bus or walk in rome

Where are you exactly in relationship to Termini, when you say 1/2 mile from termini? You might be able to use the metro. There are stations at Termini, Piazza Repubblica, via Cavour, Piazza Vittorio emanuele, Castro pretorio. I dont know which one would be closer to your hotel. From any of those, the metro can take you to the historical center: Barberini (not far from the Trevi Fountain) and Piazza di Spagna, also to the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums.
And once you get to the historical center by metro, you will be walking more than anything else.
Anyhow, the city transport company ATAC, sells the BIG (biglietto integrato giornaliero=daily integrated ticket) for €6. It's valid until 24:00 h (midnight) from the moment you first validate and you can travel on buses and subways all day within the city. If you think you take transportation 4 or more times in a day, it's a good investment.

Just curious as to why you think the metro won't work for you. We used it with no probs (actually my first time ever using a subway) and stops right at or very close to the places you mention as well as a lot of other sights.

Hi, Well the reason I'm thinking the subway wont work is because of where the stops are and that there isnt one close to our hotel. We are in a little hotel southwest of termini . I used google map and most places we want to see are about a mile away, we dont mind walking but at some point we might get tired and want to hop a bus, I like to pack in a lot in a day. so that why I ask about bus passes

I have never used the day-ticket enough to make it pay for itself, I usually buy a few single-ride tickets and if I need more, I can buy more. The historic center is compact enough that you might only want to ride once or twice a day (remember to validate tickets on the bus).

Put me in the single-ticket group as well. Buy a bunch at the same time and use them as needed. As far as how to tell distances in Rome (or anywhere else) use Google Maps. You'll see that the historic center of Rome is about 2.5 miles wide (east-west) and 1.5 miles north-south, with the Pantheon smack in the middle.

I've used the Hop On//Hop Off Bus in Rome and loved it. Especially the 1st time I was there. One price for one day or two; takes you to 12 of the Major sights. You get off whenever or wherever you want and then use it to get back to your hotel or to another sight. Great for the $$

I read somewhere in Rick Steves' books (Europe Through the Back Door?) that if you get the Roma Pass, that includes 72 hours of public transportation. I'm not sure exactly what transport that includes, but it also includes two popular tourist admissions of your choice, plus discounts to the ones after the first two. We are planning to get the Roma Pass for our 4 days in Rome next month.

Many of the Rome tourist attractions are relatively close together, however it's a city that you can just walk yourself to death in.
I would tell anyone to quickly learn how to navigate around the city by city bus. They're very easy to get around if you just figure out the system--and which bus numbers go where you need to go.
We got an expensive taxi ride--our one and only taxi.

We took the subway a couple of times, but standing room was at a premium those trips. They were beyond crowded.
And I'd say go for the Roma Card.