Advance Airport Time Needed

Bryan, you described the program nicely. Your flight is a domestic EU flight and is not in the international area. Thus, it should be less time through security but don't count on it. The Leonardo express leaves Rome Termini twice an hour beginning at 5:50am. It's a 31-minute journey.

Larry, thanks. If I understand your reply correctly, then, I should be OK getting the 6:20-ish Leonardo train to Fiumicino, arriving there close to 7:00am or so, and that should give me plenty of time to check in and board my 9am flight to Vienna.

Can anyone reply to my first point? I can't remember how easy or difficult the time-change adjustment was last time I went to Europe. I seem to recall being pretty tired upon arrival, but pushing myself to stay awake until 10 or 11pm or so, and then getting the normal amount of sleep, and being more or less adjusted to the new time zone the next day.

I just want to be reasonably sure that I will in fact be able to wake up and take a 6am metro ride to Termini on that day after I arrive in Rome! Thanks again.

I think I'm a bit more cautious. It took us three hours to get from our hotel near Termini to the gate for our departure; the security line was insane.

As to how you will fare regarding the schedule adjustment that depends. If you leave the US well rested (follow Rick's guidelines about being ready to go 48 hours in advance and rest, rest, rest), sleep well on the plane and are in reasonably good health, then yes, you should be able to do it. We typically go to bed around 8 or 8:30 on our first night in Europe and are able to get up fairly easily the next morning. 5 a.m. might be a stretch; take a good alarm clock!

Predicting jet lag is difficult. We generally have no problems but we have a very sit routine. We generally time shift our daily schedule by about three hours during the week prior to departure. Up very early on day of departure so we are pretty tired when we got on the plane. Within 30 minutes of wheels up we have the eye shades on, the noise canceling headphones on, taken an OTC sleeping pill, ignore everything around us, and get as much sleep as possible till breakfast is served. On arrival try to stay in the sun and outside till about 3 or 4 pm. Grab an absolutely one hour nap and have dinner on local time and to bed around the normal local time 10/11. The next morning we are very close to being on local time. We used to follow the plan of staying up for an early dinner and to bed around 8 but found that the nap is best for us.

We have flown out of the Rome domestic terminal in the AM with no unusual delays. If Laura was in the international terminal, that is standard.

Bryan, I would also use a hotel in the Termini area so that you are only a block or two from the train. Go to --- http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/13526/departure-from-rome-and-time-needed-to-get-to-airport.html

Thanks to everyone.

Frank, it is not possible to stay in a hotel near Termini; I am pretty well locked in to this place I am staying near the Colisseum. Still, it is only two metro stops from Termini, and I think if I get an early start I can make it in time. All of this public transport early on a Saturday morning is very tedious but I don't have the freedom that a larger budget affords.