If you think it is worth "saving" money to stay at the Rome Airport Hilton for the last night of your Italian vacation, don't do it. The hotel is gross. There is nothing to do. Drinks at the bar were 10 euros. The ponderosa-style buffet was 44 euros (or more, I can't remember) My husband and I decided to forego food and watch a movie in our room - until we found out that a movie was 15 euros (and we could watch it as many times as we wanted for the next 24 hours - who would possibly do that?). The pool was gross and the exercise room was under construction. So, with all that said, even if you have an early flight, stay in Rome and have your hotel get you a taxi early in the morning.

Hi
did someone recommend staying at the airport Hiltohn as a money-saving idea? Or even for some other reason? I can't think why.

FYI, the comments at tripadvisor are mostly positive, the few negatives have more to do with customer service and food quality (there they agree with you) rather than with the hotel being 'gross'. Could you be more specific? Did you mean your room was dirty?

The 15 euro for the movie may seem expensive, but I think of most in-room hotel charges (phone calls, mini bars, movies) as being overpriced, and that doesn't see more expensive to me than the usual.

I completely agree with the idea of staying in Rome and not in the airport, I just don't think of most airport hotels as being where I want to stay.
You posted elsewhere that you were on your honeymoon, sorry to hear your last night was in a disappointing hotel.

We have booked at this hotel for one night as we have an early flight the next day. Aware that drinks and food at the hotel are expensive and not very good, we plan to either bring our own or walk over to the airport building and eat there. Is that possible, or is it too far?

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Rome Eur Parco Dei Medici. It's about 1/2 way between Rome & the Airport. They have transportation to/from the airport and to/from the city. For 115 Euro, nice room w/outside pool, and huge breakfast.

There is nothing wrong with this hotel. Our room was modern, clean and comfortable. Very Americanized. The public areas are very nice and staff friendly. It's an easy walk to the terminal.

That said, it is VERY expensive (food and drink included) and we certainly would not have stayed there unless it was on Air France's bill. I'd much prefer to stay away from the airport, unless, maybe, my flight was at 6:00 AM. If you stay there, you've basically left Italy a day early.

Well said,Brian.The last sentence of your post explains why I'll most likely never stay in a hotel just to be near the airport!

SusanMargaret:

Yes, you can easily walk to the airport. That's the convenience of staying there. You don't have to lose a day in Rome. After checking in, we walked to the airport, hopped on the train to Rome, and cruised around Rome. We were able to see the Vatican, the Trevi fountain, get dinner, then board the free hotel bus back to the Hilton.

It's not cheap by any stretch, but it was very convenient, modern and quiet.

I personally feel the Hilton is very convenient. There is no signaficant savings, but, being at the terminal for early check in is worth the time and possible aggravation with taxi's, trains etc.
A Hilton shuttle bus to and from town runs every hour. (drop off by Victorio Emmanual monument) The train station is also at the airport.
The hotel itself is modern and clean. We don't eat dinner there but in the city before taking the shuttle or train back. Breakfast($)is a plentiful and fresh buffet. The terminal(steps away) has fast food restaurant, paninis.

Of course, if you are visiting Roma for more than an overnight stay, it is better to stay in the center city to be closer to everthing and enjoy the atmosphere of a very special place.

We will be there in October after our travels of a month in Italy. It will afford us a last look at Roma and then some R&R before the flight home to S.F.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn near the airport, and I would echo all the things said above. If you go there by train, though, you have to practically walk through a field to find the hotel, and it is hard to see. I felt like I was lucky to have seen the H. Inn sign from a distance or we might never have found it. Just a heads up in case anyone decides to book there.

Nothing to do? Take the shuttle to Rome and spend the evening there. Hiltons are not budget hotels. You have to expect that. We ate in Rome and brought food back. I love the hotel. It's clean, elegant and wonderful. The staff is extremely helpful and accomodating. You could have rented a car from the airport and gone to some little towns east of the airport and on the coast. I'm extremely picky about hotels and the airport Hilton is great. You need to put a little effort into entertaining yourself.

Different strokes for different folks-I'd rather stay in town and if I have a very early flight,I'd order a shuttle service in the morning.That's always worked fine.