Rome--hotel near termini or airport for last night?

crl,

My suggestion would be to keep your booking at the Termini location and enjoy a nice evening in Rome before returning home. You shouldn't have any difficulty in getting to FCO for an 11:00 flight.

I agree with Ken. If your flight was at 6 AM, I might reconsider, but you should be fine staying in Rome. Much better scenery for your last night and you won't be rushed in the morning.

Don't spend the big bucks for the airport hotel. Last September I stayed near Termini and took the 7am train to the airport and had plenty of extra time waiting. I could have taken the 7:30a train and still had a lot of time since the check-in gates weren't open yet (my flight left at 11:45a). It's super easy. You could even buy your ticket the day before if you felt like it. I used the ticket machine with my chip credit card. Easy enough to use euros in the machine too.

Thank you!

crl,

If you're planning to take the Leonardo Express from Termini to FCO, I'd suggest buying your tickets the day prior to travel. When you're ready to make the trip (with luggage), simply validate your tickets and then board that train (DON'T forget to validate or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot). I find that's a good policy, in case there are queues at the ticket office, Kiosks are not working or whatever.

You will have plenty of time to get to the airport from Termini. One more night in Roma - priceless.

Consider your comfort level. I have to travel frequently for work and I tend to plan for contingencies. I'd rather sit at the airport for an hour checking my email than getting frantic worrying about missing a flight (I've had some close shaves).

When we went to Tuscany in December, we stayed the last night at the airport Hilton. We drove back the day before and returned the rental car. We then took the free Hilton shuttle to downtown Rome and had a great evening taking a Walks of Italy evening tour of the heart of Rome. We caught the 10:00 pm shuttle back to the Hilton. I'm a Hilton Gold member so we got a free upgrade to the executive floor.

The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast and packed. There's a free shuttle from the Hilton to Terminal 5, which is separate from the main terminal. We got there in plenty of time to relax before the flight home.

That worked for us. Have a great trip!

Thank you!

If it was an early flight I'd say to stay near the airport. The Hilton would be a great choice and the price is just over 200 euro, so not much more than less fancy hotels in the city center.
But if your flight is at 11:45 (American to PHL?), if you show up at T5 by 9:30, you are good.

You don't say how many are in your group. If there are 2 or 3 of you, take taxi. It may be more cost effective to do that (what's the rate this year? 40 or 45 euro?). You go in comfort, get dropped off at the right terminal and have a last minute tour of areas you probably wouldn't have seen yet. The flight home is stressful enough, why be stressed getting to the airport? :)

Stay in Rome. I was just there and my flight out was at 940am . I still had enough time to get to the airport from San Giovanni which is a few Metro stops from Termini even. I was able to catch the airport express at 635 and was at the airport by 710 am. Plenty time to catch my flight. Check the airport express schedule. It's a pity to miss out on another night in Rome.

There are two of us. I thought about taxi or car service, but wasn't sure how traffic plays out in Rome. I live quite near a major city in the US and if we are flying out of the city's airport we always leave at least an extra hour just in case of traffic because you never know. Train seemed like it would be more reliable, as long as there isn't a strike.

If it makes any difference, the two of us are me--a middle aged mom--and my son--who turns 13 on this trip. So I don't know that we will be out and about at ten o'clock at night even if we are in Rome. If we stayed at an airport hotel, we would probably leave our luggage at our termini hotel's desk for the day and come back after dinner to get it and take the train to the airport.

It sounds like most people are strongly in favor of just staying at the hotel near termini though and that was my initial plan.

Thank you all!

Ahhh. Since you are traveling with a teen I'd really vote for spending an evening in Rome then getting a train to the airport and spending your last night there. That way you can roll out of bed a little later in the AM and walk to the airport (from the Hilton). Sometimes it's hard to move that early and that fast with a teen.

OK, you mention the teenager! Now I really think you should stay in Rome that last night - and stay up late! You don't mention what time of the year you'll be there but if the weather is nice the night life can be really memorable for both of you. Walk around Santa Maria in Trastevere. Have dinner and watch the people. Cross the footbridge and head to Piazza Navona for a gelato (don't sit - get a cone and walk). There frequently are some good street performers there. Head over to Piazza Rotunda and have a drink watching/listening to the people around the Pantheon. Don't forget the Trevi Fountain either. The Forum late at night is lit up to almost look like a ghost town (guess it is anyway). Hop a bus or cab back to your hotel. Be packed and ready to go to FCO. Train or taxi, either way you'll get there in plenty of time. Ask at the hotel for help planning your departure time. I taught middle and high school - those kids can sleep anywhere, anytime! Have a wonderful time - you're making thrilling memories for you and your son!

Stay in Rome. If you're worried about reliable transportation from Rome to FCO, might I suggest www.romecabs.com? We've used them twice previously and will use them again this September for a transfer to FCO for a 6:45 am flight. We want to say in Rome until the very last minute and therefore don't like staying near the airport. Rome Cabs is highly recommended and reviewed on Trip Advisor and you can't go wrong with them. You reserve them on-line via their web-site and then pay the driver directly on the day or your transfer. The cost isn't much more than a taxi and you can rest assured your last night in Rome knowing that they'll be there for you in the morning!! Have a wonderful trip!