I would not count on taking a train the last day. If my memory serves me, th earliest you can arrive in Rome is around 8:30am. You then need to transfer to a local FCO train. I wouldn't even think about it.

I agree trying to get to the airport from Florence on your last day won't work.
Many museums are closed on Monday but churches are open. Is there a reason you can't go toward the beginning or middle of the stay in Rome rather than the end?

If you want to spend your last day in Florence, book your ticket to fly out of Florence. Otherwise, spend your last night in Rome.

I've narrowed our apartment in Rome to 2 choices. Has anyone stayed at either the Specchi in the Campo de Fiori neighborhood (from sleepinitaly.com) or Via Vittoria 17 in the Spanga area (listing #197 from romereference.com and reviewed well on their website) Is one area preferred over the other. As far as Florence, I've found a modest but well reviewed B&B - Residenza Johanna I for our one night there (in the middle of our stay) The owner seems extremely nice.

When flying home from Rome, is a taxi to the airport a good option, or is the airport too far?

kwren,

I think a taxi is the best option, since I don't like to haul my luggage. I forget how much tickets for the train are, but you usually end up taking a taxi to the station on top of that. For for another 10 euros apiece, you can get a taxi right to the airport. You can use an airport shuttle service to reserve a pick up in advance. You can search the board for recommendations.

Marsha, I've not stayed in those apartments but sometimes you can find reviews on Tripadvisor and Slow Travel websites. Both locations are fine for sightseeing, restaurants and Roman ambience.

I stayed near the train station last time, but prefer to stay somewhere else this time. (I'm sure there are threads on the best neighborhood for hotels) Taxi or shuttle it is! thanks

Just MHO, but the Spanga area can be almost overwhelming to some because of the crowds. I'd choose the other.

I also think the Specchi is the better location of the two. BTW, that "Campo dei Fiori" description is "real estate speak" - the Specchi apt. is not that close to the Campo (but it is in a good central location next to Piazza Venezia). If you want a nicer location, you'll have to spend an additional 10-20€ per night. Sleep in Italy's various "Giulia" apartments are in a particularly nice area - but you pay a slight premium (10-20€) over other neighborhoods in Rome, nothing's free (especially a cherry location...).

p.s. - I could not find the romereference apt. through the link you provided...

Marsha,

Also your B&B in Florence is about a 30 minute walk to the river - is that OK? You might consider Google maps and the Google map search box to help you find something more central - just a thought.

the link is actually romanreference.com. We've pretty settled on the Speechi in Rome but did decide that the Johanna I in Florence was too far from the center for our short time there. Leaning toward one of Rick Steve's picks closer in; we're looking for location, modest (we won't be there long) with a/c and breakfast (if its good!). We'll be traveling very light as we are leaving our luggage in the apartment in Rome

Don't put too much emphasis on breakfast. In Italian cities, hotels rarely serve more than cold cereal, yogurt, juice and coffee, plus bakery items. Since you will have such a short time in Florence, better a great location (quiet, with a/c). You can always step out the door and find a great bakery, somebody selling summer fruit and terrific coffee if breakfast wasn't stellar. Use your Roman apartment to have six glorious breakfasts of your own making from the markets. Just find a nice cheap place in Florence for your sightseeing extravaganza.

We leave next week! Staying at the Specchi in Rome and one night at Hotel Casci B&B in Florence (modest but with great reviews). Taking your advise and leaving the bulk of our luggage behind in Rome. Think we might do that day trip to Orvieto. Is it reasonable to co-incide that train trip with coming or going from Florence? Also, Zeppole, about that refreshing summer wine in Orvieto, any more detail on where to enjoy it and any particular brand/name? Keeping Sperlonga, the Appian Way as possibilites too. What's the consensus on Ostia Antica vs Tivoli vs Orvieto vs Sperlonga? If we were to choose only one, is there a clear winner? Which two of the four? Thanks for all the great tips. It really is helping to give a good focus. We're staying 7 nights total (unless we don't get on our flight home (airline stand-by) which reminds me....if that happens any recommendations for safe, clean rooms near FCO?

Yes, you can buy tickets from Florence to Orvieto, and then later in the day from Orvieto to Rome.

As far as a consensus on Ostia Antica vs Tivoli vs Orvieto vs Sperlonga, you are talking apples and oranges.

Ostia Antica = Ancient ruins of Roman town
Tivoli = Beautiful gardens
Orvieto = Charming hill town
Sperlonga = Beach town

Which is of more interest to you?

Sperlonga might be too hot to enjoy in August. Probably Orvieto.

I second ellenem's post above.

As to hotels near the airport, hope you won't need one and you just need a list as you are not planning to make a reservation. I would go to Google Maps for for the towns of Ostia, Italy and Fiumicino, Italy. Once you are zoomed in, type "hotels" in the "search maps" box. Click on all the red dots (not just the lettered ones), notes prices and reviews and type a list of hotel phone numbers to stick in your purse "just in case". The official airport hotels are usually the worst - the ones a few miles away (especially B&B's) are both cheaper and nicer. Any hotel in either of those towns will arrange transportation from and back to the airport.

Orvieto might be hotter than Sperlonga, You should check a weather report.

I'll only add to Ellenem's excellent descriptions that Ostia Antica has many shady areas, unlike the Forum in Rome, and it is by the sea. So if you are enthused about seeing it but fear it will be as sun-afflicted as the Forum in Rome, it's cooler.

Orvieto white wine is served everywhere in Orvieto, and it is even served in Rome. You will see it on wine lists. There are some major commercial producers (BIGI Classico is the one encountered most often) but I would suspect many smaller producers make terrific wine that never gets much beyond Orvieto. You will probably also see many wine shops in Orvieto featuring it, so perhaps you can taste the wine from a few different vinyards and take a bottle back to your apartment in Rome that you like.

Have a great trip!

PS: There have been a couple of recent threads about where to stay near FCO, there are suggestions in this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-from-rome.cfm

found a B&B near airport with good reviews...just in case we don't make our flight. One last question. When purchasing the Roma pass, does the three day clock start ticking when you purchase it or at the first validation time?

Marsha,

You should have a few backup airport B&B options. It IS possible that a place might be full.

Roma Pass clock starts clicking when you first use it to enter an attraction.

great; that's what I wanted to hear. At least some good news today.. bad news; our flight cancelled due to mechanical problems which causes domino problems. We were at the airport nearly 7 hours before the bad news finally was announced. Now it's 2 in the morning and hard to settle down at home when we should be landing in Bella Roma in just over an hour! Add to that the fact that we are standby for this flight and now the next flight is very tight....Prayers are appreciated!!