Hello,

I will need a hotel that is in close proximity to FCO for two nights. I know there are many big name hotels, but we are looking for one that has shuttle service into Rome and will provide easy assess to FCO. We will be 2 adults and 2 young children. So far we have landed on the Hilton, however it does not get very good reviews.

We will be driving in from our stay near Pienza. The plan is to drop the kids/wife off at the hotel, then I will drive the car back to return it and taxi back to the hotel. The following day we would like to spend in Rome, and then on day 3 we will leave for home.

Any prior experiences would be appreciated.

Thank you!

I stayed in the FCO Hilton for 1 night this past March. I didn't need/use a shuttle, but I have no complaints about anything at this hotel.

I thought of doing this some time ago, but realized in about 5 seconds this was a patently bad idea. About the only reason I would ever do something like you mentioned is if my 8 pm flight out of FCO got cancelled and the airline rebooked my flight for 6 am next morning and paid for the hotel and meals at their expense. There is not much I could benefit by going to Rome at that point.

However in your case, do you have to stay at the airport instead of staying in Rome?

If your flight out of FCO requires getting out of Rome pre-traffic jam time, the difference between starting from Rome vs. airport hotel is perhaps 30 minutes. Do the computation yourself. Don't assume airport hotels give significant time advantage.

You have vastly more better choices of hotels in Rome.

You have access to number of better dining choices. I can't imaging letting go with opportunity to eat another dinner in Rome.

For me, another evening walks in floodlit Rome is something I would not leave on the table even if I visited Rome earlier during the same trip. It took me several trips to Rome to make time to go to the Colosseum at night for night picture of the Colosseum.

If you are early risers, tourist jammed sites, like Trevi Fountain, is deserted before 9 am. Of course, many Roman fountains are gorgeous when floodlit at night.

I agree. Stay with in walking distance of Termini and the time to the airport shouldn't be an issue.

Greg - this will be our second time visiting Rome, with the last time being a 10 day stay. We were originally going to drive into the FCO area and just spend the night, then fly out the next day. We extended the trip by one day because the cost of an extra night in a hotel was more than covered by the reduced flight cost and the flights were more convenient.

We are traveling with a 3 year old and 8 month old, so logistics will trump our desires to see/do more. Our flight out of Rome is at 9:45AM, so we thought it was best to spend the night before in an area close to the airport. I understand that Termini is an option, but we will have a fair amount of stuff (think car seat, stroller, suit cases, and two kids) so taking a train may be fairly difficult. If we were to stay in Rome, we would also have to figure out how to get the family into Rome without driving into Rome.

Assume we decide to stay in Rome - how would you guys recommend getting to our hotel if we have a car? I assume I don't want to keep the car while in Rome. Also, how would you recommend getting to the airport early in the AM with tons of stuff?

WorminRome, reading your explanation adds sense to your plans.

I've stayed at that Hilton and it was fine; no complaints. Even had a good hamburger from room service, with a small bottle of Heinz ketchup.

I wouldn't want to drive to a hotel in Rome with a car and your family and gear.

Last thought: does the Hilton FCO have a shuttle into Rome?

I live in Italy. I've stayed in airport hotels, and so have family members, when we've missed a connection at FCO. Of course, these hotels were chosen by the airline, not by us. I will say that I wouldn't stay at an airport hotel if I had a reasonable choice. Most are located in a vast wasteland of long-term parking lots, car rental agencies, and delivery services. The choice of restaurants is pathetic, and sometimes limited to the hotel's overpriced and mediocre restaurants.
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Still, I see your point about lugging the kids and the stuff. If you decide to stay at the airport, the Hilton is the best option. They are right at the airport, attached to Terminal 3, so you can take the airport train into the city. The fare is €14 per person, but children under age 14 ride free. I believe the Hilton also has a shuttle into the city, while most airport hotels don't, and as a matter of fact most charge even for their shuttles to the airport. There is also a Hilton Garden at the airport, but it's connected to the terminals by a shuttle.

I myself would choose to stay in Rome, especially for two nights. If you decide to stay in central Rome, a taxi is probably your best solution for getting there and back. Taxis between the airport and central Rome have a fixed fare of €48, for up to four people and their luggage, but only for pickup or dropoff at the airport. Be sure to get an official Rome taxi at the airport. There are also Fiumincino taxis, which don't have the fixed fare.

