Arriving Rome airport Saturday 5/18 at Noon- how long until we clear everything to head to Hotel

It depends on how many planes arrive at the same time, if you checked bags, and if you have to pass through immigration.

But a caution? Don't plan anything for arrival day that involves booking, like a tour, or pre-purchase of attraction tickets, particularly if this is an international flight. Flight delays and cancellations are not unknown and should that happen, you would likely be out the $.spent. What is it you're planning to do, and where will this flight be coming from?

Arriving from US but driving to Canada- short drive- for a direct flight from Toronto

OK, so this is an international flight. I definitely wouldn't commit to any pre-booked activities later in the day or any museums. Fresh air is the best medicine for jet lag.

Again, how long it will take from airport to hotel depends on multiple factors: baggage, immigration (which you will have to pass through), number of planes arriving simultaneously, and how you're getting from Fiumicino to your accommodation in Rome. I'd figure no less than a couple of hours from landing to hotel. anyway, and maybe more, You have to figure check-in and getting-settled time too.

Use Rick's book as a guide for a walk through the Forum if the weather is nice. And a stop for gelato. If you don't have to have advance tickets, you might go to the Pantheon-there are eating places in the area.

You will get off the plane, go through immigration, collect your bags if you checked them, then take some form of transit to your hotel. Train or taxi/shuttle car are your main options.

So

Get off plane - can take a little bit.

immigration. There can be a long line. Usually I’m through within 20 minutes, but who knows. Could be 5 minutes. Could be an hour (because of the line, barring something odd your actual time at the desk is 1 minute!)

If you checked bags and immigration was fast you will have to wait at baggage claim. If immigration took a long time then your bags should be ready.

Then transit. I usually take a taxi or shuttle car, give or take 40 minutes into town usually. If you stay near the train station the express train is faster - but if you aren’t near the station you need to get to your hotel from there by metro, bus, or cab, which takes time.

So - 1 hour for a combo of immigration and bags and 40 minutes for transit. Plus time to get off the plane, figure out where you are going, etc.

2 hours minimum is a decent guess. But don’t plan too tightly. Planes get delayed, taxis hit traffic, immigration lines get backed up.

And that’s 2 hours to the hotel desk. You have to check in, go to your room and then feel ready to head out.