hollywoodsc

My last visit I had a really early check-in/flight out of FCO (Rome) so I dropped off my rental car the day before, took the train into Rome for the evening and then returned to the hotel for the night. In the morning the hotel had a shuttle straight to the airport.

wekewoody

"For me, making a mad dash in August to the airport would not work for me, especially in August."

I'd still do it. The more time spent in my destination of choice, the better. Different strokes.

stisha

You have all been incredibly helpful! Thank you! Because of your thoughtful suggestions, we are going to be by the coast for 4 days in Livorno and then in Umbria in an agriturismo, which looks wonderful. No mad dash to the airport, but an overnight stay in Fuimicino and a brief visit to Rome proper. Ay suggestions on a hotel in Fuimicino? Restaurant in Rome? I've been before, but not for over 20 years!
Thanks again. Great forum!

wekewoody

Sounds like you are going to have a great trip. Happy Birthday!

stisha

One last thing... Easier to train to Orvieto to rent the car, or just go back to the airport and rent? We decided to stay a night so that my friend could get a glimpse of Rome . It's a city worth seeing, even if only for a full day and a night! And should we stay in Rome or in fuimicino?
I'm really looking forward to going! Thanks again for all of your help!!

stevewith

You might as well stay in Rome. Drop off the car in Orvieto and take the train in. Otherwise, drive Fiumicino and stay at the Marriott Courtyard Inn, which has lots of parking. Drive yourself to the airport the next morning. Or drop off the car at the airport and stay at the Hilton at the airport.

I am not sure I understand your thinking about picking up the car rental. If you are starting out in Livorno, why not rent the car in Livorno and drive to your agriturismo in Umbria? It is likely to be no more than a 3 hour drive, and you can stop for lunch somewhere in the Chianti.

Taking a train to Orvieto from Livorno is likely to be very time consuming with at least one of not more train change.

stisha

We are flying into Rome fuimicino airport. Would like to see a bit of Rome and stay overnight in either Rome or fuimicino. Then, rent a car the next day and go to Livorno. Stay in marina di babbino ( thank you for the Suggestion by the way). We would stay there 4 nights, then drive to u
Umbria and stay there 4 nights and then finally to Pisa bc we are flying out if Pisa.

stevewith

I highly recommend that you reverse the order of your trip so that you go to Umbria first, right after Rome. It would save you a lot of driving. If you switch your lodging reservations, I recommend that when you land in Rome, get a taxi to take you to a hotel in the city. (A taxi will be cheaper than the train because you are a group.) The next day after lunch, take the train to Orvieto to pick up the car).

If for some reason you are locked into heading to the Tuscan coast first, with Umbria second, it is really a tough call as to whether your group should head into Rome for the night by taxi, and head back out to the airport the next day to pick up the rental, or whether it might make sense for you to stay at the airport when you fly into Rome and if you want to do some sightseeing, take a taxi into Rome (or a taxi to Ostia Antica), and take a taxi back to the airport hotel, sleep, and pick up the car at the airport the next day to drive up the coast.

My inclination, since it is August, would be to take a taxi in Rome, sleep in the hottest part of the afternoon, and then enjoy the evening, and do a bit of sightseeing in the morning, have lunch, and then get a taxi to the airport to rent the car. It is a 3 hour drive to Marina di Bibbona from Fiumicino, although in August, holiday traffic along the coast and delays at the car rental office could make that longer.

But my biggest inclination would be to switch the order of Umbria and Bibbona di Marina since you are flying into Rome and out of Pisa.

willperson

You want a great place for staying and cooking try La Tavola Marche (google it) Great agriturismo run by two young amazing Americans. Great place, great cooking and classes. My wife and I have stayed there 5 times in the past 4 years.

stisha

Recommendation for a place to stay in Rome?

wekewoody

We liked the Albergo Cesari. We stayed there one night. The location is great.

Laurieobella

We spent 4 nights at Le Mandrie di San Paolo an agriturismo in Umbria. It was about 10 minutes from Assisi. They have olive groves and produce olive oil. They have a very good restaurant. Alex, the owner was terrific about giving us sightseeing ideas. We loved staying there. We visited Assisi, Spello, Bevagna and the Parco Nazionale die Monti Sibillini. It was beautiful. Assisi was our favorite medieval town. Have fun!

stisha

How difficult is it to get from fuimicino to Rome? By train or taxi? How long does it take? I know it's about 40 Euro right?