5hr vs 17 hr layover from NY to Rome

Have you factored in the price of a hotel room for that 17 hour layover? Or are you planning on camping out inside the terminal the entire time? Personally I would value those 17 hours actually being in Rome much more.

A 17 hr layover is crazy? Where is the layover?

I would never willingly choose to endure a 17-hour layover under any circumstances, unless there was no other option. It is not worth the cost savings to me now, unless there's something in the layover city that I really want to do and know that I won't be able to return to do at a future time. Even then, I would probably not do it, though I did such things when younger and didn't bat an eyelash. Such a layover was part of the itinerary in Bangkok, en route to south India, because there simply was no available second-leg flight out to our end destination until late in the night, following our early-morning arrival, but it was made endurable by having a room provided for me at a 5-star 'transition' hotel where I could shower and nap before and after some hours of site-seeing, then back to the airport for the late-night flight. Someone else booked the arrangements and it was a known and agreed-upon factor for everyone in our party. Same on the way home 3 weeks later.

Twice we have done a 23 hour layover on purpose. The first time was in Copenhagen and the second time was Paris. It allowed us time to go into the city, explore it a little bit, spend the night in a hotel and go back to the airport the next day. It's far from the best way to see a city, of course, but I'm glad we did it. But you'd have to be nuts to do a 17 hour layover in an airport just to save a few bucks. What's your time worth to you? What's the price difference between those two and what's the price for a nonstop from NYC to Rome?

The one time I got stuck with something like that was in NYC in awful winter weather. I found a day room in an airport hotel. Had a civilized meal, took a nap, ahowered, and then went back to the airport. It actually was a pleasant break in a long flight, but I wouldn't incur expense/waste the time routinely. Given traffic in and out of Rome airport and the need to arrive early for an int'l flight, I wouldn't try to visit Rome during a 17-h layover, but others may be more adventurous than I am. And getting a day room would likely eat up any savings on the ticket. (Also, FYI, it took a fair amount of effort to find a nice hotel that would book a room on that schedule.)

A number of airports have short term hotels "pods" that are actually not too bad. They aren't like the crazy drawer versions like you see in Japan...just small square footage rooms with everything you need to sleep, shower and get back on another plane feeling decent. May help with jet lag on the other end? Just a thought.
We have had long layovers before and taken the opportunity to sprint into the city, see a few sights, and then go back in and catch our plane. Don't cut it too close though! Good luck...

thank you for the response. I'll by pass the long layover. With my research I can find good air price with short layover John