I plan to purchase our Roma passes on our first morning in Rome (after a late arrival.) We'll be taking the archeobus that first morning, so thought we'd just go directly to termini pick up the cards there. Will we be purchasing from a machine or a live person? Will we need cash or will we be able to use a credit or debit card? I just realized as I'm typing this that if we follow this plan, we'll have the booklets to lug around with us all day as we're out walking on Via Appia...hmmm....
We leave in less than 2 weeks. It seems like it's getting a little late to purchase them on internet.

I bought mine at the airport's Commune di Roma booth and used a credit card. It's a packet of stuff in an envelope. One of the things is a book with about 140 pages so is heavy plus a smaller booklet. You also get a map with the sites numbered and on the back they have the metro lines and buses listed that will get you to each site.

Wait until you're here because they will not be sent to you. If you buy in advance, you'll just get a voucher to pick up the packet anyway. There are many places to pick up the Roma Pass.

In FCO, near the C Arrivals Terminal (convenient if you're taking the Leonardo Express into town from the FCO train station) is a Toursit Information Point that sells the Roma Pass. (called Punti Informativi Turistici or P.I.T.). You can use a credit card here. If you have a late flight, and you plan on riding the train into town, this could be an option for you. The transportation segment of the Pass IS NOT good on the trains from FCO...

Once you're at Termini, there are many places to buy a Roma Pass. IF you come in on the Leonardo Express, as you're walking in from satellite track #25, you'll see Rental Car signage directing you to your LEFT. This is where the Punti Informativi Turistici (PIT) is in the Termini Station. Again, you will go to a counter, be waited on by an individual, and you can pay with cash or credit.

In other parts of Termini, you can buy the pass from many of the newstands and then out front, there is also a Roma Pass "stand" on your LEFT (opposite all the buses) as you exit the front doors of Termini. These newstands will take only cash.

For a picture of the Punti Informativi Turistici at FCO, page down to the bottom of this link: http://www.roninrome.com/2009/06/10/...o-meet-at-fco/

For more info on the Roma Pass, try this link: http://www.roninrome.com/2009/04/27/...y-a-roma-pass/

bookmarking

Thank you both for your replies. This helps a lot. Our flight arrives at 9:45 - I had read somewhere that the sale locations closes at 6:30. If I can pick it up at the airport, that will help a lot. I don't want to have to carry extra stuff around as we walk around on Sunday.
Thanks again.

The airport location does close at 6:30.
http://www.romapass.it/p.aspx?l=en&tid=8

Drat.Oh well, back to plan A. Just don't tell DH the books are going into his backpack, okay?

No worries, the roma pass packets aren't that big, think thin paperback the size of a greeting card. The maps and info pamphlets inside are even smaller and not heavy. We easily could fit them into a small purse or side pocket of a camera bag. The passes themselves are credit card sized.

You can get the Roma Pass at any Tourist Information office. They are all over Rome. Look for the big "i".

Due to a website crash I've had to rework the LINKS to my above post. **I APLOGIZE** if you've tried to access them and received an error message. Believe me, after reworking the entire website, I feel your pain! I know this post is dated, but I did want to update my post to prevent any confusion and frustration. Here are the REVISED links - Hope they help you:

Punti Informativi Turistici at FCO - http://www.roninrome.com/%20transpor...to-meet-at-fco
Roma Pass - http://www.roninrome.com/%20transpor...uy-a-roma-pass