Logistics Check to FCO

I would spend the night in Rome and wouldn't chance taking a morning train, although it is (theoretically) doable. As you state (and I paraphrase), anything can happen. Go with your first instinct. If it were me, I'd stay near the center of Rome and enjoy my last evening in Italy wandering around. But I'm biased. I love Rome at night--even in November.

Thanks Jeff....I'm leaning in that direction as well. Not thrilled with the hotel options "in" the airport (very mixed reviews and $$$) so I think I will see what I an find around Termini for one night.

Or an even better option than making last day in country another travel day, put Rome at the end of your trip so you can soak up as much as possible and be relaxed the day before your long journey home! (if you aren't doing Rome at all, then that won't work obviously haha but a hotel near Termini would work great, but even if its in a more interesting area, you should easily be able to arrange for a car or get a taxi to the airport from there)

Another option for a hotel near the airport is in the town of Fiumicino. I’ve stayed at the Hotel Tiber and it ticked a lot of boxes. Reasonably priced, nice view over the harbour with its fishing fleet, a decent restaurant at the hotel and a number of good seafood restaurants nearby and shuttle service to the airport. It’s a nice change from the tourist oriented areas, a real Italian working town. In November the room rates are €70-to €140 per night.

Hi June, I wouldn’t chance being so far away that a late train or sudden train strike could cost you a same day $$$$ plane ticket.

I'm relieved to see responses confirming my original decision to spend the night in Rome prior to my departure. I have been looking at places in Fiumicino as well as around Termini so will go in that direction now and stop worring about train connections from Pistoia to Florence to Rome day of! Less complications the better and I can relax on my last night. Thank you all for your thoughts and insights!

Leave visiting Rome as your first leg of your itinerary (if you can make that change). In other words go to Tuscany upon landing, then the last few days you'd spend in Rome.

Grazie mille Roberto...I am not planning to spend more than my last night in Rome. I'm arriving to Pistoia in August and only arriving/departing via FCO. But thank you for your input! I would rather spend more time in Firenze than Rome FYI. ;)

June, if you use the Search box top center, you'll see that the Hilton at FCO is often discussed here, and nearby highway motels sometimes are mentioned. Because Rome has a dedicated airport train, I don't see a lot of risk in sleeping in Rome, if you're not happy with the offerings near FCO.

I didn't "love" that Hilton, but being able to WALK to a dedicated outdoor elevator tower to the airport concourse is a form of luxury. If you are flying Economy class, you really need to be in the check-in line three hours before departure.

Then if you are not interested in visiting Rome, in order to board a US bound plane by 13:20 you need to be at the airport in line for check in by at least 10:50 (at least 2.5 hrs ahead of departure), but 10:20 is obviously better, although not absolutely necessary. If you travel in first class and have the option to have a dedicated line at check in you may have the luxury to be at check in a bit later.

In order to be at FCO by that time you'd need to leave the Pistoia with one of the trains leaving by 7am at the latest. That would be too stressful for me, not only because of the possibility of infrequent but possible train delays or cancellations, but because I like to sleep till the crack of Noon, whenever possible. So in your shoes, I'd make my way to Rome the day before the flight and stay at the Airport Hilton (since you don't seem to care about seeing or doing anything in Rome). All you'd need is check out by 10 and be at the terminal check in after the short 10 min walk on the aerial walkway separating the Hilton from T3.

thanks everyone! final decision is to stay in Rome the night before my flight home. With high cost and mixed reiews for both hotels within the airport, I have booked a hotel room only 2 blocks from the train...can sleep in just a bit and catch the express train from Termini to FCO. the hotel has many, many high reviews and only 60 euro for a private single room with en-suite bathroom.... winner winner! Thanks again for all the advice...I needed a gut check and definitely less stressful to not have to juggle multiple train connections day of departure!

There is a nice Hilton near the Rome airport.