight refreshment and provides newspapers on board. The airline also has a frequent flyer program called topbonus. Unlike many other low cost airlines, Air Berlin offers guaranteed connections via its hubs.”

Air One

January 13th was an important date on the calendar for Italian air travel: the new national airline took to the air. From January 13, 2009 Air One and Alitalia merged their networks, fleets and organizational, commercial and administrative structures – not sure what that will mean for Air One, who used to have great service….. We will also see what happens to their prices. Most Air One folks still work at Air One and most Alitalia folks are still working (for now) at Alitalia – ‘Nuff said.

Air Comet

Air Comet (formerly Air Plus Comet) is an airline based in Madrid, Spain. It operates scheduled long-haul services from Madrid to 13 destinations in Central and South America, as well as services in Europe. Its main base is Madrid Barajas International Airport, Terminal 1. The airline works together with well-known airlines such as Air Europa and Aerosur in a variety of codeshare agreements

Atlas-blue

Atlas-blue, a fully-owned subsidiary of Royal Air Maroc (RAM), was incorporated on 28 May 2004. It has international regular schedule service between the Moroccan cities of Marrakech and Agadir to different European countries. In a first phase this service includes the French, Italian, Belgian, Dutch, German and British markets. We seek to broaden our scope in the coming five years to include other European countries. The flights are open to foreign tourists as well as to Moroccan expatriate nationals and local residents

Avro

Avro is the UK’s leading charter flight-only company. In business for over 20 years, we have become the number one provider of charter flight seats to the travel trade, selling over one million seats every year.

Flying to: Alicante, Almeria, Antalya, Arrecife,Banjul, Bodrum, Bourgas, Cancun, Catania, Chania, Dalaman, Deer Lake, Dubrovnik, Faro, Heraklion, Kefalonia, Larnaca, Las Palmas, Lefkas, Luxor, Mahon, Malaga, Montego Bay, Murcia, Mykonos, Naples, Orlando, Palma, Paphos, Preveza, Puerto Plata, Pula, Sanford, Sharm El Sheikh, Venice

Baboo

A Swiss airline based in Geneva, Baboo Flies to Bordeaux, Biarritz, Valencia, Ibiza, St-Tropez, Toulouse, Nice, Lugano, Florence, Venice, Rome, Naples, Viena, Bucharest, and Athens.

BelleAir

Belle Air was born in May 2005 in Tirana, ALBANIA; and from the 1st of March 20 it launched flights in connection between Albania and Italy, as the first Albanian low-cost airline company. The directional headquarters are in Tirana, ALBANIA. In this geographical location Belle Air chose Tirana as the appropriate hub, with the intentions to create links with Pristina, relying mostly on the ethnic traffic.

Our mission is to increase the market represented by routes that link the North-West of Europe with the South, South-East of the Balkans with destinations to Albania and Kosova, becoming the favorite company for direct trips west – East.

The connection of 18 Italian destinations with Tirana in a goal already achieved successfully from Belle Air. Belle Air is connecting twice daily Tirana with Pristina. Also Belle Air operates 3 flights a week from Pristina to Liege.

Blue1

Blue1 has been a Finnish SAS Group airline company since 1998. The three colors of Blue1 reflect the company’s values: white and blue represent the company’s Finnish roots and identity while the silver represents the ideals of exquisite, modern Finnish design.

From Finland you can fly with Blue1 from Helsinki, Vaasa, Tampere, and Turku directly to Stockholm. From Helsinki, Blue1 has a nonstop connection to Copenhagen as well. Blue1 also operates direct routes between Helsinki and Gothenburg as well as Oslo. Additionally, you can fly Blue1 nonstop to quite a few European destinations. From the Scandinavian hubs, Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen your connections could not be better to Europe, the USA, and the Far East.

Blue Air

Blue Air is the first Romanian airline that operated low-cost flights with 100% Romanian private capital. The company flew for the first time on Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (located at 10 km from the city centre) on December 13th, 2004.

Now flying to: Barcelona-Reus, Barcelona-El Prat, Constanta, London-Luton, Paphos, Berlin Tegel, Thessaloniki , Naples, Catania, Bucharest , Milan-Bergamo, Madrid, London- Stansted , Stuttgart, Lyon-St. Exupery, Paris-Beauvais, Turin, Verona , Valencia , Arad, Bacau, Cologne, Brussels, Malaga, Bologna , Lisbon, Rome – Fiumicino, Larnaca, and Sibiu.

Blu-express.com

Blu-express.com is the only low-cost airline based in Rome’s Fiumicino airport. It is a young, dynamic and enterprising airline which relies on the experience of Blue Panorama Airlines – the second long-haul fleet in Italy and the first European company to order Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner. Our offer is a mix of new and exciting proposals, all “made in Italy”. Blu-Express.com offers the best cost-services balance, for tourism as well as for business travel. They are currently flying to Rome, Catania, Turin, Palermo, Lamezia Terme, Aena Ibiza, and Nice.

bmi and bmi baby

bmi is the second largest airline at London Heathrow. From our Heathrow hub we operate services in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and from our Manchester hub transatlantic to the USA and Caribbean. Book low cost flights to destinations such as London, Edinburgh, Brussels, Amsterdam, Chicago, Barbados, Tel Aviv and Cairo.

Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines is the leading airline group flying to and from Belgium, offering its customers a safe, reliable, punctual, caring and innovative service with a smile.

In Europe, Brussels Airlines has flights to Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Basle, Bergamo, Berlin, Bilbao, Billund, Birmingham, Bologna, Bristol, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Cagliari, Catania, Copenhagen, Faro, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Helsinki, Kiev, Krakow, Larnaca, Lisbon, Ljubljana, London, Lyon, Madrid, Malaga, Malta, Manchester, Marseille, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Murcia, Naples, Newcastle, Nice, Nuremberg, Oslo, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Porto, Prague, Riga, Rome, Seville, Southampton, Split, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Strasbourg, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Turin, Valencia, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw, Zagreb, and Zurich.

Cimber

Flying primarily out of Copenhagen, the Cimber Sterling fleet consists of modern and comfortable turboprop aircraft of the type ATR 42-300 and -500 seating of 46 passengers and ATR 72-500/211 seating up to 68 passengers; all members of the new generation of regional short sector aircraft. For regional flights Cimber Sterling operates Canadair regional jet from the manufacturer, Bombardier Aerospace Inc. of Canada. The A/C is a CRJ 200LR seating 50 passengers. For long international flights, and the most popular flights, Cimber Sterling use Boeing-737 Jets. The Boeing 737-700 seats 149 passengers.

Click4sky

All-in-one pricing and cheap flights make this airline popular. They advertise that on a roundtrip purchase all taxes, luggage, and fees, are free!

Now flying to Prague, Ruzyne, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Belegrade, Berlin, Bologna, Bonn, Bratislava, Brussels, Budapest, Cairo, Cologne, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Helsinki, Istanbul, Kosice, Krakow, Ljubljana, London, Madrid, Manchester, Marseille, Milan, Munich, Oslo, Riga, Rome, Sofia, Split, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Tallinn, Thessaloniki (Salonica), Venice, Vilnius, Zilina, and Zurich

ClickAir

clickair has its corporate headquarters in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona). It commenced operations on 1 October 2006.

clickair flies to destinations in Spain, the British Isles, Continental Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The company operates from its base at the El Prat airport of Barcelona, the point of departure and destination for the large majority of its routes. In recent years, clickair has steadily opened further domestic and international routes from Valencia, Malaga, Seville, A Coruña and Bilbao.

In the autumn of 2007, clickair was selected as the Best Newcomer at the World Low Cost Airline Congress held in London.

Condor

Condor Flugdienst is an airline based in Germany. It is Germany’s largest holiday airline, operating services to the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, North America and the Caribbean. Its main base is Frankfurt Airport, with a hub at Munich Airport. It flies all throughout Europe! On 10 February 2008, Thomas Cook confirmed it would buy Lufthansa’s. The takeover gave the Thomas Cook Group sole ownership of Condor, ending 48 years of Lufthansa involvement in Germany’s biggest charter carrier. (from Wikipedia)

Corendon

Corendon Airlines is a Turkish registered aircraft operator. Flight operations started in April 2005. Main flight destinations are Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Brussels, Paris, Strasbourg, Marseille, Rome, Tirana, Tel-Aviv.

easyJet

One of the largest of all “budget” airlines in Europe, the airline was founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995, and he and his family remain major shareholders in easyJet PLC . The airline is based at Hangar 89, a bright orange building adjacent to the main taxiway at Luton Airport. In an industry where corporate HQs are generally considered to be the ultimate status symbol, it is the very embodiment of the easyJet low-cost ethos. They fly ALL OVER Europe! They have some of the highest luggage allowances of any European budget flyer. Always a great place to start (or finish) your search.

Estonian Air

AS Estonian Air is Estonia’s national carrier with 17 years of experience, owned by the Estonian state, SAS Group and investment bank AS Cresco. The home base of Estonian Air is Tallinn Airport. Currently the Company operates scheduled services to 21 destinations in Europe and in 2007 Estonian Air had charter services to 53 destinations.

