Rome Ciampino hotels/car hire

[Thetoot]

Hi! Anyone know Rome Ciampino airport and area? We have a very early flight back from there and will have a hire car. Have had nightmares before trying to find car rental returns with a stressful deadline! None of the hotels seem walking distance to the airport, were we to return the car the day before. Not sure what to do! Thanks so much 😌

It’s a tiny airport! Taxi’s from the city area have a flat fee to the airport though so if you return it the day before and stay fairly central you should get a flat rate taxi (think it was 40 or 45€ for up to 5)…

I don’t agree that it’s a tiny airport. Have been in and out a fair few times. All the major car hire companies operate there. Most have drop off boxes for car keys returned outside staffed hours. Just be sure to film your car carefully when you return it to prove you didn’t make any scratches they try to come after you for. This seems more and more common in all countries.

It sounds like you’ve not booked the car yet? I think I would drop it off the day before, get the bus and train to the city - there's a bus outside the terminal that goes to a train station a couple of miles away and you get the train to Rome from there. Then get your hotel to book a taxi/shuttle to the airport the next morning.

What is the plan for the holiday? Obviously you don't want a car for any time you're spending in the city so are you touring elsewhere? Are you planning to spend time in the city?

As Ciampino is so close to the city you might be able to reduce the car hire period further if you're spending time in Rome as you'd just get the car for the touring part, return it to the airport and then use public transport for all the time you're spending in the city.

Thank you so much to all who responded. No, haven't yet booked a car - we're going to see Mika in Umbria and staying for a few days there, we're flying in and out from Rome. That sounds a good plan, to return car day before and get taxi in the next morning. Thanks so much again x