Has anyone bought the Roma Pass online (http://www.romapass.it/?l=en) and gotten reservations at the Borghese gallery and Colosseum ahead of time (from USA)? What is the method of delivery - pickup in Rome or delivered in email? If pickup in Rome, can one have still make reservations at the gallery & Colosseum ahead of time for Roma Pass holders?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
I don't know about the delivery method, but can answer most of the rest of the question for you.
1) It's generally not necessary to order the Roma Pass ahead of time. Some people have reported they have been sold out at the sites themselves, but generally you can always get one at the TI in Termini Station.
2) Reservations at the Colosseum are not necessary, especially if you have your Roma Pass in hand. The long line is for ticket purchases. With your ticket (pass) in hand, you stay to the left and will probably be able to walk right up to the security detectors and in you go.
3) With the Roma Pass you CANNOT reserve the Borghese online. You will have to call or, better yet, get your hotel to call for you, if you can. When you call, you tell them you intend to use your Roma Pass. I can't recall if they charge you the reservation fee right then and there (we had our hotel call for us), but when you go to the Borghese with your confirmation, they scan your Pass and give you a ticket.
For a really good explanation about the Roma Pass, check out this link:
http://www.roninrome.com/2009/04/27/should-i-buy-a-roma-pass/
Most of the relevant information for you is in the FAQs at the bottom of the post.
Posted by
ellisville, MO, usa
29 posts
We bought our Roma passes online, and picked them up at the airport (they do not mail or e-mail them). It took a litle while to find the pickup spot there, so you may want to check the other pickup locations if you want to buy ahead of time. There are several around the city. You will get a confirmation code that you will need to pick the passes up. I think that it is just as easy to purchase them after you arrive though. We phoned to make our reservation time at the Borghese, and then used our Roma pass to get our tickets to enter when we got there. We did not make a reservation ahead of time for the Colosseum, just went late afternoon and were able to bypass the line with our Roma pass and join the last tour in English.
Posted by
Frisco, TX, USA
13 posts
FYI - if you order online you can pick up your Roma Pass at any location. We set ours up to pick up at the airport as well but with flight cancellations/changes we ended up arriving after the TI at the airport had closed for the night.
I was worried we'd have to go back out to the airport but were able to pick them up at another TI on Via Nazionale.
Posted by
Mountain View, US
17 posts
I was just in Rome last week. I made my reservation for the Borghese Gallery by phone from the states.
I bought my Roma Pass at the Termini Station then used the transportation pass included in the Roma Pass to take the metro to the Colosseum. I used the Roma Pass to get into the Colosseum and didn't need to have a reservation.
Good luck! You'll have a wonderful time!
Posted by
OP
Redmond, WA, USA
6 posts
Thank you for the information. I have gone with the suggestions.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
26 posts
Don't pre-buy the Roma pass.
I was there in March and there are tons of visitor centers selling them along the streets. If you walk down Corsco the main bolevard in Rome there are at least 10 vistor booths to buy it from.
I'm going back in a month and plan to do the same.
Def plan to reserve the borghese gallery. The "I don't have reservations line" was ridiculous. Also, take Rick's advice and start upstairs. Then go back to the front while everyone goes upstairs during the second half. Wish I had listned to him ... I will do this when I go back in a month!