I knew one thing was amiss when the taxi meter learn 10.50 euros as we pulled away from the Roma Termini practice station.
Whereas negotiating the night rush hour site visitors and typing right into a translation app on his mobile phone, the cab driver urged the beginning fare included a surcharge for all rides from Rome’s foremost practice station.
That was at most a half-truth and all of the affirmation I wanted to know that I had turn out to be a statistic — one in every of 1000’s of vacationers who’re scammed by taxi drivers in Italy yearly.
In accordance with Rome’s tourism authority, the taxi meter ought to have began at 3 euros as with all rides between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays, with one further euro for the second piece of bags within the trunk.
Some journey websites counsel there’s an extra 2 euro surcharge for all taxi rides from Roma Termini, though that data shouldn’t be listed on official websites.
The 5 km journey from Roma Termini to my guesthouse in Trastevere got here as much as 24 euros — about double the quantity that was urged by a Google search and a neighborhood taxi journey hailing app that I frantically downloaded throughout the journey.
The fear is at all times in regards to the extent of the overcharges. However what to do — particularly as a helpless vacationer, locked contained in the again of a automobile in a overseas metropolis?
Listed below are three issues that may assist in your subsequent Italy vacation.
Obtain taxi apps
The power of the taxi union and foyer in Italy has severely curtailed the expansion of ride-hailing apps equivalent to Uber. Meaning Uber is simply accessible in main cities equivalent to Rome and Milan — however even these have solely a restricted Uber Black fleet, which additionally means usually increased costs.
Earlier than arriving in Italy, obtain taxi hailing apps related to the foremost Italian taxi firms, equivalent to ItTaxi, FreeNow and Free Taxi. However not all apps work in all cities, significantly the smaller ones.
Taxi drivers holding an illustration in Piazza del Campidoglio in response to the choice made by the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, and the Councilor for Mobility, Eugenio Patane, to concern new taxi licenses in trade for fee. The occasion passed off on Nov. 9, 2023, in Rome, Italy.
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Photos
Apps enable for cashless fee, however they do not guarantee a set charge. While you ebook a taxi — by way of phone or by an app — fares should run by the meter, they usually can begin the second drivers settle for a job. Some fares replicate a variety, with the high-end estimate a worst case state of affairs.
Regardless of the shortage of mounted costs, it is nonetheless prudent to obtain these apps since hailing a cab off the road is not simple.
Plus, you’ll be able to solely board a taxi at designated stands in cities, or in the event you order one over the telephone or by way of the app.
Do your analysis
Study to acknowledge official white cabs and the varied metropolis emblems, and the place taxi drivers submit their taxi licenses and car registration numbers.
“Inform your self about tariffs earlier than paying for the service, particularly for journeys between airports and the town middle. Often, these journeys have a hard and fast value,” stated Claudia Gualdi, journey intelligence knowledge lead at Riskline.
Taxis parked in entrance of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy.
Francesca Volpi | Bloomberg | Getty Photos
In Rome, a cab journey to and from Fiumicino Airport from components of the town throughout the Aurelian Partitions — which covers the the town’s historic core and components of Trastevere and the Vatican — ought to price a flat 50 euros every means.
Base fares additionally fluctuate from metropolis to metropolis. Meters begin at 3 euros in Rome from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, however are barely increased (3.30 euros) in Florence.
Surcharge and progressive fare constructions additionally fluctuate between cities — data that isn’t at all times accessible within the taxi itself.
Keep away from taxis except completely crucial
As for me, that taxi journey from Roma Termini to my visitor home turned out to be the primary and final taxi journey I took throughout my week-long go to to Rome.
I finally paid the doubtful quantity on the meter as a result of I used to be exhausted. I used to be additionally relieved that the quantity wasn’t increased.
The cab driver took offense at my request for a receipt and my makes an attempt to take a photograph of his taxi license and car registration quantity.
He stopped the car on a busy highway, received out and opened the again door, demanding I exit the car.
Excessive-speed trains on the central railway station in Milan in July 2023.
Gabriel Bouys | AFP | Getty Photos
I stepped out with all my belongings, considering he was kicking me out of the cab. However he prevented me from opening the boot to take out my baggage, whereas telling me over the interpretation app to “settle down” and to not act rashly.
He ultimately nudged me again into the cab and drove me to my supposed vacation spot throughout the Tiber river.
After that, I walked almost in all places I went in Rome — together with a 45-minute stroll to Vatican Metropolis. After I received drained, the town’s trams and buses have been simple as a result of you’ll be able to pay on your fares utilizing your bank card. There’s additionally the town’s underground metro.
The Leonardo Categorical practice to Fiumicino Airport from Roma Termini is a handy and inexpensive solution to get to the airport.
I made a decision to take a cab solely as a result of I assumed dealing with two items of bags on the bus and tram can be a giant problem. Seems taking the cab was maybe worse.
