> then will be going on to the Tuscany region for 6 days.

How ? by car, where to pick up? or by train? That might affect your decision where to stay. Also if you had a few more nights, I might recommend other areas to stay but only for 1 night, I would say you stay near Santa Lucia train station ( if leaving for Tuscany by train ) or near Piazzale Roma car/bus terminal ( if leaving by renta? car?). Santa Lucia and P.Roma is only a short one water bus stop away though. From those areas, you can easily walk or do a vaporetto ride to Rialto and St.Marco.

First, once you get to Venice, you're going to want to spend more than one night there.

I presume you're taking water taxi or a boat service to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice? Any should let you off near Piazza San Marco, but I don't know that you'll find something decent in that area that doesn't cost a fortune.

I'd start with Trip Advisor which will show you hotels in various areas and you can then check availability and price them.

Tourist Venice is laid out along the Grand Canal, and there is a vaporetto (boat service) that cruises the Canal frequently stopping at the major tourist points. This means that you can stay anywhere along the Grand Canal and see San Marco, Rialto, etc. (without knowing what you have in mind by "etc.") But you're not going to have time see much with only one nite.

We will be coming in from Paris from the airport - booking reservations this week and will be traveling by train to Tuscany.

We avoid the area around Piazza San Marco and the Rialto. Too crowded with daytrippers. But Venice isn't that big. Most any place in the city will do. Near the train station if you want super convenience.

Oh, and you can also take a bus from the airport. It will drop you at Piazzale Roma, near the train station.

Ok I've changed my days in Venice and added a day but I am still looking at hotels. If we stay near the train stations - is it noisy? I don't want to have to lug our luggage through the city looking for a hotel so I would like to be able to either take a public water taxi from the airport to our hotel or take a bus to our hotel. Help. I also would like to be around $250 USD a night if possible but would love a canal view but I'm willing to be flexible on both the canal view and the price if the hotel is nice or the location is better away from the canal. Suggestions?

Look at Pension Accademia near that bridge.

Pensione Accademia is a good suggestion. http://www.pensioneaccademia.it/

Also in the Dorsoduro sestiere is La Calcina - Nice canal views.http://www.lacalcina.com/

...and a budget option - http://www.locandamontin.com/montin/Locanda_Montin.htm

Near the train station is the LAST place I would stay. You don't want to travel halfway around the world to see Venice and then choose the least attractive part to base yourself. The rest of Venice is incredibly charming...

There are no buses in Venice - there are no streets - just canals.

You can take the bus only as far as the end of the causeway - from there it is foot or boat.

You can take vaporetto (bus boat) to one of the pubic stops and then walk to your hotel. Be sure to get VERY specific directions as walking to many hotels in Venice is confusing.

Also - you need to look carefully at the location of your hotel. Even if you are willing to pay for a water taxi - about 100 euros from the airport - if your hotel doesn;t have a private dock - most don;t - you still have to haul your luggage along the sidewalks and over bridges to get to the hotel.

I am looking at staying in the Colombina Hotel in Venice. Has anyone stayed there? I've tried the hotels listed but there are not any rooms available for our dates.

Have not stayed at the hotel - but the location is excellent!

We stayed directly across the canal at the La Rosa di Venezia apartment.

This really is "last second" - I would book right something right NOW!

Haven't stayed there, but on Tripadvisor it looks very nice and in a good location. It is pretty close to San Marco, but as I recall, that side of Castello is fairly quiet. Good find!

I would go to www.venere.com to search by availablity and location. There should be a map so you can choose close to the train station. Or go to Tripadvisor for reviews on the Hotel Colombina. Another suggestion - Best Western Olympia, close to Piazzale Roma, I think some have canal views.

We stayed at a reasonable place near the train station and found it not bad at all. Perhaps quieter then in more touristy areas. One time we used the vaporetto to get to St Mark's square and walked another time. My writeup has links to where we stayed, pictures, what we did and suggestions…
We love Venice. The most beautiful and romantic city.

http://www.rimerson.com/Europe-2011/venice/venice.html

We are taking the train to Florence (4 days here) from Venice and then on to Rome for 4 more days. Do I need to book these tickets early or can I do it in Venice once I am there and then in Florence for our Rome trip?

I would buy both in Venice and pick my time based on discounts since there are multiple options. Try a local TA.