FCO towards Orvieto at night...

Old Apr 9th, 2014, 05:13 AM
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FCO towards Orvieto at night...

We arrive at 6:15pm at FCO from another entry point.

My thought is to rent a car and drive towards Orvieto and spend the first evening there (instead of spending it in Rome)

Can anyone recommend a hotel near or in Orvieto that is easy to find in the dark and would accept check in somewhere between 9pm and 10pm?

Any recommendations or better ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks!
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 10:45 AM
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I would think most hotels in the old town would have check in at those times. There are several parking lots and most hotels have an arrangement with the pay lots. One on the backside (Campo della Fiera) of Orvieto has escalators up to the old town.

http://www.comune.orvieto.tr.it/i/39D108E9.htm

If you enlarge this map a few times, you can see the list of hotels. Campo della Fiera parking lot is on the far left with the escalator symbol. You come out of the escalators at Piazza Ranieiri. Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini is right there and there is another hotel outside the old town (walkable from Campo della Fiera).

http://www.palazzopiccolomini.it/en/

You would not be able to park at the train station (free lot behind it) as the funicular quits running around 8 or so (hours are about 8-8). Buses run a little later up from the train station and there are taxis.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:14 AM
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What time of year are you traveling? It might not be dark when you get there.

But have you considered what will happen if your flight is significantly delayed? Even as it is you are not going to get any dinner.

Any feeling for spending the night in Fiumicino and having a nice seafood dinner?

But actually I would prefer a taxi into Rome and a pizza . I'd book a hotel near the car rental office and drive to Orvieto in the morning.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:23 AM
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Thanks ky!!

Sandra...that was the original thought, but then I have to deal with Rome traffic, etc.

My thought was if I land and get on the road by 8pm I could get "somewhere" closer to Montalcino for the night.

We stay in Montalcino (Castaglion del Bosco) the following night. My wife loves Assisi, so I thought I could get an early start to Assisi from wherever we spent that first night and then to Montalcino.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:36 AM
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Here's what we did on our way to Orvieto. We picked up the car at the airport and drove up along the coast to Tarquinia. We stayed overnight in Tarquinia, visited the museum and the tombs the next day, and then drove off toward Orvieto (spent another night near Viterbo).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7622914974923/
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:39 AM
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Rome is in between the airport and Orvieto. You will be dealing with the traffic whether you are behind the wheel or a taxi driver is. I would prefer to let the driver worry about it. They know all the tricks.

But here's another possibility: How about driving from FCO to Tarquinia (or thereabouts)? It is just about an hour from FCO to Tarquinia. There are places on the edge of town or along the highway where you could spend the night. The next day you would need to drive 40 minutes longer than you would had you stayed in Orvieto but I think the coastal plan may be simpler.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:41 AM
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Michael and I were typing at the same time!
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:44 AM
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If you are traveling in summer months then you could stay at this place with a restaurant:

http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/vill...8180a84;dcid=1

If you wanted to go to Assisi the next day then it would be a little longer than a 2-hour drive.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:58 AM
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Why not train to Orvieto and pick up your car there the next day?

I stayed at Palazzo Piccolomini and really liked it but that was back in 2005. I understand it still gets good reviews and the loc is great.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 12:10 PM
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Dayle, evening train schedules make that sort of unpalatable or even risky if the flight is delayed.

masterphil,

One other thought: I don't when you are traveling this time around or when you went to Assisi last time around, but if your wife's fond memories of Assisi all were formed by circumstances much different than what you will be doing this time, then re-visiting Assisi runs the risk of spoiling those memories. (For instance, the last visit was in the evening and early morning during the low season and cool weather, and this time you are arriving midday at the height of the tourist season and the heat... Just a thought)
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 12:14 PM
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Dayle...I probably wouldn't make the 7:58pm train to Orvieto (or don't want to deal with rushing to make it).

I love the Tarquinia plan! (Great minds think alike Michael and Sandra!!)

That is exactly what I was looking for!!! We can leisurely rent a car and drive up the coast to Tarquinia!

Gets me out of Rome and closer to Montalcino!!

Thanks for your help!!!!
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 12:22 PM
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Are you wanting to visit Orvieto? If not, I might drive up the coast from FCO to Orbetello or perhaps as far as Grosseto. Cut inland from there to Montalcino if no need to go to Orvieto. Here's annhig's trip report from a language school in Orbetllo.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-tuscany.cfm

If you want to see Orvieto, I think the parking lot is free at night and until 10 am. Here's a review on a B&B outside the walls and discussion of the parking/escalators/elevators.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-bb-review.cfm

Tuscania (near Tarquinia) is where some of the old Rome & Juliet was filmed (the late 1960's one).

http://www.romeartlover.it/Tuscania.html

http://www.romeo-juliet-club.ru/location.engl.html
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 12:26 PM
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ky...I don't necessarily need to go to Orvieto. I was just looking for someplace approx. 1 hour from FCO.

Just booked a night in Tarquinia. That looks just about what I had in mind.

We decided to save Amalfi Coast for another time when we have more time to see it.

Tuscany will provide the kick back and relax venue for shaking jet lag (not to mention for drinking some nice wines as well!!)
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 03:10 PM
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If you haven't been, I would stop at Pitigliano (slight detour) enroute from Tarquinia to Montalcino.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 07:23 PM
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Will do!
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Old Apr 10th, 2014, 04:25 AM
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We loved Tarquinia too, especially just wandering thought the tombs and taking in the amazing viewpoint from high up on the hill where the tombs are located. Villa Tirreno had an amazing pool where we had a great dinner outside under the stars.http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi...rbo_Lazio.html
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Old Apr 10th, 2014, 05:45 AM
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On the twisty hill roads of that part of Italy, the driving can really add up despite appearances on a map.


Tarquinia>Montalcino = 1.8 hours driving

Tarquinia>Pitigliano>Montalcino = 1.1hrs + 1.5hrs (3.6 hours driving)

Tarquinia>Assisi>Montalcino = 2.2hrs + 1.8hrs (4 hours driving)

Tarquinia>Pitigliano>Assisi>Montalcino = 1.2hrs + 2.3hrs + 1.8hrs (5.3 hours driving)
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Old Apr 10th, 2014, 07:49 AM
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Thanks!

snowgirls...that's the hotel I booked.

Sandra...Thanks! I have driven all over Europe. I was looking at Google Maps and distances and times and was surprised to find out that Assisi to Montalcino was 2 hours. (As you mention, it looks pretty close on the map). The nice thing is we are on vacation and in no hurry and can take our sweet time!!

I think my planning is done now!

Rome, Tuscany, Rome, Santorini, Athens, Dublin,Ireland.

Right now the Dublin, Ireland part is under further review. (that might be my next change).

(By now, my wife knows never to listen to my trip plans until we actually go on the trip!)

Thank you all, once again, for all of your wonderful help!!
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