Taxi outside tourist spots in the taxi stand line

I sympathize with your wife and the bad knee. I had problems with my knee in Sicily. I got great suggestions on this forum on how I could nurse the knee while we traveled. A few things that helped a lot was a frozen wet washcloth in a ziplock that inn employees were very happy to freeze for me, Voltaren and a cane that a forum member lent me.

As far as the taxi, they do have Uber in Rome, but I think its the more expensive Uber options. I think at least in the U.S. Uber is easier to manage in terms of ensuring a fair price.

Rome is a bit difficult to get around on with public transportation. We found the buses often full and the metro (due to all the ruins in Rome, I'd suspect) do not cover some areas well.

It's frustrating to be taken advantage of! I hope your trip improves.

claiming that the route was blocked due to government celebrations

That's true, tomorrow is June 2

What would you do in that situation

I'd never get on a cab that doesn't take credit cards, I'd just get on the next one in line. Drivers who break the law about mandatory credit cards are going to break all the other laws.

Did you call +39 06 3570? Another company is +39 06 6645. Otherwise, if you have internet access just install one of the taxi app like itTaxi. Uber Black is too expensive.

I’m wondering why you had two 20s in your hand if you knew it was a €15-18 ride. I would have handed him the €20 and just gotten out of the car… i assume you were at your destination, right? Hard to understand your story and the chronology. If i were in a taxi and driver was asking for more than it was worth i would say No, give him the €20 and get out of the car.

That tomorrow is Festa Della Repubblica was my first thought regarding claimed route closure as well. No mystery/rip off that what was open earlier today might have been closed later to prepare tomorrow's big parade, thus necessitating a longer route. From https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-festa-della-repubblica-public-holiday-2-june.html:

"The parade is held along Via dei Fori Imperiali, against the backdrop of the Colosseum, and comprises thousands of members of Italy’s army, navy and police forces. The event will result in numerous street closures and traffic restrictions in the centre."

Scot, if you're going to be in Rome over the next 4 days, be prepared for it to be very busy:

"With Festa della Repubblica falling on a Thursday in 2022, many businesses and schools in Italy are taking a so-called ponte, or 'bridge', by taking Friday off to create a four-day weekend."

Oh, Rome taxis!
I have traveled to Rome many, many times (won't say how many as it is sort of embarrassing). I have taken many, many taxis over the years. Some have had scams attached and some drivers have turned into friends. It is truly a mixed bag.

When you are in a controversy with a taxi driver, immediately write down the cab number and call the company. Usually that stops the scam immediately. Also, do be careful and alert with your cash everywhere, not just in taxis.

In Italy you pay the taxis AFTER the travel, not before, because there is a meter who show you how much is the FINAL amount. Sound very strange that the driver asks you the money BEFORE the trip and you give him the money if you just know was the double.
Only to me sound like a false story?
Anyway: if happens that your taxi driver steal your money, please CALL THE POLICE! Please make a denunciation, so the driver is charged for something. Yes: in Italy there are thieves. But if nobody never present an official denunciation, how do you believe the police is able to fight them?

I would expect nothing to come of it from the same Polizei who chase people off the Spanish Steps.

Can anyone translate into English?

To clarify I asked how much it would be before I got in the taxi. Also I asked if he took credit cards before I got in the taxi. As far as the numbers that I called to get the same taxi company as the one that our hotel called, I no longer have the slip of paper the hotel gave us before we got in the taxi that morning to go from the opera area to the Vatican museum. When I called the numbers listed on the slip of paper from the hotel one of the numbers never picked up and the other number had a prerecorded message in Italian. That is why I called the hotel for help.

To clarify I asked how much it would be before I got in the taxi.

That's the first mistake you made. It's like asking them to turn the meter off and to not obey the rules. It may not be your intention, but that's how 99% of roman taxi driver would "translate" such question. An honest driver with half of the city center blocked by the celebrations would have replied with a sounding: "Nobody knows".

A driver not accepting credit cards is a dishonest driver, period. Do not trust dishonest drivers and find another one in the line.

To clarify I asked how much it would be before I got in the taxi

???? How would the driver have known how long it was going to take from point A to B? So much depends on density of traffic, potential delays for accidents, construction or other holdups, etc. In this case, there was also navigation around closed streets. While there is a flat rate from FCO to locations "within the walls" and some other locations, that doesn't apply to other taxi trips. Honestly, I can't think of any driver of any cab we've ever taken to have been willing to quote us an accurate fee within a few dollars (or in this case, euros).

I interpreted from your original post this all happened when you got to your destination, others have interpreted it as happening when you got in the taxi…
Can you please clarify?

In Italy you pay the taxis AFTER the travel, not before, because there is a meter who show you how much is the FINAL amount. Sound very strange that the driver asks you the money BEFORE the trip and you give him the money if you just know was the double.

Several questions:
1) Are credit cards safe in taxis?
2) Is tipping expected?

We use Uber almost exclusively in Rome, pay on the app with no money exchanged with the driver.
So you paid 20€ more, not a big loss and I would not dwell on it. I know what it is like to have a bed knee and the relief was probably worth the extra $$$.

2) Is tipping expected?

No, it isn't. Italians do not tip waiters, imagine if they are going to tip a guy that, by law, owns both the car and the license.

Many Americans (not all) have ben ignoring local customs for ages and now drivers expect a tip only from English speaking tourists. Your choice, do you like to pay more without a real reason?

Sorry, but what could ever happen to a credit card on a cab? They use the same devices used everywhere else.

Unfortunately for you, the coperto does not go to waiters and staff and has no link with the service (or the level of).

The only money that go to the service staff is their monthly salary and the tips tourists leave on the table.

Anything else wrong to say?

I only tip a taxi driver if they load or unload luggage.

To clarify I asked how much it would be before I got in the taxi. Also I asked if he took credit cards before I got in the taxi

So what were the answers ?

Did driver say one thing then change when you got to your destination?