The goal of Estonian Air is to be an air-bridge between Estonia and rest of the world, offering to the customers a stable and punctual, safe and client-minded service and opening their perspectives. Currently flying to: Tallinn, Brussels, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Helsinki, Kiev, Kuressaare, London-Gatwick, Milan, Minsk, Moscow, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Vilnius

Flybe.com

Flybe is the biggest regional airline in Europe and has the following dimensions: 13 Countries, 190 routes, 36 UK airports, and 30 European airports.

Flybe is now Europe’s largest regional low-cost airline. Following the successful acquisition and integration of BA Connect in March 2007, the route network is 70% domestic UK, 20% European business and 10% European leisure destinations.

Flybe has major bases at Birmingham, Southampton, Belfast City, Manchester, Jersey, Guernsey, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is the largest scheduled airline at Birmingham, Manchester, Norwich, Exeter, Inverness, Southampton, Isle of Man, Belfast City and the Channel Islands. Flybe operates out of more UK airports than any other airline.

Flyonair

FlyOnAir is a young and dynamic company; our core business is the aviation marketing which we restlessly carry on by studying, promoting, developing and selling routes wherever this is reasonable and sustainable. Our aim is to allow more and more people to make use of air travel since this makes movement easier and cheaper

Flying to: Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Bucharest, Catania (Sicily), Katowice/Cracow, Kyiv, Lviv, Marrakech, Milan-Malpensa, Naples, Nice, Olbia (Sardinia), Palermo (Sicily), Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Pescara, Pisa, Prague, and Turin.

Germanwings

Flyin to : Ankara, Antalya, Athens, Barcelona, Belgrade, Berlin-Schonefeld, Bologna, Bucharest, Budapest, Cologne-Bonn, Corfu, Corsica, Crete, Dortmund, Dresden, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Faro, Hamburg, Ibiza, Istanbul, Izmir, Katowice, Kavala, Kos, Krakow, Lamezia Terme, Leipzig, Lisbon, Lourdes, Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, Marseille, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Mykonos, Nice, Osijek, Prague, Pristina, Pula, Reykjavik, Rhodes, Rome, Rostock, Sarajevo, Skopje, Sofia, Split, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Thessaloniki, Tirana, Toulouse, Verona, Vienna, Warsaw, Zadar, Zagreb, Zurich, Zweibrücken

Globespan

Flyglobespan is a subsidiary of The Globespan Group. The Globespan Group has been operating for over 30 years, predominantly as a tour operator offering services to Canada. In May 2002 the company operated its first flyglobespan flight, from Edinburgh to Nice. Flyglobespan now operates flights to 26 destinations worldwide. The airline operates a huge choice of flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Durham as well as transatlantic flights from a variety of other UK hubs including Manchester, Gatwick and Belfast.

Flights to/from: Orlando (Sanford), Belfast, Glasgow, Calgary, London-Gatwick, Manchester, Hamilton, Dublin, Edinburgh, Vancouver, Dublin

Helvetic.com

Helvetic focuses on direct, non-stop flights to attractive destinations, to which until today no direct flights from Zurich are offered. As our guest, you will benefit from a significant time saving, a high level of travel comfort and no more stress from changing planes with all of the associated risks which occur in large airports.

Flying from Zurich primarily to Brindisi, Jerez, Lamezia Terme, Ohrid, Obia, Pula, Rijeka, and Skopje

Intersky

InterSky (Intersky Luftfahrt GmbH) is a low-cost airline based in Bregenz, Austria. It also flies to Berlin (Berlin-Tegel Airport), Cologne/Bonn, Dresden, Hamburg, Munich, Münster/Osnabrück, Naples, Nice, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Rotterdam, and Split but on a variable and seasonal schedule.

Jet2

Jet2.com has been flying commercial aircraft for 30 years, exclusively under the name, Channel Express (Air Services). Nearly 40 routes alone are offered from our headquarters at Leeds Bradford Airport. Jet2.com also has bases in Belfast, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Blackpool.

This airline flies to Albert (The Somme), Alicante, Almeria, Amsterdam, Avignon (Provence), Barcelona, Belfast, Blackpool, Budapest, Chambery, Corfu, Cork, Crete (Heraklion), Cyprus (Paphos), Cyprus (Larnaca), Dalaman, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Faro (Algarve), Geneva, Ibiza, Jersey, Krakow, La Rochelle, Lanzarote, Leeds, Bradford, Majorca (Palma), Malaga, Manchester, Menorca, Milan, Murcia, Newcastle, Newquay, Nice, Paris, Pisa, Prague, Rhodes, Rome, Salzburg, Sardinia (Olbia), Sharm El Sheikh, Split (Croatia), Tel Aviv, Tenerife, Toulouse, and Venice.

Jet4you.com

Jet4you is the leading private low-cost airline in Morocco! Our first commercial flight linking Paris Orly to Marrakech took place on 26 February 2006. Since then, Jet4you has offered frequent flights from Morocco’s major cities to numerous French destinations.

Our goal is to extend our network to other European cities and to serve 1.5 million passengers by 2010. Our services are designed for customers in search of good value for money, and targets European tourists and Moroccans living abroad or who want to visit Europe.

Lot Polish Airlines

LOT Polish Airlines in the most effective and innovative way meets the transportation needs of individual and corporate customers flying to and from Poland. It does so both in terms of quality of service and value for money, thus becoming the “first choice carrier”. Customer loyalty guarantees a continuous growth of operational income and maximum return on shareholders’ equity.

Meridiana

Starting on the 16th of November 2007 Meridiana made its entry in long-haul flights by flying to New York with a twice-weekly schedule operated by Eurofly (owned by Meridiana). This date is a milestone for Meridiana which this year celebrated its 44th year of activity.

Now flying to these cities through Meridiana or Eurofly: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Cairo, Cancun, Catania, Chisinau, Colombo, Dakar, Florence, F.Ventura, Lamezia, Lampedusa, London, Madrid, Maldive, Mauritius, Milan, Mombasa, Moscow, Mykonos, Naples, New York, Nice, Olbia, Palermo, Pantelleria, Paris, Pristina, Punta Cana, Rome, Santorini, Seychelles, Sharm el sheikh, Tel Aviv, Tenerife, Trapani, Turin, and Venice.

Monarch

As well as being one of the UK’s major providers of low-cost scheduled flights from bases at London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester and Birmingham airports, Monarch is a key supplier of airliners to the tour operating industry. Monarch was recently named as ‘Leisure Airline of the Year’ in prestigious travel industry awards.

Flying to Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Birmingham (UK), Faro, Gilbraltar, Gran Caneria, Ibizia, Lanzarote, Larnaca, London-Gatwick, London-Luton, Malaga, Murcia-San Javiar, Manchester, Mahon Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife.

Myair.com

Flying to Bari, Bologna, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Foggia, Genoa, Milan Orio al Serio, Milan-Malpensa, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Rimini, Roma, Torino, Venice, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Casablanca, Geneva, Ibiza, Istanbul, Madrid, Marrakech, Munich, Paris, Sofia, Vienna

Niki

Since November 2003 – when NIKI was established – the fleet of Airbus aircraft and the number of destinations have been steadily increasing. airberlin has had a 24% share of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH since the start of 2004 – the cooperation between airberlin and NIKI marked the first European low-cost airliner alliance.

Currently Niki flies to Egypt: Hurghada, Luxor , Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh and Europe: Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna, Paris (Charles de Gaulle International Airport), Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Samos, Thessaloniki , Milan, Rome, Lisbon, Moscow, Arrecife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Stockholm, and Zurich.

Seasonally, Niki also flies to Graz, , Linz, Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, “Nikos Kazantzakis,” Kefalonia , Kos, Rhodes, Reykjavik, Madeira, Ibiza, and Malaga.

Pegasus Airlines

Pegasus Airlines was established in 1990 as a joint venture between Aer Lingus, Silkar Yatirim and Net Holding, with its head office based in Istanbul. In 18 successful years, Pegasus Airlines has become a leading charter airline in Turkey.

The airline operates charter flights from Turkey to 99 destinations in 17 countries. The airline today flies from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Diyarbak?r, Gaziantep, Hatay, ?zmir, Kayseri, Malatya, Mardin, Trabzon, Van, Lefkosa,, Stuttgart, Munich, Dusseldorf, London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Copenhagen and Tel Aviv.

RyanAir

Probably the major player in low-cost fares. RyanAir often offers incredible prices to many destinations. Their airports can be hard to get to… but the price is always right! Avoid ALL the extras that Ryan-Air tags on. But this site is always one of the first places I look to get a price comparison!

SkyEurope

We fly to many exciting destinations in 19 European countries. Welcome to the world where cheap flights do not compromise quality; welcome on board SkyEurope Airlines, Central Europe’s first low cost low fare airline! SkyEurope Airlines flew its first passenger on 13 February 2002 and since that time has become one of the most popular low cost airlines in Central Europe, carrying over 3.7 million passengers each year.

To prove its popularity among customers, SkyEurope Airlines has been recently voted Eastern Europe’s best low cost airline in Worlds Foremost Low Cost Airlines Survey by SkyTrax Research of London. With its headquarters and technical base in Bratislava (Slovakia), SkyEurope Airlines also offers cheap flights from/to Vienna (Austria), Prague (Czech republic), Košice (Slovakia) and Poprad/Tatry (Slovakia).

