A couple basic Rome questions for a very tight-budget trip

Nick it is possible to walk Collosseum-Forum-Vatican. Maybe only take metro back, one trip?

Possibly, yeah. And ideally I will walk a lot because I'd rather explore my way through town and see everything than be underground. But there's also a high chance of rain...

Nick- even with the cheaper 48-hour Roma pass (instead of the normal 3-day Pass), if the only covered sight you'll be seeing is the Colosseum, you're better off not getting the pass, and paying for your transportation a ride at a time.

Also very walkable from the Colossum is the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano (described in Rick Steves' guidebook), an 11th Century church with an elaborate ceiling and murals and built on top of a 4th Century church, which was built on top of ancient Roman buildings, the tomb of St. Cyril (who developed the Cyrilic Alphabet), and a Roman pagan temple - an interesting arrangement. The upper church is free to enter, but if you can spring for the 5 Euro (3.50 for students with I.D.) entrance fee, you can tour the lower archaeological levels - very cool, but also not on the Roma Pass.

If you're a regular walker, there's no problem. I've spent 8 or 9 hours at the Vatican museum and in St. Peter's, then walked back to the corso -- with a stop near the river for dinner. There's plenty to keep your attention.
Metro tip -- use the station past the vatican station and walk back. Much less crowded, gets you closer to museum line.

There is information here on how to get from FCO to Termini:
http://goeurope.about.com/od/rome/qt/rome_transport.htm

Take a look at Roninrome.com He gives The Best Advice on all things Rome!

From Fiumincino to Termini, I would take the train, which departs the airport until 23:30, takes half an hour, and costs 14 euros per person. See schedules for your travel date at trenitalia.com or How to Look Up Train Schedules Online.

Since you mention "very tight budget" you can get the TAM bus from Terminal 3 bus station (tickets bought inside in the arrivals hall), to Termini for 4 euro. Last one is at 11 PM, so if you miss it, you'll have to take the train. Last one is 11:38 PM and costs 14 euro.

I took the bus, and it was quite easy. It cost me 5 euros.

I would say skip the Roma Pass. You can walk the historic center easily; I walked from the Vatican Muesums to Termini (bus strike) and was easily entertained the whole way. The bus is a better option than the metro, in my opinion, you can see where you are.

Hotels tend to be less expensive near the train station.

Okay, skipping it! Thanks!

Nick,

The quickest and easiest way to get from FCO to Roma Termini is via the Leonardo Express (train), which has departures about every half hour and takes 32 minutes. Fare is €14 and you can easily buy tickets from a Kiosk or staffed ticket window (price may be higher at ticket window). BE SURE to validate your ticket prior to boarding the train or you'll risk hefty fines of €50 PP which will be collected on the spot!!!

Regarding transportation in Rome, you might consider a B.I.G. (Biglietto giornaliero) ticket, which is good for the whole day up until midnight. Cost is €6.00 PP (AFAIK) and it's good for Metro, Bus and train travel within Rome. The ticket MUST be validated on first use, but does not have to be validated after that. If your first ride is on a Bus, the validation machine may be at the Bus station or inside the Bus (usually just behind the driver). Last time I bought one, it was at a Tabac or magazine stand outside of Termini station, so they're easy to find. There are also three day and weekly tickets available.

You would need to take at least three bus rides to make the day-pass psy for itself. If you plan to go to the Catacombs, Ostia Antica, or Saint Paul's Outside the Walls, the ordinary one-trip ticket will work (you'll need two of them).

One advantage to using a multi-day transit pass is that you don't have to keep validating it after the first use. That means you don't have to worry about forgetting to validate your single-use ticket, and it means you're not drawing attention to yourself as a tourist by validating all the time. (Locals use passes, which is why you don't see locals validating.) Pickpockets on crowded buses sometimes target people who are validating. However, if you've secured your valuables (in a neck wallet, money belt, etc.), you don't have to worry about pickpockets.

Happy travels.