We haven't yet booked air for the trip we are taking to Italy with friends next year. The trip will involve a flight to Rome and two nights there, then renting cars and driving to an agriturismo in Tuscany, where we will stay 7 nights. After checking out of the agriturismo, we are driving to Florence for one final day and overnight. The original plan was to get to Florence very early and return the rental cars first thing, as we won't need or want them any more. The next day's flight back to the US (ORD) would be from Florence's airport. However, checking airfare, I realize that flying home from Florence isn't the best plan. There will be two layover cities and a very long day of travel and it's expensive. It seems like it will make great sense to return to Rome where we can get a direct flight to Chicago. The round trip airline ticket between ORD and FCO will save us a lot versus open jaw flying into Rome and out of Florence, but a bigger consideration than price is schedule. Getting home from Florence could take twice as long as getting home from Rome, even factoring in a 2-1/4 hour train ride from Florence to Rome. I understand that the train to Rome that leaves Firenze SMN at 7:38 a.m. goes directly to FCO without having to change trains at Rome's Termini station. It arrives at FCO at 9:52 a.m. I found a direct flight to Chicago that I like that leaves FCO at 11:20 a.m. but I know that will be too tight. Would we be safe booking a flight that departs at noon? How much in advance of flight time do we need to arrive at the airpor's train stationt? There aren't a lot of great flight options for us after the one that leaves at noon. If even a noon flight is risky, then maybe a better plan is to keep the rental cars in Florence (the B&B we booked will provide us with parking for them) and drive to Rome in the morning and return the rental cars at FCO. It will be a Sunday, so I would think the traffic issues wouldn't be as bad as if we were trying to get to Rome's airport on a weekday. Train to FCO or keep the rental cars? Any thoughts?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16238 posts
I don't know what you have booked and not booked already, but if it's a year ahead maybe you haven't booked anything firm still.
I go to Florence every year, but sometimes I fly to/from Rome for family reasons or flight availability.
In your shoes I would look for a flight to Florence and returning from Rome. So you would rent a car after spending a day or two in Florence, go to the Agriturismo for a week, then finally drive to Rome where you would return the car upon arrival. After spending a few days in Rome, you would take a taxi to FCO for your flight to ORD.
If flying into Florence is inconvenient and/or expensive, then you could fly in and out of Rome. The trick is to go to the farthest point first and visit the place where you fly from to go home last.
So if you fly to Rome (your flight will likely arrive in the morning) you would immediately go to Tuscany.
If you do the Agriturismo first you would rent a car at FCO and drive to the Agriturismo from there. Then you drive to Florence, return the car upon arrival, stay a couple of nights in Florence, then take the train to Rome for a few more nights, and finally fly home from FCO.
If you want to do Florence before the Agriturismo, upon landing you would take a train to Florence from the FCO airport. Spend a couple of nights in Florence, then rent a car snd drive to the Agriturismo for a week. Finally you drive from the Agriturismo to Rome, return the car upon arrival in Rome, spend a few nights in Rome. On the morning of departure to ORD, take a taxi fron Rome city center to FCO (30 min) and come home.
This last option is probably the best solution, because upon landing you go to Florence by train. Whereas the previous option requires you to drive to the Agriturismo in Tuscany upon landing when you are still jet lagged, which is probably not the best idea. Rome to Tuscany is about 3+ hour drive.
Don't attempt to spend the last night in Florence if you fly out of Rome the next day. You should always spend the last night in the city where you fly from to come home. Too many things can go wrong and cause you to miss the flight home.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
"Don't attempt to spend the last night in Florence if you fly out of Rome the next day. You should always spend the last night in the city where you fly from to come home. Too many things can go wrong and cause you to miss the flight home."
Good advice is worth repeating!
If you do fly out of Rome, spend your last night in Rome. You'll actually get some sleep that way. If you want to maximize your time elsewhere, you could stay at the Rome Airport Hilton, arriving late the night before your flight to drop off the car and just go to the hotel. I prefer Roberto's suggestion of finding a hotel in Rome itself and taking a taxi the next morning.
Posted by
824 posts
You might want to check return flights from other regional airports as well. I flew direct from London to Bologna which would make a two-hop return flight. Or, you could fly home direct out of Milan (seasonally) or Venice (seasonally). Bologna is about a 45 minute train ride or a 1.5 hour shuttle-bus trip from Florence. Milan (city center) is about 1 3/4 hours by train. Venice (lagoon) is about 2 hours by train from Florence.
I'm with others here in saying that you should only stay the city you plan to fly out of the night before the flight. Too many things can go wrong...
Posted by
824 posts
Oh, by the way, that 11:20am (American Airlines?) flight would mean leaving your Rome accommodations before the typical morning rush hour traffic gets too bad. I had a driver pick us up about 0630 and it was perfect timing. Or, you could take the Leonardo Express from Termini and bypass traffic all together.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
Flying round-trip FCO sounds right. How about reorganizing the itinerary. Land in Rome, take the Leonardo Express to Rome Termini, then get tickets on the next train to Florence. Full price tickets are €40, the cheapest prepaid no-refund tickets are about €20, so it won't break the bank - and it's never a good idea to book in advance, there are so many ways you could be delayed getting from the plane to Termini.
Spend a night or 2 and see the sights in Florence, then rent the cars for Tuscany. Spend your last days in Rome (you can either drive to Rome or return the cars in Florence and take the train).
Have you been to Italy before? How much time do you want to spend in Rome and Florence?
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
795 posts
I agree with everybody else! Its easiest for me, since I am already on the go, to go directly to the farthest (or one of the farthest) destination from my departure (and arrival) airport, leaving the travel logistics minimal on our departure day.....