Train Stations, Rome

Despues de llegar desde Viena, me pareció un buena idea tomar un tren desde el aeropuerto hasta Termine ya que sabía que mi hotel no estaba muy lejos de Termine.
Mi primera desilusión fue el alto costo de los tickets de tren luego que la máquina expendedora funcionara mal y me "trago" 20 Euros, además de darme solo un recibo por 8 Euros cuando quise cancelar la operacion, considerando que mi primer billete no habia sido registrado (La máquina decia que hasta 9 Euros daba vuelto) y el muy pobre estado de limpieza de los mismos.
Al llegar a Termine, el tema fue aún peor pues me encontre con una muy oscura estación, sin mayores indicaciones hacia donde debía ir.
Tenía la dirección del hotel, pero ningun mapa ni donde adquirirlo.
Como venía con algo de equipaje decidí tomarme un taxi, aun sabiendo que los taxis podian ser caros.
Si bien me ofrecieron taxis inmediatamente en la salida del tren, no los acepté considerando que podian estafarme y busque uno en su parada a la salida de la estación.
Cargue mi equipaje, el taxisto dijo no hablar ni español ni inglés, aunque alguna palabras intentaba decir en un muy corto ingles.
Lo primero que me hizo dudar es que me hizo sentar en el asiento delantero, lo que para no pensar mal lo tome como una gentileza, Le pregunté si conocia la dirección del hotel y me dijo que si que no habria problemas, como no vi taxímetro, le pregunte cuanto me saldria el viaje, y ahi estuve seguro que me estafaría pues me dijo que dependía del tráfico, que la tarifa tenía un recargo por ser domingo no laborable, y que costaría entre EUR 20 a EU 25. No hubo nada de demora y diría que en siete minutos estuvimos en la "zona" del hotel, me dijo que me convenia bajarme en la esquina para no tener que dar la vuelta. Le pregunté cuanto era y me dijo veintioto. le entrego cincuenta y saca solo un billete de 10, preguntándome no se que pero creo que había cambiado rápidamente mi billete por ese, a lo que yo solo atine a decirle que me tenía que dar otros doce, además de ese, ahi me preguntó si no tenia cambi. Le dije que no y el me dio entonces otro billete de 10 y nada mas pues me dijo que como era domingo no tenia cambio.
Luego puede comprobar que el hotel no estaba a mas de 10 cuadras desde donde había tomado el taxi, y que este tipo de estafa es muy comun en Roma.
Roma es muy bella pero CUIDADO CON LOS TAXISTAS

If you are planning to travel to a metro station from Termini and carry heavy suitcase, you should reconsider taking a taxi. Some place have escalators but not all the way down to the platforms. Instead, you will end up crawling underground going up and down some steps to get to the platform. So, if you are tired and do not want to carry your suitcase by your hands to walk lots of steps, try taxi. Also, it seems impossible for disabled people on the wealchairs to travel by the metro. It could be the same for the seniors.

If you pay there with a bank card or credit card you might get a error message and no ticket, but the money gets charged to your account (it was the touch screen variety).
Better use them with cash. Might be also on other trainstations.

If you pay there with a bank card or credit card you might get a error message and no ticket, but the money gets charged to your account (it was the touch screen variety).
Better use them with cash. Might be also on other trainstations.

We travelled into Rome from the outlying town of Valmontone, by train. I'll be honest and say that the Statzione Termini, whilst being modern and bright, is the one place that I didn't feel safe during our trip to Rome. Arriving was simple, just head out to the Piazza Cinquecinto, and head for either the bus, taxi or tour buses as we did.

However, when we arrived back at the station to catch our train back to Valmontone, it was about 8pm, and dark. The station was relatively busy, but there were quite a few shady looking characters wandering around. We decided to head for the cafe/restaurant upstairs until our train came in. Overall, it's not the place to be hanging around at the best of times, and more so at night. Keep your wits about you, and use your common sense.

Be careful - many of taxi drivers are thieves and con-men (hopefully only the unlicensed ones but the cab we were in had a meter so we thought it was legit).

We were quoted 40 euros for what should have been a 15 euro trip.

In the cab the driver kept grabbing my map that I was looking at away from me while he was driving. He did this, I realized later, so we wouldn't know where we were in relation to our hotel and the station. This was so he could get away with charging more or (as was the case with some folks we met) so he could drop us off no where near our hotel and leave us stranded.

