Negotiating at Pier - Rome and Naples

[sylmack]

We are cruising in Europe in May aboard the Solstice and are looking at hiring a private driver for tours in Naples (Amalfi Coast) and Rome (best of Rome)

Some in our party seem to think we should be able to negotiate a tour at the pier when we arrive and get a better rate. I personally don't like this idea and would prefer to book a reputable company or go with one of the 'share an excursion' companies.

 

Any thoughts/input would be appreciated.

[CruiserBruce]

I wouldn't do it. But that is just me.

[wantocruisemore]

It's my understanding from another posting on this board that the actual tour companies do not hang around the pier in Europe/Rome as they tend to in the Caribbean. If you are looking for a taxi tour you MIGHT be able to negotiate a little better price, but then maybe not.

 

To me it makes more sense to plan ahead, go with a reputable company that gets rave reviews, and know that transportation will be waiting for you when you get off the ship. You can even plan ahead with some of the companies that are just cabs as well and know what you are getting ahead of time.

 

The argument I used with my BIL who wanted to just "wing-it" when we got there was we are paying alot for this trip. Why let a few euros come between you and a greater chance for a better trip. You didn't indicate how many are in your party but the more you have, the less likely you can just pick up something at the pier. Also, some of the places you will likely want to see are a distance from the port, ie. Rome, and you are better to plan ahead.

 

If you want to do on your own in Naples and just go to Pompeii or something, there are plenty of suggestions on this board about catching the train and which one to take etc.

 

All I can say in closing is to not let your travel companions ruin your trip. I don't know how many times you get to Europe, but try to plan in such a way so as to get the most out of it, even if it means paying a little extra.

[hubofhockey]

If your relatives purpose is to save money, the train is a better alternative for Rome. But the driver guide companies often sell out for the day and a strategy of getting a better price might backfire. It's kind of like showing up at a football game without tickets, hoping to buy from a scalper. You may actually wind up paying more for less of a product. Why take that chance on an important vacation? As for Naples, a train won't get you to the Amalfi Coast and there may not be any alternatives at the port. With so many different driver guide companies vetted on these boards for that port, you probably can't go wrong with any of them that are well vetted here.

[Hlitner]

You can certainly negotiate a rate to hire a taxi for the full day or partial day. The price is dictated by supply and demand but you will be talking hundreds of Euros which you probably will need to pay in cash. Keep in mind that taxi drivers are not professional tour guides (although some are pretty decent guides) and most have a very limited command of English. We agree with the other post that it makes no sense to hire a car/driver to go to Rome from Civitavecchia. It is easy to take the free port shuttle to the port entrance and walk 4 blocks (all flat) to the train station. A train into Rome costs less then 10 Euros per person and you can even buy a BIRG ticket (for about 9 Euros) that includes all days use of Rome's buses and Metro.

 

Hank

[MeHeartCruising]

In Naples, there were many, many eager taxi drivers selling their services to take us to Pompeii. They were somewhat all over us as we left the port building. I assume they would also do the Amalfi drive, but I'm not certain. We only wanted to take a taxi to the Circumvesuviana Train station and they weren't too interested in doing that. They wanted the longer distance fare. We finally found one who agreed to take 3 of us to the train station for 10euro. Immediately after getting on the road, he launched into his "better deal" sales pitch to try and convince us to go with him to Pompeii where he would wait for us and then bring us back. He aggressively pitched the entire mile or so to the train station. Finally, I just said "NO!, please take us to the train station." He did, but he was visibly not pleased. And yes, I do know that a bus/tram could have taken us there for much less or we could have walked, but my aging parents do better in a car, so 10euro was fine with me.

[euro cruiser]

For Naples, at least, there is a set fare for an all day tour of the Amalfi coast, it's 220 Euro. However, that's just a taxi ride, with a driver who may (or more likely, may not) speak English. They are not tour guides.

 

Also, most cabs are only going to take three people, so you'd need more than one for a group.

 

You can download the set fares for Naples from the city web site here: http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1193 (it's the pdf file about midway down the page that says 'visualizza le tariffe). Page one is in Italian, page two is in English.

[ollienbertsmum]

For Naples, at least, there is a set fare for an all day tour of the Amalfi coast, it's 220 Euro. However, that's just a taxi ride, with a driver who may (or more likely, may not) speak English. They are not tour guides.

 

Also, most cabs are only going to take three people, so you'd need more than one for a group.

 

You can download the set fares for Naples from the city web site here: http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1193 (it's the pdf file about midway down the page that says 'visualizza le tariffe). Page one is in Italian, page two is in English.

 

 

That guide seems as if it needs updating, but the 2009 fares are helpful.

 

Last year a colleague told me that she and her family (4 in all) paid 100 euro for a whole day with a taxi driver going to Pompeii and Sorrento and not paying him until they got back. They had to do some serious haggling though - her husband is a business man and knows how to do it.

 

They knew they had a good deal when he started asking for a bigger tip and looked annoyed when he went away with less than he asked for.

 

So she did well out of the taxi drivers. Maybe not everyone does.

 

We are going to Naples and from here

 

http://cruisett.com/ports.php?PortID=454&date=35

 

it looks as if we are going on a busy day. In fact the 3 days we are in Italy are all bumper days for the ports we are visiting :mad: This may have an effect on how easily we get a taxi. I am not sure.

 

I am sorting out public transport, but I will also consider a taxi portside and compare it to the costs of my public transport. I feel that I can do this. It will be my 3rd time in Rome and my second time in Naples and I know I will be going again. Now the kids are grown up I will be able to afford more trips - and Italy is high on my list of where I want to visit.