You might also consider staying in Ostia, which is connected to central Rome by an urban commuter train. Tickets are €1.50, and can be used to transfer to the metro or a bus. You have to stamp the ticket in a little machine before boarding the train. Ostia is connected to the airport by city bus, or you could take a taxi. Ostia Lido is Rome's beach, while Ostia Antica has a wonderful archaeological site, even larger than Pompeii and with numerous well-preserved ancient buildings. Ostia is actually a district of Rome.

You could drop the car at the airport and take the express train to Termini. The kids would ride free. A cab would be easier but more expensive.

With tons of stuff I'd take a cab both ways.

Ahh, thank you everyone. Now we have the itch to spend another night in Rome. As travel costs are all relatively low, we will focus on convenience. It seems like dropping the car near the Airport and then taking a cab to a hotel is a good option. We are thinking that we would then hire a car to pick us up and drive us to the airport the morning of our flight. While I have your attention, are there any hotels that you fine folks recommend in the center of Rome?

Thank you!

I stay often in central Rome, but I don't have a favorite hotel. I look on www.booking.com to find bargains in hotels that are well-rated. In the vicinity of the station, there are hotels in all categories, from zero-star to five-star. I've stayed in several of the four-stars, when they're having a sale. You're most likely to find bargains when it's close to the date and they have empty rooms.

One hotel where I've stayed several times is the four-star Bettoja Mediterranea, which often has good discounts. It is a somewhat faded posh hotel. The service is good, and they have a good breakfast buffet. They have a rooftop restaurant, a bit overpriced. There are other Bettoja hotels on the same street, all a stone's throw from the station. One of them, I don't remember which, shares the breakfast buffet with the Mediterranea.

I've also stayed in some of the cheap pensioni near the station. When choosing one of these, I look for places with plenty of reviews and a guest rating near 8 or higher. I also read the reviews to see if the things people complained about would be a problem for me.

The five-star hotel used to be the Boscola Exedra, but they now are the "Palazzo Naiadi, Dedica Anthology, Autograph Collection". It's totally out of my price range, but one of my daughters sometimes stays there, and likes it. There is a branch of Eataly in the palazzo, where we ate once, but it wasn't a stellar experience. I think it suffered from the excessive crowds who were also eating there, but no Eataly has really impressed me.

There are two very reliable and reasonably priced car services in Rome: www.romeshuttlelimousine.com and www.romecabs.com . They cost about the same as a taxi, but there's a supplement for four or more passengers; maybe they won't count the baby. It's worth asking them for a quote. You might want to use them in both directions. They would meet you at the rental agency and help you with your luggage. You don't pay in advance, although they take your credit card details in case you don't show up and don't cancel.

I have done exactly what you are proposing (I was without kiddies) I dropped off my rental at FCO and spent 2 nights at the airport Hilton. It is a quick pedestrian walk from the Hertz drop off. The Hilton is nothing special, but it is convenient and yea I admit after a month of pasta and wine I splurged for a room service cheeseburger. The next day I took their shuttle into Rome for a quick visit and returned in the evening ready for my early morning flight out the next day. The hotel is attached to the airport and it can be walked. I am pretty sure once inside the airport you can get luggage carts to make it easier. I think with kids I would do the easy thing...

We have stayed at FCO Hilton several times. It was a short walk from airport rental car return, easy.

Hah we had all but made up our mind that we would stay in Rome until Bella’s comment.

Thabk you everyone for your thoughts.

glad I could help- just as a note, the shuttle drops you off near the Teatro Marcello- and the shuttles run all day into the evening...

Bella - I still think we are going to try to make it work in Rome, you just gave me significant reason to pause. We are thinking the plan is to arrange private pickups at both the car rental place to get into Rome and our hotel to get to the airport. Rome is so glorious in the evening it feels sinful to be so close and to instead be sitting in a hotel staring at an airport.

Cannot say I would blame you... enjoy your final night in Rome..ahhh I am jealous

We have not stayed here, but almost did... and have stayed at several QC Hotels in Italy and loved them all!

QC Termeroma Spa and Resort is, I think, a 10 minute drive from the airport. I think I remember that they have a shuttle into Rome... but not sure. Their specialty is thermal water and they are great at pampering their guests.