He stopped us in busy traffic and said we had to get out there - that there was no access for automobiles to get to our hotel (a lie).

He then got my wife out and shuffled her across the street. While she was across the street he asked me for 40 euros. I gave him 50 and turned to grab one of my bags. (bear in mind traffic was coming and he was yelling for me to hurry) when I turned back he had a $10 in his hand - I thought this was my change (I wanted to ask to see the meter but he yelled and said must hurry traffic is coming). My wife was across the street - I was trying to keep track of the luggage (and my wife) - traffic was coming - I didn't know exactly where the hotel was - needless to say I was a little disoriented - just the way he wanted me. I reached for the 10 and he said "NO - you only gave me 10". I told him I gave him $50 - he sternly shook his head and pointed to the 10. I was an idiot and gave him the benefit of the doubt - gave him another 50 expecting 20 back - he then pointed across to the traffic - when I turned to look he took off with our money and the change.

We were lucky - we met a couple who experience the EXACT same scam - but had been dumped 3 miles from their hotel. At least our hotel was only a block away.

Also - our hotel clerk was a liar. The hotel asked if we needed a cab to the airport or main train station at the end of our 7 day stay. I knew that there was a train station in Trestaverde that had a train to the airport. She pretended not to know of such a station (I went for a short stroll later and found the station). I even showed her my guide book where it said Tresteverde station and she shook her head and acted like it didn't exist. My only assumption is that the hotels get kickbacks from the corrupt taxis and so they make no money if you leave from the local station (which is actually cheaper and faster). When I told this story to a more honest hotel clerk the next day he shook his head and confided in me that "all of Rome is very corrupt". Very sad.

Rome is a beautiful city but one in which you need to be amazingly vigilant. I have heard many stories of cons and thieves. A few days later I was in London where I felt so much safer. Ironically - London has a much higher violent crime rate then Rome (in Rome they'll rob ya blind but they wont hurt ya - In London they say G'day Governor to ya while the stab ya - just being a little sarcastic). Enjoy but be VERY careful!!!

I got off at the Termini Station in Rome from the Santa Maria Nouvella Station in Florence. With all backpack and a heavy luggage in hand, I went out the train station to check where we can find the shuttle bus that must be available outside that can take us to our hotel. As soon as I stepped out of the door, there is a couple of drivers who approached me and my family to ride on their taxi. Thinking that the price given to me by one of the guys is reasonable, I said yes to him expecting that we are going to the queau of taxis just in front of the station. I was mistaken. He asked me to follow him as his taxi is there a little farther. I followed him anyways, but I felt that there is danger if I keep on walking to his direction. I stopped and grab my luggage which he is carrying and went back to taxis in a queau. Most of the drivers do not speak English. I spoke to the one who can, but he said I have to take the one which is first on the line. Eventually, we were on the road headed to our hotel. Our driver keep on checking and looking at his map while the car is in motion. After half an hour, we reached the main street where our hotel is situated. Thank God, I can see our hotel which is around ten minutes walk from the street. Our driver took the taxi to a halt and said in broken English, that he cannot take us to the hotel because there is too much traffic and that it is difficult to return to the main street....and because of this, and because of that....! What else do you think I can do? He won't move!

Lesson: Do not talk to any driver unless you know he has a taxi standing by and is first on a queau. Look for the official yellow or white metered taxi and do not take taxi for an arranged price. Better still, call a taxi from within Rome on any of the following telephone numbers (06 3570 - 06 4994 - 06 6645 - 06 5551 - or 06 8822).

Good luck and have a safe trip!

When we went to Rome we bought tickets to the train to go to Florence. When we were walking through, men stopped us in suits and asked to see our tickets. They told us our tickets were not valid and asked for our passports.
They then told us we had to pay several hundred Euros as a fine and would not give our passports back until we paid it.
I noticed other American people being stopped and bullied. One couple with a small baby were arguing with them, I was crying, because we had done nothing wrong.
My husband left to go get the money but his visa debit card was not working so he came back and they told us we had to mail it in.
We never did.
In retrospect, I believe this was a scam, perhaps we were purpously sold the wrong tickets and the people on the other end stop us.
I wrote the embassy and they assured me there would not be a problem in the future and next time call the police.
I am nervous, since I will be traveling again to Rome next month and they took down our passport infromation. Scary.