Hello everyone,
Considering a change of itinerary again!!!
May be able to fly into Venice first. Experimenting with itinerary:

Arrive mid-may Venice 5 nights (overcome jet lag after very long flight from Australia)

Train to Lucca,Pistoia or Florence or Siena 4 nights (want to pick up rental car at end of stay to Pienza - did not want to take 4.30 to 5 hour drive from venice with 3 year old)

Pienza 7 nights

Rome and fly out of Rome after 6 or 7 nights.

I would love to visit Pisa and Lucca and Siena, Florence optional.
Would like easier pick up location to drive to Pienza.
I did read that Pistoia is close to Collodi and has a zoo.
Lucca sounds great too.

Would I be better off visiting Siena as a day trip from Pienza ( or take train from station near by into Siena)?

Day trip to Pisa better from different town/city?

Thought better to stay around Lucca, etc as too far a day trip for us from Pienza.

Trying to minimise moving around and hassle with train changes if possible.

From Venice there is train change from Florence on to Lucca. Is there a bus to Lucca or Pistoia ?

Thank you
Ginder

All of those connect via Florence--get the car there and then drive to Siena/Lucca or whereever.

Hi Bob,
Is it easy to exit Florence and drive to Lucca? Want to reduce stress.
Which Autoeurope rental office location would be easier (less chance of getting lost or traffic congestion)
Didn't really want to pick up a car until leaving Lucca/Siena or Pistoia.
Wanted to use bus or train this area.

Hi g,

>I would love to visit Pisa and Lucca and Siena, Florence optional.<

It seems to me that Florence is your natural base. You can do one daytrip to Pisa and Lucca by train and another daytrip to Siena by bus.

If you are concerned about exiting Florence by car, www.autoeurope.com has cars in Arezzo right at the train station.

You can train from Florence to Arezzo in 0:42 hr. Drive to Pienza 00:54 hr.

Alternatively, you can bus to Siena (easier with luggage)in about 1 hr and pick up your car there.

Siena to Pienza is about 1 hr by car.

I like your new itinerary.

Collodi is close to Lucca. (I didn't check whether it's also close to Pistoia.) Can't answer re the rest....

Hi cmt thanks for that. Pistoia looks close to Collodi.I will have to check it again.
Hi Ira
Thanks for encouragement.Knowing me, I will probably keep changing the itinerary.
With regard to Florence in late may.Could we handle it. I am not sure if Florence will be too crowded for us, especially with young 3 year old.
Lucca sounds more child friendly. I would like to see Florence, but, I wouldn't be able to see many museums with child, so thought of skipping it.
I do want to visit Siena, but, 4 nights there? Maybe 4 nights Lucca, pick up car from there. Is that an easy pick up? will rental office be within walls?
Or split Florence 2 nights, then 2 nights Siena? or just 1 night Siena? I wanted to reduce change of hotels and drive time.