Including flights to: Bratislava, Copenhagen, Olbia, Kosice, Dubrovnik, Palermo, London-Luton, Foggia, Paris-C. de Gaulle, Prague, Geneva, Paris-Orly, Vienna, Genoa, Pisa, Ibiza, Poprad, Alicante, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Kosice, Reggio Calabria, Athens, Larnaca, Rimini, Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome, Bari, Sofia, Bologna, Madrid, Split, Bratislava, Malaga, Thessaloniki, Brindisi, Manchester, Turin, Brussels, Marrakech, Venice – Marco Polo, Bucharest, Milan-Bergamo, Venice – Treviso, Bourgas, Milan-Malpensa, Cagliari , Munich, Zadar, Casablanca, Naples, Catania, and Nice.

Smartwings

Smart Wings is your low-cost airline with an attractive location in the heart of Europe – at the Prague airport. It is from here that we fly to attractive destinations all over Europe. We have a modern fleet, well-qualified staff, and we guarantee the highest standards of safety. Flights all over Europe, from as little as €43 including taxes and surcharges.

Now flying to Madrid, Prague, Palma de Mallorca, Thessaloniki, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Chania, Ibiza, Paris, Rome, Heraklion, Larnaca, Malaga, Zakinthos, Budapest, Rhodes, Ostrava, Dubai, Tenerife, and Moscow.

Spanair

A Star Alliance member, Spanair S.A., is a Spanish airline was founded in December of 1986. It was formerly entirely owned by the SAS Group (Scandinavian Airlines). Flights began at the end of March 1988, and since then more than 104* million passengers have flown with Spanair.

Currently flying to Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Palma, Bilbao, Valencia, Malaga, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Menorca, Ibiza , La Coruna, Alicante, Santiago de Compostela, Lanzarote, Asturias , Granada , Fuerteventura, Rome, Algiers , Almeria, Lisbon, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Porto, Stuttgart , Geneva, Oslo, Warsaw, Philadelphia, Vienna, Hamburg, London, Bangkok, Riga, Basel, Hannover, Aalborg, Gothenburg , Aarhus, Stavanger, Berlin, Prague, Nuremburg, Bucharest, Helsinki, Bremen, Bergen, Vilnius, Venice, and Banjul.

Transavia

In summer transavia.com flies to some 90 and in winter to some 35 destinations in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Egypt, Morocco, Tunesia, Madeira, Canary islands, Majorca and Turkey.

transavia.com is a low-cost airline. Because you only pay for the basic service, the fare for the flight itself can be kept low. You yourself decide whether or not you want any extras that you then pay for. Generally speaking, the earlier you book the lower the fare.

TUIfly

In summer 2007, the TUI AG Group in Germany owns 48 aircraft, which means that TUI operates the third-largest German fleet after Lufthansa and Air Berlin, carrying more than 12.5 million passengers per annum. TUIfly offers flights to 80 destinations in 17 countries, at low fares and in the customary high quality. TUIfly.com will be expanded into an international airline sales brand and will in future provide a central online travel platform which offers additional travel modules for business and holiday travelers. TUIfly headquarters are at Hanover Airport.

VLM

From its first day of operation (February 1992), VLM Airlines has built a reputation as a regional business airline, offering time-saving connections between major economic centers in Europe. Primarily based out of London, VLM Airlines is now owned by Air France-KLM group and cooperates with Cityjet (a fully owned subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group).

Vueling

A Spanish airline whose first commercial flight (Barcelona-Ibiza) took place on July 1, 2004. The original fleet was comprised of 2 new A320′s, and the daily routes offered flights from Barcelona to destinations like Paris, Brussels, and Ibiza. Now flying to: Alicante, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Bilbao, Brussels, Granada, Ibiza, Jerez, Gran Canaria, Lisbon, Madrid, Malaga, Malta, Minorca, Milan, Naples, Nice, Paris, Rome, Santiago, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia, Venice

Windjet

Wind Jet is an Italian low-cost airline based in Catania, Sicily. They were founded in June 2003 and are currently the 4th largest Italian airline (by passenger volume).

Flying to: Catania, Palermo, Milan-Linate, Roma- Fiumicino, Venice, Forlì, Parma, Verona, Pisa, Torino, Barcelona, Bucharest, Moscow, Paris – Charles De Gaulle, Samara, St. Petersburg

WizzAir

The first flight took off on 19th May 2004 from Katowice. Today Wizz Air has 10 operating bases in the region: Katowice, Warsaw, Gdansk and Poznan in Poland, Budapest in Hungary, Sofia in Bulgaria, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara in Romania and Kyiv in Ukraine, offering flights on 120 routes.

Durrently flying to: Barcelona, Belfast, Bologna, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Cluj-Napoca, Cologne/Bonn, Cork, Doncaster/Sheffield, Dortmund, Amsterdam-Eindhoven, Frankfurt, Gdansk, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Katowice/Krakow, Kiev, Liverpool/Manchester, London, Lübeck/Hamburg, Lviv, Madrid, Malmö/Copenhagen, Milan, Naples, Odessa, Oslo, Paris, Poznan, Prague, Rome, Simferopol, Sofia, Stockholm, Timisoara, Tirgu-Mures, Treviso/Venice, Turku, Valencia, Varna, Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Zagreb.

More sites for info on budget travel, budget airlines, etc.

Attitude Travel – Low cost Travel Intelligence in 2009

Student Travel - Even if you’re not a student, check student travel agencies. These offer budget fares to non-students as well. Any city with a university probably has such an agency. STA Travel, Tel. 800-781-4040. Primarily transtlantic savings.

A few Consolidators – Again, primarily transatlantic savings.

• flights.com
• allcheapfares.com
• justfares.com
• airdeals.com
• economytravel.com
• flycheapabroad.com

Sites with good prices on Euro Flights:

• Mobissimo
• Momondo
• Terminal A – Experts on Flights: Often have great prices on European flights. Only problem id the prices are in GBP.

Airfare Watchdog: One of the most comprehensive websites for hidden fare reductions

Send us your suggestions and we will add them to this page!

If you are a tourist from another country spending BIG BUCKS on items you will take out of the country, you may be able to get some substantial savings using the VAT refund process. It’s not hard, but like many things in Italy, it does require “paperwork!” As a tourist, you cannot get back a VAT refund on your meals, hotels, car rental, or services. (Business travelers fall under a different umbrella that we will not go into here…)

In almost all countries there is a minimum amount you have to spend in order to qualify for a VAT refund. This amount differs from country to country and changes frequently – so ask! Currently in Italy, the minimum purchase is €155. You have to purchase your item(s) from one retailer at one time. You cannot add up reciepts from multiple vendors. Also, there is a “statute of limitations.” You must collect your refund within three months of your purchase date. In most cases, for most visitors the “time frame limitation” is not an issue.

The rate you get back also changes from country to country. To make it even more complicated, the VAT refund % also changes based on what you buy. Luxury items tend to return a higher percentage than books as they are taxed at a higher rate. There are many charts on the web. Here’s the most recent I’ve found. Again, it’s all going to vary within these parameters.

• Country VAT %
  Austria 9.09-16.67%
  Belgium 21%
  Denmark 25%
  Finland 17-22%
  France 5.21-19.6%
  Germany 7-16%
  Greece 11.5-15.25%
  Ireland 17.36%
  Italy 4-20%
  Luxembourg 15%
  Netherlands 15.97%
  Norway 24%
  Spain 16%
  Sweden 25%
  Switzerland 7.6%
  United Kingdom 17.5%

It’s no surpirse to see that Italy has the “widest” redemption range of any EU country.

You’ll see decals in store windows identifying stores who are participating in the VAT refund program – NOT ALL DO! Merchant participation in VAT refund programs is voluntary, and smaller shops in non-tourist areas may feel that refunds aren’t worth the hassle.

The sign will say “Tax Free Shopping” or “Premier Tax Free.” You do not get to choose which VAT refund company you will work with – the vendor does. The largest VAT refund service is called Global Refund. They represent more than 250,000 vendors in 35 counties. Premier Tax Free respesents 70,000 vendors in 17 countries.

Do know that when you work through one of these services – again, chosen by the vendor – they will take a “modest service fee” out of your refund. In addition, a 17% VAT refund is based on the wholesale price and not what you may pay…. All these “fees” may translate to a 14.5% return to you. Again this is done through charts and tables based on what you buy, what country you buy it in, and what service the vendor has selected. So do not count on the full 17% the vendor is “advertising” to you. They are pitching the VAT discount!

Because Global Refund and other refund services take a modest commission on refunded VAT, the convenience of their services makes the charge worth it. In some cases you may want to “obtain” the refund directly from the store for extremely large purchases, like furniture, for example. Many high-end department stores have special refund arrangements for shopping tourists. If you are shipping items abroad, ask if you can deduct the VAT at the time of purchase. Some countries allow this for goods shipped overseas. If you live outside the European Union, you’re eligible for VAT refunds in all European countries that offer such refunds.

Some retailers DO handle the refunds directly – which means a larger return for you. There are no outside vendor service fees. In these stores, request a VAT refund form, have it stamped by a customs official when you leave the country or the European Union. Then mail the stamped form back to the store. Often times the vendor will “credit” the VAT amount back to your credit card rather than sending you a foreign-currency check. So it’s a good idea to pay in these stores by credit card. Cashing that check back in the States could be a hassle and end up costing you more in conversion fees.

Okay – so how do you do this….

