We are in Rome right now and bought the Roma pass to get into the colosseum without a long wait in line as recommended in the 2018 guide. When we presented our Roma pass at the group entrance, we were told we needed a reserved time which we could get at the Palantine Hill. We went to the Palantine hill entrance and were told that that entrance didn't do reservations. We toured the Palantine site and were turned away from several points of interest because they were only open to super ticket holders. One of these super sites was the Palantine museum which takes up much of Rock's self guided tour. We came to another ticket office and again asked to make reservations. No, they weren't the place. We should have done that at the museum. But we could also get reservations at the Forum ticket office. We had a hard time locating this as we could only see the exit and not the ticket office from the Forum. On getting to this office and getting in the reservations line, we were told that was not the line for reservations. We needed to get in the other line -a line that was a mile long. We abandoned the idea of seeing the colosseum. I would not recommend the Roma Pass to anyone. Public transit is cheap and the pass saved us no time. It actually cost us time.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15810 posts
Liz, very sorry to hear about your missed opportunity. :O(
The trouble here was twofold: using an outdated guide book + not referencing current guidelines on the Roma Pass* or colosseum websites (coopculture) themselves. Updates to Rick's guidebooks noting changes which occurred after books went to press are also published on this site:
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/guidebook-updates
The requirement for reservations with a Roma Pass was announced in early February and went into effect on March 1.
I'll agree that having to make this reservation reduces the convenience value of the pass, and it's particularly frustrating that they gave you the runaround regarding getting a reservation at the *Palatine/Forum. Your post is also a valuable reminder not to rely on a guidebook, old forum posts or other potentially outdated/secondhand info: use the websites for the attractions themselves for the most current hours, prices, closures, etc, and check them again shortly before your trip.
(*) If you were told you couldn't get a reservation at the Palatine ticket office, the info on the Roma Pass website itself is incorrect as, for pass holders without a reservation made online or through the call center, it states:
Free booking can be made only on the day of the visit at the Roman
Forum - Palatine ticket offices (upon availability); the ticket office
will issue a free receipt with the admission time, for that day. Roma
Pass holders can make a reservation online or by calling on the day of
the visit. The booking fee is required.
So there was some confusion between the Roma Pass staff and the attendants you dealt with at the Palatine/Forum too.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13946 posts
I am so sorry you had problems. RSE actually does guidebook updates on this website although to me unless you know to look for them you don't know they are there...if that makes sense. (Possibly not enough coffee yet this AM)
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/guidebook-updates
"Rome
Roma Pass holders now need a €2 reservation to access the Colosseum (see its site for info on reserving). Depending on availability, free same-day booking for pass holders may be possible at the Roman Forum/Palatine ticket office.
The basic €12 combo ticket for the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill (for those who don't have a Roma Pass) now includes a timed-entry slot for the Colosseum. Entry to the Forum/Palatine Hill is possible anytime during the validity of the ticket.
The Assaggi d'Autore restaurant near the Trevi Fountain has closed."
Here also is a link to the guidebook feedback form in case there were other problems you encountered or if the above was not what you found.