We'd been planning to take the first Leonardo Express (http://tinyurl.com/346w96) which would have given us a 20-minute window before recommended check-in. However, I just found out that the departure of our Alitalia flight from Rome to Amsterdam has been moved up from 09:45 to 09:20.

I guess this question is a multi-parter. First, is being checked-in 3-hours before flight time a must (or should)-do or is there some wiggle room (thus allowing us to still take the Leonardo Express)?

Secondly, if it's a must-do, should I be looking at a cab and if so, what sort of cost am I looking at and should it be arranged the evening before? Any recommendations on the car front?

TIA
Knick

We have had several 7am flights from FCO. We give ourselves 2 full hours before the flight because people line up in front of the ticket counter before it even opens. We always arrange a cab w/ the hotel. It takes about 30 minutes and costs about 40 euro for 2 people w/ luggage.

We too have had several 7:00 am flights and have taken a cab to FCO. Its worth the cost to save some of the hassle imo. I don't think you need to be there a full three hours before the flight. I usually give myself about 2 hours and have never had a problem.

Tracy

save angst and hassle by staying at an airport environs hotel.

I have to respectfully disagree with PalenQ. No way would I give up a perfectly wonderful evening in Rome by staying at a generic airport hotel! My flights have all been before 7:20 and we had absolutely no problems whatsoever getting to the hotel by 5:00 or 5:30. Since the OP's flight isn't until 9:20 I don't see where there would be any hassle. The taxis to the airport should take about 30 minutes or less (all three of our rides took about 20-25 minutes).

Just my .02.

Tracy

But (if I want to play cheap SOB ) the Leonardo Express is still viable getting us to FCO? We're staying in the city and are a hop-skip-and-a-long jump from Roma Termini.

The Leonardo Express will work just fine. We haven't used it in the past because our flight left so early, but I don't see why you couldn't use it for your trip. Its certainly cheaper, and as long as you don't mind lugging your luggage through Termini you should be fine. According to the website I am attaching, the trains leave Termini at :22 and :52 of each hour.

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/treni_s...express02.html

Tracy

Either mode of transportation works and it's all of matter of personal preferance at that point. If I'm getting up supoer early to catch a 7am flight, I don't want to navigate a bus or train, I want to sit in a cab and have them take me to the door. Plus, I'm likely to not have had any coffee at that point and that can certianly make things worse for me. A later flight, an espresso and I might be up for the train.

We stayed at the Rome Airport Hilton the night before our 9:40 a.m. flight home. We went early the day before and checked in and took their (free) bus back to Rome for the day. It worked out perfect for us and we didn't have to be up extra early to catch a taxi or other transportation to the airport in the morning.

knickerbocker - The Leonardo might be cheaper depending on how many "we" means. It's 11E per person. Rome Shuttle Limousine is 35E for 4 people.

Sorry - I forgot the link.
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/FiumicinoE.htm

"We"'s just my wife and I so it seems the Leonardo's going to do OK

Many thanks

If I'm not mistaken (I did this same thing a couple of years ago) and once inside the Termini you go down and outside and walk for a VERY long time with your luggage to catch the train (probably a ten min. walk outside). So if I'm correct, do yourself a favor and allow extra time for the walk, so you don't have to run with your luggage like we did. Enjoy!

We ended up taking a cab from our hotel for 40 Euros. This was after having taken transit up to this point in the trip. Given the cab cost to Termini, the Leonardo costs for 2 and then additional walk time at the end, it just seemed a fool's saving to do it otherwise.

Glad you did, somethings are worth savings others do not.
You did the right thing, staying in town, enjoying ROme and the difference is almost nothing, right?

We stayed at the Airport Hilton just last week. Wouldn't do anything else again. Got a great nights sleep without any worry about the flight. We took the bus into Rome and with the temp's in the 90's, we promptly went back and took a swim and had a very nice meal at the Hotel. To each his own.

btt

Definitely,stay in Rome the night before as the Hilton and other FCO hotels are rather expensive. The "express" is easily going to cost you 20 euros for the two of you so why not splurge and use the Rome limoservice listed above (really Great!!) or have the hotel set up a prepaid taxi deal-no more than 40 euros. The Rome limoservice usually charges 35 euros and it is well worth not having to schlep your luggage to Termini and around.

Having done many ways to and from FCO-the limo is easier and less stressful for me!