1. Shop at stores that offer the VAT refund. Look for the decal or ask the store personnel before making the BIG purchase(s)

2. In italy, spend more than €155 under one roof (that € amount as of January 2009 – subject to change – ask!)

 3. Get the documents you need. Just a receipt is NOT ENOUGH. The vendor must fill out a form called a “cheque.” This is your refund document. Do not leave the store without it! In many stores you will have to have your passport, although most take a photocopy. Make sure EVERY blank is filled out and if there is anything you have to input, make sure you FULLY understand what that is. The Italian Customs officials are often not helpful… so get the salesperson to help you. Attach the receipt to the “cheque.” I always use a credit card to pay for VAT refund merchandise so I get a printed CC receipt also… Do not leave the store unitl you’re sure you have EVERY document you need.

Okay this sounds complicated but it’s not. The salespeople fill about probably 25-50 of these everyday. They know the drill.

4. Know where/how you will be getting your refund. You have to process your “cheques” and other VAT refund info at your last stop BEFORE you head out of the EU. So if you are traveling through France, Germany and leaving from the Leoanrdo da Vinci Aiport in Rome, Italy…. your VAT refund process will occur at the FCO Airport in Rome. If you are leaving the EU through a Border Crossing (driving, bus trip, etc.) than you will have to present your paperwork here.

In addition to the paperwork, you will also have to present the GOODS. And by law these goods are to supposed to be “unused.” So don’t show up with your stuffed Gucci purse, or wearing your new Armani. Sometimes a “by-the-book” customs offical will deny your refund if you are “using” the merchandise.

5. Customs desks at airport/border crossing -GET THERE EARLY! You’re probably going to have to go on a “Where’s Waldo?” hunt in some airports… just ask the Info desk. It will save you time. Then you will have to wait in line. Usually the lines are less than 10 minutes. Present your goods and get your required STAMPS. If you arrive late and do not get the Stamps you’re probably out of luck. The hassle of working though your emabssy to get the money is not worth the trouble.

A TIP: When you have a bunch of stuff to “display” put all of your VAT Refund merchandise in one suitcase. Then do all this Refund processing BEFORE checking in for your flight. (If the airline check-in line is long, send a designated line holder!). Once you get the stamps, go check in at the airline counter and check your bulging suitcase! This is the way you have to do it if you’re carrying anything you are not allowed to carry on the plane – like a sword! If you have just small items, just put it in your carry-on.

6. Show me the Money! Getting your cash depends on which service (and system) the vendor used. For most vendors using the larger groups you can get your cash right there at the airport or border crossing. I’ve cashed mine in at the C Terminal in Rome a few times. They’ll ask you if you want Euros or Dollars. Always great to get money LEAVING the country!

Sometimes you will have to mail your info back to the vendor or service provider. If this is the case, I always buy stamps beforehand and once at the airport and STAMPED, I ask the customs officials where is the nearest postal drop box. FAR BETTER to mail this while you are still in your departure company! Be patient, it may take months if you have to go the “mail route.”

Italy is notorius for paperwork mishandling so even if you do all of this you might not get your money back. Although I must say they are MUCH better lately! If you come to Italy in January or July and hit the sales with merchandise up to 70% off… and the dollar climbs against the Euro… and THEN you get back 10-15% from your VAT refund… you can make your vacation a little less expensive. Good Luck!

Refund Offices in Rome

CONDOTTI – Via Fontanella Borghese, 35 – Mon / Sat 9,30am – 7,30pm

Rome Fiumicino Airport – Terminal C – Check-in Area

Rome Fiumicino Airport – Satellite Gate C20 – Departures Area

ROME Fiumicino Airport – Terminal C – Departures Area

SPAGNA – Piazza di Spagna,38 – Mon / Fri 9am – 5,30pm / Sat 9am – 12,30am

VENETO – Via Lazio, 10 – Mon / Fri 9,30am – 7pm Sat 9,30am – 1pm

 Like many folks who visit Rome often (or live here), I have a similar response: Please do not waste your last night in Italy sitting in an airport hotel fifteen miles from the city! You should be out enjoying Italy and exploring the city at night. Americans, especially first-time travelers to Europe, are convinced they MUST be close to the airport or they will miss their flight. Not true!

 For the record, there are hotels out by the airport. The “safest” hotel to stay at would undoubtedly be the Airport Hilton. It is “attached” to the airport and you can walk or shuttle to the terminal. If you’ve got that 6 AM flight out of Terminal 1, 2, or 3… you can’t stay any closer to this. From the Hilton website:

 “A pedestrian walkway connects the Hilton Rome Airport hotel to all domestic and international terminals at the Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport. Signs to the Hilton Rome Airport hotel are clearly visible. The walk takes about 5 minutes.”

Okay, what they do not tell you is that if you are leaving from the Airport to the US, you have to leave out of Terminal 5 – not the main terminal, which, yes, is a 5 minute walk. To get to Terminal 5, another 1/2 mile from the main terminal you must ride a shuttle. Unfortunately, Hilton has not updated their webpage since the opening of Terminal 5 in May 2008 – or perhaps they just neglected to update it as this new terminal makes their hotel less convenient – Kind of makes you go “Hmmm” doesn’t it? On their website, a 5 minute walk is listed as a €20 taxi ride from their front door to the Terminal front doors. For more info, go to the Rome Airport Hilton. 

 There is also a Marriott Courtyard near the hotel. From the Marriott website:

 “The Courtyard by Marriott Rome Airport is a 4 star hotel located in the town of Fiumicino just 3 kms away from Leonardo da Vinci Airport. It has 187 comfortable rooms equipped with all modern amenities for business as well as for leisure travelers.”

 They do have a shuttle service. It costs €6 a person and you must have reservations. If you do not make reservations, or the shuttle is unavailable, the taxi fare, as the website to go less than 2 MILES is €25 – and don’t forget to add in a “luggage” charge. I had a friend who looked into this hotel, and although they advertise a 240hour schuttle, they could not guarentee a “service” prior to 7 AM – Definitely check if you have an early morning flight. More info at Marriott Courtyard at Rome Airport.

The last American-based hotel by the airport is the Hilton Garden Inn. From their website:

 “The Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport is located on the Rome Fiumicino Airport platform (Leonardo da Vinci Airport), in front of Cargo City and within immediate reach of all the major attractions of Rome. The Hotel shuttle bus will take our guests to the Airport, from where connections are easy to Rome centre, the Port, beaches, Fiera di Roma, as well as the biggest shopping mall of Italy, Parco Leonardo.”

 Their website does not say you need “reservations” to ride the shuttle, but that you must contact the hotel regarding their shuttle bus service. I’m not sure what that means? But the transportation service reviews on this hotel have been good. For more info, go to Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport.  again, this airport could not guarentee an pre-7 AM shuttle, but would call a taxi… might as well stay in Rome.

Other than these three US-hotels, I’m not sure I’d trust any other hotel shuttle service. Okay, there are a few – but I’d be very careful booking as they can be very inconsistent. I’ve talked to many folks that have stayed at “airport hotels” near Fiumicino for the convenience and security, counting on the hotel’s advertised shuttle to take them to the airport. And yes, when they checked in, the shuttle was parked right out front. Unfortunately, you have to have someone to drive the shuttle, and herein lies the problem. At 4:30 or 5:00 AM, often there are no drivers available… and then the hotel will call you a taxi that will charge you from €25-30 to get three miles to the airport. And because you have a ton of luggage, they’ll add on a “luggage fee.” Now this is not all hotels, but this IS NOT an urban legend. Having a shuttle and having a shuttle running at 4 AM are two different things!

I speak to the “shuttle problem” from personal experience! Last year we flew to Madrid, a city I lived in 30 years ago! We had rented a car and wanted to drop it off. I found a brand-new Holiday Inn Express who advertised they were 200 meters from the Barajas Airport. With a 6 AM flight, knowledge of the area, a rental car to drop off, “points” for a free stay, and a hotel advertising a free shuttle… why not?

We got to the hotel about dark the night before our flight. The shuttle was parked out front. We asked if we could go drop our car off, would the shuttle pick us up. Sure, they said. Well, the first problem was that the hotel WAS 200 meters from Barajas…. or at least the end of a runway. But it was about four miles to the Terminal area by road. Yet we dropped the car off, the shuttle was right there and we rode back to the hotel… We made our “shuttle reservations for 4:15 AM and headed off to bed. Okay, this will work!

Wrong! The next morning we headed downstairs at 4:00 AM to catch the 24-hour shuttle service. The desk clerk informed us, that yes, this is a hotel providing a 24-hour shuttle, but no there was no one to drive the shuttle at this time of day and I would have to wait for the driver to come in. He was expected around 7 AM. End result… the hotel called a taxi and I paid €28 to ride to the airport.

As a Royal Ambassador Platinum Priority Club Member for Six Continent Hotels, the highest level you can achieve, I angrily fired off a letter to the company about false advertising, seeking compensation for my taxi ride, etc. Apparently, reading the web later I found out this happened often. I received a form letter back telling me this was a franchise location and thus they were not responsible for, nor would they recoup my transportation costs… Not their finest day!

In Rome, when my wife and a friend were coming back to the States, the same thing happened at a different hotel, which also advertised the “free” shuttle and proximity to the airport….

Thus my position is, unless it’s an IRON CLAD shuttle service, and make sure you KNOW it will be available before you book, then you’re better off staying IN THE CITY and taking a private shuttle or taxi to the airport in the early morning. I realize that may make some folks nervous, but in many cases you’re going to pay for the taxi service anyway – Might as well enjoy Rome!

