Our south of Italy tour is scheduled to end 9/20 in Naples. We are planning to fly out of Rome (FCO) to Seattle. Most flights are in the morning, 9 or 10 AM. What's the best way to get to FCO airport and how long will it take? We're trying to figure out if we can catch a morning flight that same day or will need to spend a night in Rome and depart the next day.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
1013 posts
Two options: one fly out of Naples, changing planes in Rome. Especially good if you can check your luggage straight through to the US.
Two: When I did the South Italy tour, I got up at 5.00 am to get the 6.00 am train to Rome, took the train from Rome to FCO and was all checked in and eating breakfast at the airport by around 8.30. The hotel arranged the taxi to get me to the station in Naples and I booked my ticket in advance. It all worked very efficiently. Mind, was not headed to the States but to the UK.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
If your tour ends on Sept 20, you need to return to Seattle no sooner than Sep 21, regardless of where you depart from.
Over 95% of flights back to the West Coast will require you to depart from Italy in the morning. The difference might be between departing at around 06:30 (if you have a layover somewhere in Europe) or maybe at the latest at 11:30 am if you go straight from Rome to the US. Either way you need to be at the airport no later than 9am.
From Naples to Rome airport is almost as long as Seattle to Portland, so it doesn't take 20 min., even with a fast high speed train. If you depart from FCO you should spend the night before the flight in Rome.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Toward the end of the tour, many travelers start to get stressed about their return flights and train connections, and it seems to reduce their enjoyment of the last few days. You will be much less stressed if you plan to take a train to Rome at whatever time is convenient for you and stay one night there.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
See if you can get a ticket from Naples to Seattle. It will most likely leave early in the morning as well, but at least that way you're protected if you miss the connection (if you're all on one ticket, the airline is responsible for getting you to your destination).
If you are ticketed from Rome to Seattle, don't even THINK of taking a chance by trying to catch a flight that morning from Naples on a separate ticket. If you miss your flight out of Rome for any reason, you will be on your own to get home, probably meaning a very expensive last minute one-way ticket. Be in Rome the night before.