Fiumicino airport Rome

From Rome, how are you getting to the airport? Signage is good once you get there. Check the Roninrome.com website for step-by-step directions, including lots of photos; most of your questions will be answered.

If you take a taxi to the airport, tell the taxi to go to Terminal 5, otherwise he'll assume you depart from T3 and drop you off there and force you to wait for the shuttle bus to T5. Once the taxi driver drops you at T-5, just get inside and check in. After you go through security, there will be a shuttle bus on the tarmac side (airside sterile area) which takes you back to T-3 where everybody else from the other airlines is. Terminal 5 is just a processing center to process Yanks' airline passengers but no planes depart from Terminal 5, that's why you have to be bused back to Term. 3. Other than that, FCO is not that difficult to navigate. It pretty much works like all other airports. Everybody speaks some English at the airport, even the cleaning crew (who are mostly African or Indian).

Other than the excellent advice above, my only addition is, don't be afraid to ask questions! I ran into people in Milan Malpensa Airport who said they had been looking for an hour to find the proper check in area. Now, I'll agree it wasn't obvious, but after a few minutes of being lost, they should have started asking questions, rather than just wandering around. So, if you're unsure, ask; if you don't get a useful answer, ask someone else.

Also look at (adr.it)

If arriving by Leonardo Express, just go straight, past the train ticket office and Departures board, across the skybridge and down the escalator. At the bottom, take a 180 turn and walk the short distance to the T-5 bus (navetta) stop for a free, few minutes ride to T-5. Once in T-5, the rest of the process is a breeze. Many people who work at the airport speak English, so there will be no problem should you have questions once there.

Sharon, this post on T5 (with pictures) may help you. Good luck!