Getting to FCO from Downtown

So how do you get there? If you have a US flagged carrier, you’re probably not leaving till after 10 AM. Plenty of options for those flights – and inexpensive options too! Let’s look at those first. You can go by private shuttle, taxi service, the Leonardo Express, or the FM1 local train. We’re not going to talk about bus service because with luggage, time restraints, that’s just not a viable option for a 10 AM flight…

The private shuttles and taxis are easily arranged. You can book a private shuttle on line, or have your hotel call for you – although there will probably be a “higher fee” if you work through the hotel on a private shuttle service. Two of the most popular in Rome are www.romecabs.com and www.romashuttle.com . I’ve used both and they are very efficient and prices compare favorably (Romashuttle is sometimes €5 cheaper). You can get to the hotel for €35-50 for a party of two using these services.

For taxis, if you are inside the Aurelian Walls, it’s a flat rate of €40 for up to four people. Just make sure of this when you get into the cab. If you’re at a hotel they will call a taxi for you… just tip the doorman as he either directs or helps load the taxi with your luggage. Allow about 30-45 minutes, depending on where you are in town to get by car or taxi to the airport from downtown. In addition, if you are leaving from T5, the US flagged air terminal, give yourself 3 hours. So if I was leaving at 10:30 AM, I would probably shoot for a 06:45 – 07:00 departure from my hotel.

A cheaper alternative if there are just two of you would be the Leonardo Express. These trains leave from the Termini station, currently from Track #25 – a satellite platform about a 10-12 minute walk on the platforms from the main section of the train station. They leave at 22 and 52 minutes past the hour and travel NONSTOP to the FCO. It takes about 31 minutes to go from platform to platform. It’s safe, comfortable, and air-conditioned! The cost is €14 per person and children younger than 12 travel free if accompanied by an adult (price change eff. 4/2010). The first train leaves the Termini Station at 05:52 which gets you to the airport at 6:23 – plenty of time for that 10:00 flight – or even a 9 AM EU flight! Do make sure to Validate your ticket in the yellow boxes before jumping on the train. See more info on our Arrivng at Fuimicino  or the Train Station at FCO postings.

The least expensive “train” mode of transportation to the airport from downtown is the FM1 or regional train. It currently costs €8.00 a person to travel from downtown to the airport (price change eff. 4/2010). It DOES not start from Termini though… the in-city stations you can take using this train are primarily Roma Tiburtina, Roma Tuscolana, Roma Ostiense, Roma Trastevere, or Villa Bonelli. For most folks, it’s either Roma Ostiense, Roma Trastevere as that’s where most folks stay.

Roma Ostiense “shares” the Piramide Metro station (Linea B), so you can ride the metro to the station and then catch this train. Roma Trastevere can be reached by bus or more commonly, the #8 tram. From Ostiense the train takes about 31 minutes to arrive at FCO. From Trastevere, it takes about 28 minutes. All train dead-end at FCO so when it stops finally (the last time) you are there! The first trains from Ostiense and Trastevere depart around 05:15-05:20 AM (see Trenitalia schedules for your date) and arrive at FCO terminal at 05:48. Again, validate your ticket if you are riding the FM1. 

It is important to remind you that all US flagged carriers (and EL AL flights) departing from FCO will require you to depart from the new Terminal 5. Terminal 5 opened in May 2008 and is a direct response to “911 concerns.” Thus, the security at T5 is “tighter” than other parts of FCO airport. For this Terminal I would recommend you be here 3 hours in advance. Once you complete your “check-in” you then get bused over to the Gate G – a satellite terminal behind security. Terminal 5 is a free-standing terminal NOT connected to the Airport or other terminals. It’s about 900 yards from Terminal 3 – so make sure your taxi driver takes to T5 and not Terminal 3, from which US flights formerly departed.

If you are leaving to a connection, say FRA, CDG, or AMS on an NON-US Flagged airline, then you can be here about 2+ hours early as you’ll be leaving from Terminals 3, 2, or 1. Many lines for EU flights do not open until 2 hours before flight time – depends on the size of the airline.

Getting to FCO from Downtown – EARLY!

But many of you are making connections. We often fly out from FCO on the 6 AM flights – because these flights are the cheapest! So how do you get there early enough to check-in? The trains do not start running till 05:15 AM, the metro starts about 05:30 AM, the “day” buses begin their routes at 05:30 AM, and the first Leonardo does not leave until 05:52 AM…

For a 06:00 EU flight, connecting in say Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, or Paris, you need to be at check-in at least 1.5 hours in advance. They will STOP allowing check-in about 30 minutes before the plane is scheduled to depart (depending on the airline as some say 45 minutes – check yours!). The challenge at FCO and other European airports, especially with “connector” flights, is that possibly only two desks are open to check in your flight — and EVERYONE has to go through these two desks. So get there at least 1.5 hours if not 2 hours before you are scheduled to leave. Some counters will not even OPEN until 1.5 hours before the flight… but you still have to be “in line” when the counters do open!

So now, with a 30 minute trip to the airport, you have to leave at 03:45-04:00 to make that check-in time. Based on the option listed above these are really only four ways you can do this….

1- Take the COTRAL bus service from in town. This bus service runs all night from various points in Rome. The challenge is you need to be close to a pick up point because only the “night” buses are running. There’s no metro this time of the morning. The buses take about 50 minutes from Tiburtina station to FCO this time of day. Check out their website, using the English option: http://www.cotralspa.it/ENG/collegamenti_Aeroporti.asp .

2- Stay at FCO. Yes, many people just head out to the airport and crash! I’ve found many folks sleeping there in the C Terminal area at 04:45 AM. This is primarily for you younger folks with only carry-on luggage… but it can be done.

 3- NOW for the rest of us…. the best option may be a taxi. If you are staying in a hotel or B&B, the concierge, manager, or owner can call the day before and schedule a taxi for you. We do it often and have NEVER been left stranded! If you have an international capable cell phone they will even send you a text message when the call is sent to the appropriate cab. You can agree on fixed rates in advance. We pay €45-50 this time of day. Again, this is a common practice and if you’ll get support if necessary from the larger hotels.

 4- Or your last option, book a private shuttle. We also do this – just including it in the price of those 6 AM tickets! The prices are perhaps €5 higher than the taxi service but we’ve used Alfredo’s team at www.romashuttle.com probably 12-15 times and they do a good job. Stefano and the team at www.romecabs.com also do an excellent job! Usually both these folks are waiting on the curb when we come down from our apartment. And on occasion, when we’re running late, they will call us from downstairs!

So those are your options…. Yes, it will cost you about €25 more to stay downtown and then ride a taxi or private shuttle (our two recommendations), but you paid THOUSANDS to fly over here. Why would you want your last night to be in a drab airport hotel? Stay up late, catch the ride to the airport… SLEEP on the flight home – You’re in Roma!

On many travel boards one of the main complaints, over and over, is how difficult it is to buy tickets online through the Trenitalia website. For many US-based credit card holders, it’s almost impossible. In order to purchase their tickets prior to arriving in Italy, many folks turn to “ticket middlemen” such as RailEurope. Price Markups are high and I, like many folks who live here – or have traveled here – recommend that you just wait and buy your tickets once you get to Italy. You will save some money and this method gives you more flexibility.

The are few discounts available to NON-EU citizens. Two are the AMICA class ticket and the Family ticket. The AMICA fare is the most common. Here is how the Trenitalia site explains the AMICA fare: “The Amica offer is the economical solution that lets you to choose your journey in advance. It has limited seats, which vary according to day, train and class. The latest “Amica” offer allows you to travel with a 20% reduction off all the medium- to long-distance trains when booking by midnight of the day before departure. The minimum price is, net of the discount, at least 10 euro, subject to the minimum fares on the trains used.”

 UPDATE – UPDATE – UPDATE - Effective March 2009, The AMICA offer is not valid on: AV, AV Fast, ES*, ES* Fast, Excelsior and  Excelsior E4 and regional trains.

 Thus, the  AMICA class fare is now good on these trains: IC Plus, IC, ICN, Exp, CC, WL. AMICA fares are not available on the local and regional trains. You must purchase your AMICA fare by midnight the day before you travel. Again, seats are limited in this fare class.

For more info go to: AMICA

Trenitalia’s offer for families or groups of from 3 to 5 persons is a 20% discount when traveling together. To qualify, the family group must consist of 3-5 persons of which there is at least 1 adult and 1 child under 12. A family ticket includes booking (free) and provides the following discounts:

• 50% (30% for couchettes and WL) for children of up to 12 ticket
• 20% for others

This offer also has limited seat availability, which varies according to day, train and class. See: Family Ticket

Although it is almost impossible to book from the US on the Trenitalia site, it is a GREAT site for finding out train schedules. Use this as a resource when planning your trip. I suggest you find your dates, times, and then trains that work for you and then print these out. It’s always good to know your options once you get to Italy.

When you walk into a train station you’ll see kiosks where you can purchase your tickets. As frustrating as the Trenitalia site is to buy tickets on, the kiosks are very easy! At smaller train stations you may see only one or two kiosks. In large stations, such as Termini, there will be banks of these kiosks. Here is ONE of the banks of kiosks in Termini.

