I love staying either before or after a vacation in Italy, in the town of Fiumicino, a ten minute taxi ride from FCO. It's a lively, pretty town with many great places to eat, walks along the Tiber canal, along the sea--its about a million times more appealing, to me, the staying in one of those airport hotels on the no-man's land-strip between the town and the airport where many of the big airport chain hotels are located.
We usually stat at Hotel Seccy but there are other options, and there are dozens of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. For inexpensive food, and pizza, CLEMENTINA is good..right on the Tevere...but there are many others including one of the best seafood restaurants in Italy..