 

When I did my trip to the USA which I knew was likely to be a once in a lifetime trip you can be sure I took more trouble making sure that I had the best tours.

 

In your shoes I think I would be suggesting to your travel companions that you split up during the day in some of the ports.

[10DogMom]

Oh, Ollie and Bert's Mum - we wish you'd come back again to the US! Yellowstone in the winter, the Smokies in the springtime - and we all adore your accent! (Why is that, anyway?)

[ollienbertsmum]

Oh, Ollie and Bert's Mum - we wish you'd come back again to the US! Yellowstone in the winter, the Smokies in the springtime - and we all adore your accent! (Why is that, anyway?)

 

 

I will I will .......one day (sighs).

 

I mean, you can never repeat 'once in a lifetime' holidays too many times can you LOL.

[euro cruiser]

That guide seems as if it needs updating, but the 2009 fares are helpful.

Although the fares were set in 2009, they were still current when I was in Naples three weeks ago.

[sylmack]

These posts reflect my thinking....and we don't get to Europe often enough that I am going to scrimp on excursions.

 

Thinking of doing a Share an excursion kind of setup which will cost us about 75 Euros each for a full day tour...not just a ride.

 

Last time there we hired private drivers ahead of time and were very pleased. We did it as a couple and didn't try to please everyone else.

 

I think it's going to end up that way again.

 

So much is paid for air fare to get there, I am not going to penny pinch once I'm in Europe. Yes, I will try to get the best deal but I also want to see as much as possible.

[agabbymama]

Not that I want to say anyone isn't being truthful, but the going rate in Naples in Oct 2008, when we were there, was 200 EUR for the car from Naples to Pompeii & Sorrento, and there had to be 100 taxis lined up at the port. So it was 100 EURO EACH, as there was only two of us.

 

We had been invited from our roll call to join others at 50 EUR pp, but planned to take the hydrofoil to Sorrento and Circumvesuviana train back to Pompeii ourselves. We were foiled when the the Grand Princess docked at the opposite end of the pier from the hydrofoil, and the shuttle didn't start until 9:00 which is when the first hydrofoil left. And we are both mobility impaired, so couldn't walk to the hydrofoil dock, and none of the taxi drivers wanted such a short fare.

 

It ended up being the best day of our 21 day vacation. It was like watching the Lives of the Rich and Famous, only we were living it. He took us where we wanted go, stayed as long as we wanted to stay, escorted us across busy streets, carried our packages, pointed us to a decent restaurant for lunch (then disappeared) I was going to buy him lunch, but he was gone. Then included a mini-tour around Naples before returning us to the ship. He was so concerned that two older ladies were traveling in Italy without a husband, father, brother, some male relative to escort them. He spoke limited English, but we each made ourselves understood. And he wasn't hard on the eyes either, though young enough to be my son. At the end of the full 8 hour day, we were exhausted, but oh so pleased that we had had such a good day. It cost us a little more than other days (ship's tours ran $99 pp) but he was our own private driver.

 

Happy travels to all, whatever you choose to do!

[chipmaster]

I agree with you bad idea!

 

You might ask others in your party how much they spent on airfare, ship fare, tax/tips. Also do they care what they see/experience in port. Is there a must see/do in Rome, Naples? Or lets play by ear and if it works great if not who cares, we saved some money :confused:

 

IMHO spending ~ 100-150/person per port sounds like a lot but in the larger pictures a small price for the best experience. How often does one get to Amalfi or Rome and only have 10 hours. I for one didn't want to chance this to luck to save a few euros.

 

You'll be the hero if you do a bit of legwork and get the group a private car/vehicle ;) Taxis are a possibilities but as long as you treat it simply a ride is a possibility. Hopefully don't count on haggling as did you haggle for your shuttle / taxi in the US?

 

We are cruising in Europe in May aboard the Solstice and are looking at hiring a private driver for tours in Naples (Amalfi Coast) and Rome (best of Rome)

Some in our party seem to think we should be able to negotiate a tour at the pier when we arrive and get a better rate. I personally don't like this idea and would prefer to book a reputable company or go with one of the 'share an excursion' companies.

 

Any thoughts/input would be appreciated.

[ollienbertsmum]

Although the fares were set in 2009, they were still current when I was in Naples three weeks ago.

 

 

Thanks for that. I really had assumed that someone had forgotten to update the webpage.

[ollienbertsmum]

Not that I want to say anyone isn't being truthful, but the going rate in Naples in Oct 2008, when we were there, was 200 EUR for the car from Naples to Pompeii & Sorrento, and there had to be 100 taxis lined up at the port. So it was 100 EURO EACH, as there was only two of us.

 

 

!

 

Do you mean that my friends should have paid 400 euro and they only gave the driver 100? No wonder he was not very happy:eek:

[agabbymama]

Do you mean that my friends should have paid 400 euro and they only gave the driver 100? No wonder he was not very happy:eek:

 

No, usually the price quoted is for the vehicle. If we had had 4 people, then the price would have been only 50 EURO pp.

 

I meant that your friends maybe don't remember that they paid 100 EURO pp OR THEY GOT ONE HE%# OF A DISCOUNT.

But different times of the season can impact the cost too, of everything from cruises, hotels, tours, etc.

 

But whatever the private tour costs, it's usually cheaper than a ship's excursion, as the ship charges pp, and the drivers charge per vehicle (which you can divide per person). JMO

 

Happy travels to all!