The kiosks are of two types. Those that will only take credit and bank cards (one section); or credit cards, bank cards, and CASH. These are made up of two sections stacked side-by-side. The CASH side is pictured below on the right.

To purchase a ticket, follow this STEP-BT-STEP guide! When you walk up to an unused kiosk, the screen will look like this:

For English speaker, touch on the British Flag (2nd from the left) and then this screen will often come up:

The machine I’m working on is a credit card and bank card only – NO CASH… and that’s what the first screen shows you (above). If you want a cash screen, just touch on “EXIT” and head for another machine. I’ll touch “NEXT.” Once I do, many times a screen like this will show up.

Always good to be forewarned about the pickpockets in the area. You’ll probably get approached by a beggar or someone pretending to be a “good samaritan,” wanting to help you – for a fee (see earlier postings). Sometimes this screen is in Italian (to tell the folks behind you????) but if so push “AVANTI.” In this case, I’ll push “NEXT.”

Next up is the first Ticketing Screen (Posted ABOVE). For 95% of all your transactions, I recommend you select “TICKET ISSUE“  (on the  top left of the screen) and that’s what I will do! When you do, up pops this screen.

Here, the default departure in the top slot on the screen is Roma Termini, because that’s where I am standing! If you want to purchase tickets for a Florence to Venice run from this kiosk, simply look down to the bottom right corner and select “OTHER DEPARTURE.” You will head to another screen that will allow you to select a different departure station. Back to our screen… These are many of the major train stations in Italy. For example. some cities listed here have multiple train stations, yet the primary station of the city is listed for Napoli (Naples), Milano (Milan), and Venezia (Venice). Other cities such as Firenze (Florence) have two or more highly trafficked train stations so just the city is listed.

If you want one of these, select the city by touching it and the kiosk moves to the next screen. But if your destination is NOT THERE you’ll have to use the “OTHER DESTINATION” button on the bottom tight… let’s do that and see what happens – Push “OTHER DESTINATION“.

Now you must enter the name of the town or train station above. Another good reason to have printed out train routes! Let’s go to Orvieto. So I’ll touch the O – R – V

Once I do the computer enters places starting with O, then OR, then ORV as the screen above shows. I would then select “ORVIETO”

Up next, the screen asks what day are you traveling? If you select “OTHER DATE” you will be prompted to enter the date. We will choose the top selection which is “TODAY”

Once you pick the 9:05 train, the next screen shows you details! This is train #2308 and is a Regional Train – denoted by the cursive R over the train number. It leaves at 9:05 and arrives at your destination at 10:23. The services the train has are listed next. From left to right: It has both 1st and 2nd class seating (yes – even Regional Trains have 1st class!), is wheelchair accessible, and you can bring your bike!

***** Now let’s go all through booking a ticket to Firenze (Florence) – We will pick up AFTER we’ve selected Firenze as our destination and a date NEXT WEEK as the date of departure. We selected the 9:00 train… and thus,we are now at this screen

This shows us that we are seeking to book a ticket on the 9310 Eurostar Train (ES* – denotes Eurostar) and it will arrive in Florence at 10:39. The symbols in the service area show that this train has 1st and 2nd class available, Tickets must be reserved in Italy, the train is wheelchair accessible, and it has a dining car. At this point we want a ticket issue, so I select “YES”

Now we get into the class of tickets. There are several types but primarily you will use “BASE” or try to buy an Amica class ticket under “PROMO.” You can read about the others on the Trenitalia website! We’re going to limit our discussion to point-to-point tickets. So I want to see if the Amica tickets are still available for this run. I select “PROMO”

UPDATE – UPDATE – UPDATE – Effective April 15, 2009

Trenitalia has given new names to two of its fare categories, which you see pictured on the above screen. First the ”Standard” fare ticket is now called the “Biglietto Base”, or the “Base Fare” and is listed on the screen as BASE!   The “Flexi” fare is now called the “Biglietto Flessibile”, or the “Flessibile Fare”  – although you probably will not buy this one anyway! Your best bet, if you are buying on your date of travel, or one or two days before, is still to try for AMICA fares under PROMO – although now only available on limited runs…. or use the BASE key.

When you select “PROMO,” the available promotional fares for this train will come up. If the Amica class tickets are sold out, then that choice WILL NOT be displayed. At this point, your best option will be to return to the previous screen and select “BASE.“  The following pictures were taken when the AMICA ticket was still available to Florence, so for these pictures, we’ll assume it is still available!  You WILL NOT be able to get the AMICA ticket for most trains you need – sorry! Trenitalia has changed the AMICA rules and thus most tourists will not use this class of ticket. Unfortunately, shooting pictures of a kiosk in the post-911 era is “frowned upon” by the Italian authorities…. so I have not yet been “able” to update these photos. You would go BASE – then BASE for almost ALL tickets you will buy. Hopefully I can get back to a Train Station and update these photos…… 

Now it asks how many passengers. I will press the “+” sign as I want to purchase two tickets! Then I select ” NEXT”

Now you see that I have requested 2 seats on the ES 9310 train from Rome to Florence and it is asking me where do I want to sit. On our previous example to Orvieto that was a regional Train with OPEN seating so NO seat choice was required (or available). Here on the Eurostar we must choose our seats. If you select ” ANYONE” it will put you in the next two available seats in the system… DON’T go this route if you want to sit together! On the right you have “NEXT TO.” You are only allowed to purchase 5 seats at a time; if your party is 6 or more, than you would select this choice and it will ask you what carriage (train car) and seat your party is located at… and try and get as close as possible to where you wish to be.

 Since there are just two of us, let’s choose “SELECT SEATS.” When we do so, this screen opens up:

Now you choose your seats by touching where you want to sit. We like to sit across form each other (leg room is sometimes tight)…so I will pick the two window seats!

When you pick your seats they go to red, and you can select others by just touching another seat, then when you’re ready press “NEXT”

Now we are prompted to select 1st or 2nd class seats. This is for 2 tickets so 1st class is 43.20 each and 2nd class is 30.40 each. I’ll push the 2nd class choice!

Next it asks if you want to make a donation….. your choice… I would push “NEXT”

Now it’s time to pay. Remember, we jumped on a credit card or bank card machine so those are our only two choices. If you want to pay in cash, then you would have to be on a different “2-banked” unit as described above. If so, Press “EXIT” and go find a “cash” machine. But we will pay by credit card which is the choice on the left. I press the picture on the left to select credit card payment.

This Trenitalia’s equivalent of a frequent flyer card. For almost all of you, select “NONE”

Now it is asking you to confirm before payment. You can see the date, time, class, and number of the train you will be riding . (All will be printed on your Eurostar ticket.) Also you can see your departure terminal (Roma Termini) and your Destination (Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station). It tells you that you have a 2nd class ticket – and tells the conductor too!!!! – on the Eurostar and then it will tell you where the 1st seat holder is sitting… which would be Car 8, Seat #25. To see the other seats you will be purchasing, select “NEXT PERSON TRAVELING.” Do not be alarmed if the numbers are not sequential… many of the seat numbers wind through the carriage and also depend on the seating configuration of the car you’re riding in… Just make sure they are close and you’re in the same train car!

Then press “NEXT”

This is the purchasing screen, one last chance to “EXIT” and cancel this transaction. If you like what you see, the “slot” on the credit card machine will be flashing. Insert your credit card face up, stripe to the right (as the picture shows) and the transaction will happen. On the screen, it will send you several message,s the last being a printed ticket.

In older machines, with a credit card you will get a receipt – for you… and your ticket. So TWO PIECES OF PAPER. Make sure before you leave you have two print-outs. They both look like tickets, but one is simply a receipt. in NEWER machines, you will only get ONE PIECE OF PAPER  – your ticket!!! It serves as your credit card receipt also!

(If you pay with cash, you only get your ticket, not a receipt). And YES, they put both bookings on the same ticket — and they do that for up to five passengers on a single ticket. So you only have  one piece to show to the conductor. As mentioned in a previous posting: BE CAREFUL! get all your credit cards, change, tickets, receipts out of the machine before leaving.

The clear plastic window that pushes back is where the tickets print to. You’ll see many folks walking through the terminal “pushing” these in machine after machine. They are looking for that unfortunate soul that left his ticket or his change in the machine – This happens ALL THE TIME. If it’s a ticket, they will then take it and cash it in. For a first class ticket, they could net 75-100 euro. So be careful and take all your belongings with you!

You can also go to a ticket window and talk to a real person to buy your tickets. Often the lines are long (especially during the busy season) and the agents can be abrupt. If you do get in these lines, make sure you know what you need when you get to the window…. You can also buy tickets at no additional charge at any travel agent shop with the FS  logo on the window! Do also remember, whether you purchase at a kiosk, travel agent, or ticket counter, if you will be changing trains midway through your journey, get a ticket for EACH leg of the trip.

You can purchase train tickets and reservations up to two months in advance of your actual trip, so if you are in a busy city during the peak summer travel season, you might pop into the train station a couple of days before your actual travel date in order to purchase whatever you need without worrying about missing your train.

Now you have your ticket and you’re ready to ride the train. We’ll talk about train riding in another post… but do remember, If you bought a Regional or local ticket and were NOT asked about seat assignments, you MUST validate your ticket at one of the the yellow boxes. If you have assigned seating, like we just did, no validation is necessary.

Congratulations, you’re got your ticket and you’re ready to to ride!

