InMiami

I have an international flight out of FCO at 12:20 PM. on a Tuesday. What time should I leave Orvieto to make my flight?

Budman

I would figure 2 hour check-in, so you want to be there by 10:20am. Mapquest shows about 1 1/2 hours to Rome, another 1/2 hour to FCO, and 1/2 hour to turn in rental car. Then you have to figure on traffic, so to error on the side of caution, I would leave at 7:30am.

InMiami

Thanks Budman, that leaves me just enough time for breakfast at my B&B.

Marilyn

We did this last summer, during morning traffic, in less time than you are proposing. We hit one construction area where the traffic slowed down, but otherwise it was pretty smooth. You don't actually have to go into Rome -- the ring road takes you around the city and then there's an exit for FCO.

Also, it took about 5 minutes to turn in our car at Avis, and the drop off is at the terminal so it's another 5 minute walk to check in from there.

So 7:30 is more than enough time. 8 would probably be ok.

Budman

Marilyn, we have a 9:30am flight and we are looking for a nice town about an hour from FCO for our last night fling/dinner in Italy. Don't want to mess with Rome this trip. Any ideas? Orvieto would be a reach.

InMiami

Marilyn..thank you for your suggestion, we will check how traffic is moving aroung Rome and perhaps have time for a little stroll through Orvieto.

Budman

How are you going to do that?

InMiami

I have seen a site that describes in real time traffic problems on the Rome beltway. If I can find it again I will post it here.

Marilyn

Budman, there have been other threads about this, and usually Orvieto is the place suggested. Sorry I don't know any other options first hand, as my stays have been in Orvieto. It's a great town!

Marilyn

PS Budman, if you mean a "reach" in the morning because of a 9:30 flight, that's pretty much what we had. I think we left Orvieto about 5:30am. There were a couple of nervous moments due to traffic, but in fact, we made it with plenty of time to spare.

Budman

Marilyn, where did you stay in Orvieto?

I'm not sure I want to get up at 4:30 in the morning. I need my coffee to get me moving. ~o)

InMiami

Budman, MAPQUEST used to give a live Rome traffic report but that has been discontinued. I will post if I find another source.

Budman

Thanks, but I won't have a laptop with me to access it. I've got until September, so I am still debating where to stay last night. I want to lock in a place soon, though. No one on the board seems to have any recommendations other than at the airport or in Rome, and I don't like either of those options.

ira

Hi budman,

A while back there were some suggestions for staying in the town of Fiumicino.

Marilyn

Budman, I've stayed 3 years in a row at the Palazzo Piccolomini. If you are looking for a night's lodging only, and don't intend to spend any time in town, then I would not recommend it. (Otherwise, I love it!)

I think Orvieto is a great place for a last night before leaving IF you are driving down from Tuscany or Umbria. Otherwise I would prefer something closer to FCO, especially with a morning flight. As Ira said, there was a thread not too long ago on this subject and there were a few other suggestions besides Orvieto.

Budman

I searched and nothing really in the FCO area. Someone mentioned Tivoli. Anybody been there, done that, and can recommend a reasonable place for a last-night's stay/restaurant?

Budman

Anybody?

ira

Hey budman,

Tivoli is about 174 degrees on the other side of Rome.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn EUR Parc Medici,which is an international-style hotel with shuttles service to FCO. It is nice, but I don't think that is what you want.

Google "Fiumicino -airport". I think that that is where you want to stay.

JulieVikmanis

We stayed our last night before a Rome flight home in Ostia Antica, the port town of Rome. It has some ruins (and interestingly the most handicapped friendly sidewalks I've ever seen)but not much else. It's not bad, just not great IMO. But it is close to the airport and still not the airport. Found an excellent Chinese restaurant there.

Maddy

Budman have you considered Frascati? We didn't stay overnight but visited once en route to Rome. According to mapquest, Frascati is 45 mins driving time to FCO. One of the Buon Ricordo restaurants (Cacciani)is located there and the website shows they offer rooms also. Their website is www.cacciani.it. We're considering a stay here for our last night instead of going into Rome but haven't made a final decision yet.

There are several other hotels in Frascati, Flora etc. if you want more info on other hotels, let me know.