Heart of Italy September 2025

For the flights out I would choose based on the departure time the second leg (from USA to Rome), I think leaving later is better and I think having a longer flight time is better, so that I am more likely to have some sleep. For the flights back I don't know that it matters much the difference. Others can weigh on the experience to change in PHL. Changing at MSP is easy. MSP is big but easy to get around in.

There is a flat rate taxi fare from the airport to the city (inside the Aurelian walls) which is about 55 Euros. If you use a regular taxi, just be sure to use the official taxi rank at the airport. Do not use anyone who approachs you in the terminal claiming to be a taxi service. It might help to have the name and address of the hotel printed on a 3/5 card along with "48 Euros". And if you plan to pay by credit card, hold up the card and say "ok?" to avoid the driver saying otherwise.

On the other hand, after a long flight, being sleepy, tired, on strange new turf, and jet lagged, there is nothing better than having a private driver meet you in the terminal and wisk you to the hotel. It will cost a little more than a regular taxi, but we feel that it is well worth it. We have used Stefano's Rome Cabs to and from the airport a number of times and have always been happ[y with the service. We send an email stating our needs and get a reply in less than 24 hours.

Some people have the hotel arrange for the transportation. But that is like buying a pig in a poke. You might get a regular taxi, a car service, or the desk clerk's brother-in -law. Happen to us once, but there were four of us and only on brother-in-law, so not a problem.

I'll only comment on going through PHL. When I lived on the east coast I avoided it because it only has one runway rated for instrument landings, so when there is a low ceiling the planes can really get backed up. I checked and that appears to still be true. I live on the outskirts of the Twin Cities and the airport is pretty nice. Not as confusing as DFW for instance. Mostly all one terminal and easy to make connections.

Forgot to add, I have been on several R. Steves' tours and often the tour guide will help organize taxis to the airport on the last day so that several people can group together for a taxi and save some money. Also, check to see if at CDG you are arriving and leaving from the same terminal. I find CDG to be a little more confusing than some of the other international airports.

The United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland - now requires travelers preregister for entry authorization (ETA, Electronic Travel Authorization) before entering any of their countries. Approximately 1 month before your flight that includes transiting through LHR you will need to submit an online application and pay a £10 fee per traveler. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

I believe that Delta has a flight from Seattle to Amsterdam and then it's an easy flight from there to Rome. If that is correct, I think you could get an open jaw return from Florence through Amsterdam and back to Seattle. Sometimes the connections in Amsterdam are a little tight, but I've not had any issues. While there's no right/wrong, if I can get a direct flight out of my city of origin (for me, that's Portland, OR) to somewhere in Europe I much prefer that.

Have a fantastic trip!

Note that the flat rate taxi fare has increased:

Rome Center (inside the Aurelian Walls): €55.00

It is so easy to get a taxi from the official taxi rank - just be sure to establish that you can pay by credit card if you don't have cash. The challenge with a car service is coordinating the hookup - especially if your plane is late.

For Florence, there is a tram that covers the short distance to the airport - it starts running at 5 AM - that could be a factor if you have a very early fllght.

I recommend looking for a flight where your connection is in Europe instead of the US. If there is a problem with making the connecting flight there are many more flights within Europe than across the Atlantic. It's what we always do when flying to Europe.

They will send you the RS guidebook in advance of your tour so you could wait until then to plan your time ahead of the tour in Rome. Of course you can always borrow a copy from the library if you want to start thinking of things now. If you enjoy art then a visit to the Borghese Gallery is amazing and is something you could do in the morning before the tour starts; advance reservations are required. Another thing we've enjoyed in Rome is a food walking tour.

If you're flying home the same day the tour ends then you'll be in good company, probably half or more of the people on the tour will be doing the same. Your guide will group those who are interested into rides to the airport and train station. However given you've already paid for the flight an extra day or two in Florence when you're already there doesn't add that much to the cost of the trip so I'd encourage you to consider staying on.