 The name brings different images to everyone who hears it. For locals, it’s a busy connection point for the two metro lines, multiple bus routes, and Regional, National and International trains. For tourists arriving in Rome for their first visit, it’s often perceived as chaotic, dirty, and “filled with gypsies, rip-off taxi drivers, and beggars.” Okay, so BOTH images are true … and a few more. If all roads lead to Rome, most segments of the transportation system lead to Roma Termini! You can shop there, eat there, meet there, rent a car there, and leave from there! It’s truly the transportation hub of Rome. It’s been called a few other things too…

The first Termini station was built in the 1860’s. No, this is not it. The station was named after the ancient Baths of Diocletian, which can be found across the street from the main entrance of the station. The current building was inaugurated in 1950 and has undergone several updates since then (Trust me, it has!). Because of the extremely long, modernist façade in travertine and by the gravity-defying double curve of the cantilever roof in reinforced concrete, it was often nicknamed the “Dinosaur.”

Roma Termini Station runs almost all day… from 4:30 AM until 1:30 AM each day – almost 24 hours! It’s a busy, happening place! Almost 475,000 people pass through Termini EACH DAY – or more than 150 million visitors a year! I’m often through the Station on the metro 2-3 times in a single day.

If you’re arriving into Roma Termini station by train, you’re most likely coming from another city in Italy or the Leonardo Express. For many train, their FINAL destination is Termini. In Italy, tracks are called “Binari.”There are two track “areas “in the Station. The first is the main area and it has 24 tracks. If you’re entering the Station on a train, Binari #24 will be to your far left and track #1 will be to your far right. Conversely, if you’re in the station waiting for a train, the tracks are numbered from left to right, 1 – 24.

There is also a set of “satellite” tracks. These tracks are numbers 25-29 and they are in the second “area” of the station. These tracks are FAR OUT from the station and adjacent to track #24. In the picture above, we are approaching Track 25, at which is parked the Leonardo Express, loading up for it’s next trip back to the Airport. Note the yellow validation box mounted on the pole as you head for the train. If you arrive here you will have a 10-12 minute walk into the main area of the station. If you’re departing from one of these tracks, start hiking now! It’s a haul. If you go to the basement level of the station – one floor down from ground level – there are moving sidewalks that will get you out to the satellite tracks. But on the ground level you’ll have to walk… and walk… and walk. Currently the Leonardo Express, from the airport, is arriving/departing from Track #25. This just changed in 2008. It used to be track #24 which was much easier. Let’s hope they change it back soon!

Picture above is the ramp, approaching it FROM Tracks 25 through 29. The ramp will be on your left as you head for the station. And then on the lower level you see these walking sidewalks:

Also many trains from Civitavecchia arrive and depart from the satellite tracks. So if you’re coming in from one of them be prepared for the hike. Yet like airplanes arriving at the airport, trains in Roma Termini do not always “arrive” at the scheduled track. Keep an eye on the arrival boards if you’re meeting someone!

Here’s an example of one of the many “abbreviated” Arrival Boards through out the station, The Main Arrival board has much more info and trains posted! Note that on this board it is 8:29 AM and many Binari (BIN) – arrival platforms – have not been posted. This is very common. Often trains are posted but the track they will arrive at will not be posted until sometimes as the train pulls in… So you have to watch the boards!

And a departure board – if these are hanging from the ceiling, in a hall for example, usually one side is Arrivals and the other Departures.

Upon arrival,  grab all your luggage and head down the platform away from the train. In the main area, tracks 1-24, you arrive almost in the heart of the Station. To get to the taxi stand head straight out the front doors which are directly in front of you but you have to walk through the station.

Once you get to the front, the Official Taxi Stand is to your left. You’ll see many taxis lined up! Head for the far left where the queue starts and get in line. You could be approached by taxi drivers standing off to the side who will ask, “Do you need a taxi – no waiting!” Stay in line. Do not get in a non-official taxi. Most are unmetered and illegal. Taxis in Rome are only supposed to accept fares AT Taxi Stands, so stay in line and you’ll be fine. Again, if you have your destination written down (in Italian!) you can show it to the taxi driver. Most parts of Rome are no more than a 10-15 Euro cab ride from Termini… usually it’s much less.

If you plan to ride a bus from Termini, most buses depart from Piazza dei Cinquecento, the square in front of the Station. Again, depart your train, stay on the ground floor, and walk straight out the front doors. Bear to your left and you’ll see many buses lined up. Termini is a major bus stop, the largest in town. As you walk along the “islands” where the buses park look for your bus number. If the bus is there, jump on – but do remember YOU MUST HAVE A BUS TICKET before you get on the bus. Very few (5%????) of the buses have machines to sell tickets on the bus. There are Tabacchi shops in the station and stalls outside where you can buy a bus ticket. We’ll talk about bus and metro riding in another post.

If you’re going to ride the metro, again you will need a ticket before you can do so. The metro is located BELOW the train station, and BELOW the lower or basement level. So you could say it is 2 floors below ground. The B line is probably 2 floors down – the A line is below that! Look for the signs in the station for Metro A or Metro B. There are probably more signs for B… Coming from the Trains, most folks head downstairs and to the left to get to the Metro… there you can get on Line A or B. There are escalators to get down to the metro but there is, depending on which way you go, one set of stairs (7-10 steps) you’ll have to haul your luggage down.

Note the Metro A & B directions on this sign…

If you’re renting a car – Good Luck, you’re a brave soul to drive in or out of Rome – head to your LEFT once you get off the trains. The Car Rentals counters are in the newer wing of the Terminal, next to the Post Office and the Upim department store. Again, from inside the train station, walk along the tracks following the signs toward Terminal Fiumicino. Look for the yellow sign for the post office (Posta (PT)). Here you will find the major companies – Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Sixt, Europcar, National, Maggiore and some local agencies such as Targarent Travelcar and Tirreno. Once you get your paper work done, you’ll have to walk east (LEFT from the Car Rental Area) along Via Giovanni Giolitti to the parking garage where most of the rental car agencies park. If you’re returning your car, this will be where you’ll drop it off. There are different procedures in the Garage depending on who you are renting from. Welcome to your first driving experience in Rome… Again, good luck – do bring or rent a GPS!

Left Luggage

Many folks are just in Rome for a day and ask where they can store their luggage. Roma Termini is probably the best option. The left luggage and lost property facilities are located in the terminal on the Lower level. They are downstairs form Track #24 and can be accessed via the moving walkway on the basement level of the Ala Termini wing. If you’re walking towards the tracks from the front of the Station, it will be to your right and downstairs. The Left Luggage is open 7 days a week from 6 AM – 12 midnight (06.00 – 24.00). Do know that you need to leave yourself PLENTY OF TIME when you are picking up your luggage as the lines can get very long – especially if an International Train has just come in. You don’t want to be standing in line waiting on your luggage when your train pulls out! The Left Luggage is VERY safe, efficient, and convenient!

Charges

•4,00 € the first 5 hours
•0,60 € per hour from 6th to 12th hour
•0,20 € per hour from 13th hour on
•Contacts: +39 06 474 4777

Roma Termini is an efficient train station. It moves almost half a million folks every day! But it’s probably not the romantic image people have of train stations in Europe. It’s chaotic, but business-like. It’s dirty and grungy, but enthralling! There are two McDonald’s in the station, and one just outside on Via Giolitti, but it also has 100 other stores, restaurants, and a GREAT Conad grocery store.

But you have to be careful here. Like any urban environment: BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS! Some of my experiences… Once I was walking back from dropping off my rental car, headed to the Official Taxi Stand. A taxi driver approached me as I walked back down Via G. Giolitti and offered to take me to my hotel. I’d taken the trip often and knew it would cost me €5-7. The driver said he would take me for €40. Yep, if I had NOT known better I’d been out the money. So always head for the official Taxi Stands…

But even at the Official Taxi Stand you can encounter challenges. As we got into a taxi there a younger gypsy girl stepped up to help me – and the driver – load my luggage into the trunk. I told her I did not need her help but she persisted. I asked the taxi driver to jump in here and “assist me!” At this point the young lady became angry that I would not “allow her to help me” and started to curse me and the taxi driver. Obviously she was planning on me tipping her for this “assistance.”

Also be careful when you are purchasing tickets at the kiosks in Termini. Folks will come up to you and offer to help you buy your ticket – often without you even asking. They will ask you where you’re going and then reach over you to push buttons on the touch screen. Then upon completion they will ask for a tip. Don’t go down this path. First, they really do not care where you are going and there are multiple train stations in some cities… and you could end up in the wrong place.

Always make sure you get your ticket, change, credit card, etc. from the kiosks when you purchase a ticket. Folks will walk behind you flicking open the ticket depository and change areas and grab whatever you leave. If you forget to grab your tickets… then they will take them and cash them in. It cost them a few Euros to do this but they’re just taking that from the price of your ticket! Also, gypsies and homeless folks will stand by waiting for you to complete your transaction and ask for the change. Be careful and alert.

Another scam at Termini is the “lost student.” Folks will approach you claiming they just need ten more Euros to get home (or whatever amount they think you will give them). They sometimes will even let you buy them a ticket – then go cash it in! I’m through the ticketing area maybe two-three times a week and I always see these same “students.” Trust me, they live in Rome…

That said, Roma Termini is a safe area. The crimes committed are not violent crimes, mostly pick-pocketing and petty theft. Be alert and you’ll be fine. When in doubt just say “NO” forcibly or walk away. I enjoy traveling though Termini and it now feels like a small station!

