Cpg, we go in mid-September this year. So it will be well before your trip. Assuming you decide to fly out of Fiumicino after all.

If you can get your ff flights in and out of Pisa, I would do that. You could move Lucca to the end of the trip as it's only a 20 minute train ride to Pisa. I think there is also a bus from Lucca to the airport.

Have you thought about flying out of Florence?

I have flown into Pisa airport. I think my suitcase got to the terminal before I did! I was out of there in minutes. There is a big adavantage of flying in and out of a small airport. It's a no frills experience but worth it for convenience.

I just came across another dining option in Fiumicino; see the references to Tonino's Porchetta Stand in the article here; maybe a snack before a feast at Al Monumento.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tra...icle583835.ece

Just returned from 3 weeks in Italy. We drove from Lucca to Villa Clementina near Bracciano for our last night before flying out of FCO. The drive around the lake is beautiful, and it set us up perfectly for an easy 40-minute drive to FCO the next early morning. The drive to the airport from that direction was a breeze, and the only trick about returning a rental car at FCO is that there are NO signs for rental car returns. Follow the signs for "Covered Parking" and you will find all the returns. (Our Garmin got us right there, but absent the Garmin it would have been tricky.) Villa Clementina is completely charming -- 8 rooms overseen by Fausto the owner with a lovely garden and beautiful pool. Dinner is served there, but we ventured in to town, taking Fausto's suggestion of Un Autra Boteille (not sure spelling correctly). Our dinner, suggested and overseen by owner Roberto was delicious and fun. (BTW, we stayed at Palazzo Alexander in Lucca and cannot recommend. Not up to the standard set by other Karen Brown suggestions, so much so that we wondered if she will remove it in the future.)

arizonaa - thank you for the info. Taking notes for another trip. I ultimately was able to book a return from Pisa. I'm glad you included info about Palazzo Alexander. Some people like it and I did see it on the Karen Brown website. I thought it a bit odd that the hotel's website doesn't post prices.

kybourbon - if you see this, I want you to know that I did the Amex Delta transfer right before June 30th. They said the bonus would take about 6 weeks to post. It was posted immediately! I really didn't have to xfer as much as I did and now I have extra miles sitting in my Delta account. Who knew? I will just have to plan another trip! Thanks so much for the tip on the bonus offer.