buying a metro/bus pass in advance

That's what I did. I used the subway as my first ride and the ticket isn't validated until you use it the first time.

I bought a single ride ticket to use the night I arrived in Rome for that reason.

Yes, buy your pass the day you arrive. It gets activated the first time you use it by validating it. Then put it in your pocket. Don't sit on the bus or metro holding your ticket. That identifies you as a clueless tourist.

BUT a transit pass makes financial sense only if you're going to use it at least three or four times a day, depending on the pass. Many tourists use transit only once or twice a day, in which case single use tickets make more sense. Buy several at once and keep them handy.

Laura,

I would also suggest buying your Pass when you arrive as Michael mentioned. You might consider a B.T.I. 3-day Pass which is good for all modes of transportation in central Rome, including Metro, Bus or whatever. You must validate prior to first use, but it doesn't need validation after that. It expires at midnight on the third day after validation.

There's also a B.I.G. version which is a one-day pass. I often buy them at a Tabacchi outside Roma Termini, as there are no queues.

Thanks to all of you, we will follow your lead. Since we are both 66 (but not feeble), we plan to buy the b.I.t. passes; gives us the freedom to take a bus or metro when we just don't want to walk any more, and do not want to search to buy a ticket. And will definitely keep them safe, although we probably won't be fooling anyone about being a tourist...

That's your call, obviously, but you could buy a handful of single use tickets at the same time you would otherwise buy your pass. Side note: We learned the hard way that those passes are not washable when one got left in a shirt pocket. :-)

As for looking like a tourist, of course you will. The key is not to look like a CLUELESS tourist. Those are the ones that pickpockets target.

Laura,

"we plan to buy the b.I.t. passes;"

The "b.l.t. pass" must be new, as I'm not familiar with that one.

The b.i.t. is the single-use ticket, as far as I can remember.

Maybe I'm misreading the letters in the post. I read it as "BLT" (as in the sandwich).

These are the "usual" tickets in Rome......

• B.I.T. € 1.50. Standard ticket, valid for one Metro ride or 75 minutes on all buses.
• B.I.G. € 6.00. Daily ticket, valid for unlimited metro, bus, and train travel within Rome.
• B.T.I. €16.50. 3-day tourist ticket, valid for everything listed under the B.I.G ticket.
• C.I.S. €24.00. Weekly ticket

Wouldn't the "BLT" pass be best at lunchtime?

Folks,
There are 3 new bus passes, effective March 4: 24 hours for Euro 7, 48 hours for E12.50, and 72 hours for E18.00. As of April 30 the BIG (one day) and BTI (three day) tickets will no longer be sold. One of the advantages to the pass is that you can go from bus to Metro or vice-versa without using another ticket.

There are 3 new bus passes, effective March 4: 24 hours for Euro 7, 48 hours for E12.50, and 72 hours for E18.00. As of April 30 the BIG (one day) and BTI (three day) tickets will no longer be sold. One of the advantages to the pass is that you can go from bus to Metro or vice-versa without using another ticket.

Thanks, Laurel. Here's the math: This means that for the 24 hour pass to be cost-effective, you would need to use transit five times a day (compared to E1.50 per single use ticket). The 48 hr pass makes sense only if you use it nine times during that time. and the 72 hr pass is the same as 12 single use tickets.

The one advantage of those passes is that you don't have to keep validating each time you get on a bus/metro/tram - just the first time.

Does the increase in the transit pass translate into an increase in the Roma Pass which includes a transit pass?