I will be visiting italy right after i attend the Olympic Winter Games in Torino.
My journey will end in Rome were i have a 6:30 AM Flight out of Fiumico(Leonardo da vinci) Airport. Should I Take the last train out of Rome(about 11:00PM)and just camp out at the airport? or should i get a hotel close to the airport and hope they have shuttle that runs early? Any suggestions..
Rich

Hi - I always recommend the Hilton at the airport. It's very convenient. You can walk through a covered walkway to your terminal. Our flight home to Chicago always leave at 7:00 a.m., so for us, the Hilton can't be beat.

thanks, i will definitly go for it...
returning to chicago also.

I would personally recommend treat yourself to a night actually IN Rome. Unless you are struck by uncommnly bitter cold winter weather (i.e., like once in a decade cold weather) - - even in February - - Rome from 6 pm to 11 pm is worth 24 hours in many other cities, for dining and walking. Just to see the Pantheon in the moonlight, without even going in... is priceless.

Worry not about getting a cab from any hotel to the airport at whatever hour you wish (in your case, about 3:45 departure will have you at the airport at 4:25 easily) - - your hotel's front desk has set this up with taxis a thousand times before, and taxis do this, by the score, every morning.

You'll get a short night's sleep, but a lifetime of memories of a great evening - - and what do you have to do the next day, but get on a plane and sit (and sleep)?

Best wishes,

Rex

I agree with Rex.

Our last visit we stayed at the Holiday Inn EUR parc medici, a nice hotel about 15 min cab ride from the airport. (They have a free shuttle, but I don't think it leaves that early.)

Next time we will stay in Rome.

I agree too. Heck if you don't get any sleep at all who cares for one night? We stayed a 25 minute drive from the airport.......cost us 50E to take a cab over in the morning. Well worth the cost and not much traffic in those early hours so he moved right along (like at suicide speeds!

The following 24 hours was spent flying and transfering and flying again so lots of time to snooze the time away.

Depends on your style. I agree with Charly, as we like the no hassel approach. We stay at the Hilton, knowing we can just wake up and walk over to the airport for the early morning flights.

That said, we always spend the last evening enjoying Rome. LOVE that city!

SusanEva

Thanks for your replies!
I will really investigate the options.
The night before the flight would be my 4th night in Rome, so although Rome is eternal my time is not i will have to leave at some point and make the appropriate arrangements..
Thanks.

Are there other options to get to FCO early morning? I checked the schedule for the Leonardo Express and the first train is around 5:5x?

I seem to recall that there's a local train that requires a transfer that runs in the middle of the night. But that sounds painful, and I can't pull up the thread(s).

Is cab fare about 50 euros?

Thanks.

111op, www.airportshuttle.it will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport for 26 Euro for one person. Very efficient and a lot less than a cab.

Now that I think about it, it might cost slightly more to be picked up that early, but will still be less than a cab.

I am booked with Roma shuttle which will pick my husband and I up at 4:30am for a 7:05am departure. The cost for two is 30 euros plus a 20% surcharge for the early am pickup. You can book in advance at
www.romashuttle.com

I agree with the others; definitely stay in the city. We always have really early flights out of Rome, and always stay in the city without any problems. Your hotel should be able to book a taxi or shuttle for you in advance; otherwise use one of the shuttle serve websites to pre-book. Rome traffic is negligible that early in the morning, so the taxi ride will be an easy 20 minutes or so from the city to the airport.

Enjoy Rome!
Tracy

all i have to say is that anytime i followed rex's advice, i have not been disappointed. i put my faith in rex's opinion (and i would have suggested the same)

aw shucks, brady...

i appreciate the kind words...

I used viator.com for the shuttle transfer from Rome to and from FCO.

It cost $17 each way and I got miles!

Thanks everyone. I'll look into your suggestions and ask later if I've more questions. I've not bought my tickets yet but it looks like I may take an early morning flight from Rome to Paris. I wanted to get a sense for how easy and expensive going to the airport would be.

You could also get a hotel in Ostia (nearer to FCO) and get a cab from there. I also think there are some hotels in the little town of Fiumicio itself. The only hotel really close to the airport that I'm aware of is the Hilton on the airport property. I stayed there once, in Ostia 3 times, and in Rome and the surrounding area the rest of my trips. I generally decide what to do based on flight departure time and room cost. The Hilton quoted me $185 euros in early October 2005 which didn't fit for my budget that trip.