I am planning on buying Terravision bus tickets to and from the airport in Rome (to Termini), and I wanted to ask how long I should leave between our arrival to the airport from Chicago and then back again. We arrive in Rome at 9am on a Saturday morning, would it be safe to book a 10:25am bus? And is three hours early enough to arrive at the airport for a flight to Chicago? Thanks!
Posted by
99 posts
Yes 3 hours is plenty of time and I've been there earlier than that once and had to wait until 3 hours for the American Airlines to open. I've arrived at around 9 am several times in Rome last year and this year and been on the train around 10:30 BUT I am a dual citizen and don't check any bags, the non EU line is usually quite long. I also had one flight arrive an hour late.
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1175 posts
We checked our bags on our last flight into FCO, and bags took an hour and a half to come out ! We arrived at 3 and did not get on the Leonardo train for the Termini until 5:30.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23660 posts
Why the bus? Is it strictly because of price? The train is very convenient. But you don't need to buy tickets in advance for either the bus or the train. Immigration is little unpredictable. We passed through immigration in 30 to 45 minutes most of the time but a couple of years ago it took over two hours on a Saturday morning. Can be a dice roll.
What time is your return flight? Terminal 5 the normal terminal for return flight processing has been closed for renovations so you now go directly to Terminal 3 if you are returning directly to the US. You can probably get by with two hours if you have to but why chance it.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Yes, I was looking at the price. Between the two of us, we could save 40 Euros round trip. Although that is a small price to pay if we spend two hours worrying about missing a bus. Our flight from Rome to Chicago leaves at 9:15am on a Friday, so I was thinking we would have to get to the airport just after 6am. You suggest the Leonardo Express?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23660 posts
At 9.15, that may be a little early for a direct flight to Chicago. Are you sure you are not connecting somewhere else in Europe for the flight to Chicago? If you are then getting to the airport by 7 is adequate. The L Express is the direct non-stop to the airport. You could also take the FM10 (I may be off on the designation) It is the multi-stop train for about 8 euro or about the price of the bus.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You don't need to buy bus tickets in advance. At the bus stop outside the airport terminal, there will be several companies selling tickets to Roma Termini. You save nothing by booking ahead, and you risk losing your money if you can't make the bus you chose. If the bus you want is full, just buy tickets for the next bus leaving FCO.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Yes, our flight is direct from Rome to Chicago. Thanks for all the tips!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16232 posts
It's American Airline flight 111 from FCO to ORD departing at 9:15.
You can be there at 7:00 and make it comfortably.
At that time traffic is very light, therefore 30 min by taxi are sufficient (train is also 30 from termini).
Add a few minutes for the Terravision bus, which is a bit slower than a taxi.