 The first step of a vacation in Rome is just getting here! Sometimes that can prove to be quite a task, especially if you’ve never traveled to Europe. If you’re flying from the US you’re most likely to arrive at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, more commonly known as Fiumicino (FCO). The Airport is about 16 miles southwest of the city of Rome… and can be a challenge to get to, especially in the early morning. You can reach the airport by car, train, bus, taxi, or private shuttle. We’ll explore each of these options. Fiumicino is not the prettiest airport and perhaps not the cleanest in Italy. Most of the time – unless folks go on strike – it does get the job done!

 What most folks do not realize it just how close Rome, and the airport, is to the Med. Looking over the wing of this departing plane, you can see the runaways in the top right corner of this picture.The airport is within half a mile of the Mediterranean!

The airport has undergone some renovations and more are ongoing. Terminal 5, the new departures terminal for all US flagged carriers, opened in May 2008. If you are traveling on Delta, United, American, Continental, US Airways, any other US flagged carrier, or EL AL then you will DEPART from this terminal. Note this is departures only. This terminal was built to isolate US carriers so higher levels of security could be enforced in the post 911 era. Once you check in here you are bused to a Satellite Departure Terminal – Gate G on the map below – from which all US carrier flights depart!

Another renovation is the ongoing in terminal 3 – formerly the C Terminal Arrivals. As of this writing, December 2009, a large section of the Arrivals section of Terminal 3 is still “under construction.” It is projected that the renovations will take at least 6-12 more months. As a result, all arriving passengers from the US are being processed through the renamed Terminal 3 Arrivals Terminal! In most cases, you will arrive at the Gate G, a Satellite Terminal Arrivals Area, exit the plane, and then ride a “Sky-Train” from the Satellite Terminal into the Main Terminal 3. There you will go through Passport Control (Make sure to go to the NON-EU citizen lines if you’re carrying a US passport) and then head for your luggage belt.

When you enter the Baggage Claim area the first luggage belt is Number 1. The belts are numbered sequentially through the Terminal 3 Arrivals exit which is closet to belt number Number 10. Most US carriers’ luggage is loaded on Numbers 1-7. Waiting for your checked luggage to be off-loaded will be the LONGEST part of your exit from the airport. The baggage folks at FCO are, well, laid back. Plan on at least 30 minutes. Vie waited as long as an hour for my luggage to show, buoyed only by the fact that no one else on my flight had theirs yet! Priority baggage tags are hit and miss at FCO – Welcome to Italy! As we say here, “piano, piano.” This means – slowly, slowly. After all, you’re in Italy now and things move at a different pace!

After you get your luggage you’ll walk past the customs officials as you head toward the frosted glass doors that mark the exit into the Terminal 3 Arrivals area. Don’t stop to talk to them unless you have something to declare (You Don’t!). Just head through those doors and into the Terminal Arrivals Area.

You’ll find you are on the lower level of the terminal. Dragging your luggage, staggering from the load and the impact of jetlag, you’re now faced with the challenge of how to get to your hotel which is probably about 20 miles away. Now we’ll talk transportation!

If you booked a private shuttle on line – or by phone – this is where they will meet you. Once you come out the frosted, sliding glass doors into the terminal be prepared to SEARCH for your name. Many of the shuttle drivers tend to hang out together and talk while waiting on … YOU! So they probably WILL NOT be right up from where you can see them. For more info, see our post on Where to Meet at FCO. More than likely they are about 25-40 feet from the door so don’t panic if you do not see them right away! Once you find them, they’ll escort you to their vehicle and of you go! There are many shuttle companies in Rome. On the travel boards the most suggested are Rome Cabs and Roma Shuttles. Both are quite reputable and do a good job. There are MANY, MANY others. The ride into town will cost from €40-75 depending on which service you select, number of folks, and where you’re hotel is. I’ve used many shuttle services for two persons at less than €45. For first-timer’s to Rome, a shuttle service may be the best option as you will be taken directly to your accommodations by the driver.

BEWARE the taxi and shuttle “gatherers!” These folks will greet you as you enter into the Arrivals Area. They will be wearing “official” badges and ask you, in good English, “Do you need a Taxi?” Avoid them at all costs… just say no and head for the Official Taxi Stand! These folks are working for unlicensed and unmetered can drivers and your bill will be whatever they think they can get from you!

TAXIS

A taxi is a viable way to get into the city. If you are staying inside the Aurelian walls (or the downtown, Centro area) then the cabs have a set fee. As of June 2010 2009 that fee is €45 for up to four passengers plus luggage. If you have more passengers, a tremendous amount of luggage, or you are NOT traveling downtown, be prepared to pay more – perhaps LOT’S MORE. If you are staying downtown, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE CAB, and before it departs, CONFIRM the €40 rate with the driver. Once this is done, you can sit back and relax. Often it is a good idea to have the name of your hotel, address, and phone number written down on paper. Your Italian might have sounded good back in the States, but here they may not have a clue where you’re trying to go. If you can get the hotel name and address written in Italian, all the better!

Should you tip your taxi or shuttle driver? Most folks who use these services say yes. In Italy tips are “different.” Certainly 10% is considered a GREAT tip and anything over that would be excessive unless deserving. Many Europeans do not tip, so it’s your call. Most drivers, when dealing with Americans (as they do every day), expect some form of tip.

VERY IMPORTANT – The official taxi stand at Fiumicino Airport is just outside Terminal 3 Arrivals. To get there from your arrival point, exit the frosted, sliding glass doors in Terminal 3 Arrivals and head slightly to the right and straight out onto the sidewalk outside the terminal. You will start to see taxis lined up. Walk to the front of the queue and there you can get into your cab. ONLY USE an official Rome cab! Above is the picture of an official Roman Taxi!

TRAINS

There are two trains you can take from the Airport into town. The most commonly used is the Leonardo Express. This is a nonstop train from the Airport to the Roma Termini train station in downtown Rome. Roma Termini is the center of the public transportation system. There, the two metro lines (A and B) meet. It is the largest train station in the city. It also is a major bus station and has three official taxi stands. So if you journey in from the Airport on the Leonardo Express you have many transport options. Currently, the Leonardo Express costs €14 (Price change eff. 4/2010). From the Airport, the Leonardo Express is scheduled to depart at 05 and 35 minutes past the hour. The trip takes about 31 minutes and the trains currently arrive at Track #25 in Termini. This is one of the “satellite” tracks so it’s a good walk from here into the Roma Termini Station. Children under 12 can ride this train free when accompanying an adult. If there is a train strike, busses will replace trains to get you into town. If you have a large party you can buy the “carnet” (booklet) of 10 vouchers at the special price of 85 euro (with an overall saving of 25 euro).

The second train from the Airport is a regional train, the FM1. It DOES NOT stop at Roma Termini Station, but has many stops coming into Rome including Roma Trastevere, Roma Ostiense, and Roma Tiburtina. You can connect to a Tram outside Trastevere train station to head into the Center of Rome or Trastevere. At Ostiense you can change to the Metro, hopping on the B Line at Piramide. This train is currently priced at €8.00 (price change eff. 4/2010).

IMPORTANT – before getting on either train you MUST validate your ticket in one of the yellow boxes along the tracks. You’ll see a series of these just before the tracks start. Insert your ticket(s) into the boxes until you hear an audible click. Then, MAKE SURE your ticket has been time stamped by the machine. Both these trains are “open seating” so you sit where you like. But because of this the ticket would be valid on the next train, or the next. So the validation ties you to THIS train. Failure to do so will result in fines, paid on the spot to the conductor, and starting at €50. This is not the way to start your vacation. Be sure to VALIDATE!

The train station at Fiumicino is located near the Terminal 3 Arrivals area. To get there from Terminals 1, 2, or 3, exit into the Arrivals area and TURN RIGHT. From Terminal 3 arrivals, exit through the frosted, sliding glass doors, go right about 150 yards. You’ll see plenty of signage! As you head right, look for an escalator DOWN. This is the walk way under the road and to the train station. Take this down, go under the road, then two levels of escalators up… head RIGHT at the top and you’re in the train station. Here you can purchase your Leonardo Express and FM1 tickets. Through agents on duty you can also purchase other train tickets if you want to continue from Roma Termini. You can even get metro tickets at the Tabacchi shop here on the platform.

BUS

The last option into town would be the bus. There are a few services available but their times are more limited. The largest group, COTRAL, focuses on late evening – early morning trips. With the traffic issues in Rome, this would be the last resort. Even without traffic these buses take a minimum of 70 minutes according to their schedules. Take the train! Here are a few websites for buses

COTRAL  
Terravision  
Schiaffini

Hopefully this will give you some idea of what to expect at Fiumicino. After a long flight “over the pond” Fiumicino may not be the prettiest, cleanest, or most efficient airport in Europe… but it does work, in its own kind of quirky way. Living here we just adapt to FCO. Here are some more links that may make you FCO experience easier:

LINKS 

*** Official Website for the Fiumicino Airport   

A better link for the FCO Airport is http://www.rome-airport.info/

 Terminal 1 Departures

 Terminal 1 Arrivals

 Terminal 2 Departures

 Terminal 3 Departures

 Terminal 3 Arrivals

 Terminal 5: Departures