Going over make sure to allow plenty of time at the US airport such as JFK or Atlanta or Philadelphia. 2 hours is not a lot of time when you’re navigating from the domestic to the international terminal and you need restroom and food breaks. We make every effort to avoid transfers in Europe. So SEA to MSP then on to FCO is a good choice. Avoiding transfers in Europe is even more important traveling back to the US. Coming back choose a flight from Florence to a US airport then travel from there to SEA. You can much more easily figure out what to do if you’re stranded in Atlanta or at O’Hare than if you’re stranded in Heathrow.

We prefer flights that land in the morning (8-9 am) in the city such as Rome where we will spend several days before the tour starts. Go to your hotel, leave your luggage, pull out your day pack and go to the neighborhood cafe recommended by the hotel. Have a pastry and coffee. Then do walking tours as described in the RSGuidebook for Rome. Do not take an afternoon nap. Rest is accomplished by sitting at an outdoor cafe for a two or more hour lunch. Get an early supper from a pizza place, have a gelato and go to bed around 9 pm local time. Drink plenty of water all day, minimize alcohol consumption at least on day one and voila no jet lag.

RS will provide excellent information about several ways you can get from FCO to the city. We took the Leonardo express in 9/2024 and it was great. At the end of the tour the tour guide will help you with getting to the airport and you’ll probably share a ride to the airport with others from your tour group. We always stay at least a few days after the tour starts ends. In fact in 10/25 we will be traveling independently for six days after the tour ends. And for five days between the two tours we are going on “back to back.” And we arrive two days before the tour starts. Going back to the US “cold turkey” on the day the tour ends doesn’t appeal to us and luckily we are able to take the extra time away from home and work.

Agree with John about the Borghese Gallery. It is amazing so if your tour doesn’t go there book as early as you can on the morning the tour starts so you’ll have plenty of time for the Borghese Gallery followed by a nice walk through the gardens then a leisurely lunch and head back to your hotel to freshen up before you meet your tour group.

Really recommend going through LHR instead of CDG (just use correct bag for toiletry, 311 bag), non-pleated bottom baggie. Follow all the rules, you’re good.
You can purchase an old guide book on a second hand website, go to the public library and see what they have, purchase a book RS (never hurts), watch you tube videos about the areas you are traveling, and work on language skills before going (highly recommend you tube). These will all help with planning as well as get a feel for the area. Didn’t mention, but, also use all of the resources RS already has: language, travel tips, packing, culture, art and music. Spend time looking carefully at his cache of information accessible to you.
Use the Pre-Planning tour information you’ve already gotten. RS spells out what is seen and things you might consider. This a considerable amount of valuable information and should lead you to making some knowledgeable decisions about where to start planning ….
Based on your schedule on the itinerary and when you project leaving, make a spreadsheet or calendar or whatever method suits you. I use a day planner method with the RS trips. Plan your free time before and during the trip, look to see where the sites you want to see are located and how they rank on your list of must see activities. Rome is large and depending on your knowledge of the land transportation there, it can make a difference in how much you’ll be able to see.
Travel from FCO into Rome is far ! You can train it to Rome, but how tired will you be, how’s your Italian and do you use public transport? Welcome, often discussed on the Forum is a nice option. Friendly, competitive and all done by an app you install. Used it 3 times without a hitch in various countries.
Enjoy that fall trip!

We used the train--the tour hotel was close to Termni so even if you don't want to walk to the hotel, the taxi from Termini to the hotel is a lot less than from the airport.

We left Florence by train so I can't say about the airport but the hotel got us a cab to the train station.

As far as what to do, we got to Rome Saturday morning, took the train and got to the hotel about 1. After checking in we got some lunch and then walked a few blocks to see Museo Nazionale Romano, Terme di Diocleziano and Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs which are part of the same complex that used to be a Roman bathhouse. We went to Mass and then got dinner before crashing.

Sunday morning we took the metro to St. John Lateran (about 3 miles from the hotel) and them walked to St. Maria Maggoria. After lunch at a cafe outside the church we went back to the hotel for a nap before the group meeting. There are other museums within close walking distance to the hotel as well.