True enough, the express train leading from Rome's major airport to the city center is easy to take. I've done that route out & back for nearly all of my five trips to Rome. But on Trip Number Six, last week, I discovered an even EASIER mode of transit. You guessed it! Airport Shuttle Express was recommended to me -- er, rather forced upon me -- as I stood at the kiosk in the train station at the airport, trying to buy a train ticket into town. Although I hate being pressured into buying something by a fast-talking know-it-all, I bent to the will of the lady at the kiosk and agreed to buy a ticket for the shuttle instead of the train. And you know what? It worked fabulously. So much so that my hubby and I reserved seats for our return journey too. On the inbound ride we shared the van with two other couples, thus stopped at two hotels before ours, yet still made it there in the 40 min. estimated by hard-sell kiosk-lady. What's more, we passed some of the best scenery imaginable: we drove by the Pyramid, the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, down the Corso, past Termini (waving to those poor folks taking the train), and near the Spanish Steps. The driver himself was extremely courteous and even pointed out some of the major monuments as we careened (safely of course) around -- but he didn't chat us up or try to engage us in conversation, which I appreciate after a long flight. When it came time to leave the Eternal City and we had scheduled our shuttle pick-up, the same gentleman was at our hotel waiting for us, calmly munching a saltine, fifteen minutes before our official pick-up time. Beyond punctual!
Bottom line: At 40 min. door-to-door (!) and 15€ apiece (hardly more than the express train), not to mention the huge convenience of not having to lug baggage on/off trains and across the massive Termini station (you know how far the airport train parks from the station exit!), there's no question: Airport Shuttle Express is my new ride into Rome. read more
