I am just starting to plan a spring trip to first the Veneto region of Italy and then Geneva.
We are planning on late March/early April but dates are somewhat flexible at this point. Although the major focus of the trip is to visit our son who will be studying at the University of Geneva while doing research at CERN (just a little bit proud!), his free time will be very limited and thus our time with him will be as well.
As always , especially in italy, our focus is on food, art and Italian life. We are on far more of a budget than in previous years and I am trying to plan accordingly.

Only train travel this trip- thinking no car= less stress
My initial itinerary is as follows; (any suggestions are welcome)

Overnight flight Boston-Milan
Train to Padua (same day)

5 nights Padua Majestic Hotel Toscanelli $117.00 per night (WOW!)
http://www.expedia.com/Padova-Hotels...el-Information

First day recover from travel- second to explore Padua
Day trips to Treviso, Bologna and Venice. (We have been to Venice 5 times for several days each trip so this time just for lunch away from the beaten path.)

Train to Verona- 2 nights in Verona with day trip to Trento (again, been to Verona and would like to visit Trento) Hotel Firenze $160.00 per night
http://www.verona-hotelfirenze.com

Train to Milan Centrale to make midday train to Geneva-hoping this is a lovely scenic train ride through the mountains.

Three nights in Geneva. Our son will be living on Rue Muzy so I am looking at Swisshotel Metropole Geneve for three nights which is a very short walk from his dorm. (hardly on the new budget plan).
Home on morning flight.

I would love advice/suggestions/critique/experience on time allotment, hotel choices, train ride to Geneva, Geneva hotels , favorites in Padua, Treviso , Trento and overall itinerary.
Thank you!

Since you do not want any advice about your hotel choice in Verona I'll simply say, "have a nice trip."

Thanks Dukey- but I did ask for comments on all hotels! If you know anything of the Hotel Firenze in Verona I'd love to hear of it.

Just some thoughts:

As nice as the price is for your Padova stay, you listed food as your first interest in Italy, and Padova has one of the finest food markets in Northern Italy. For me, for an extended night stay, I would prefer an apartment (for the added space too).

If you are going to Bologna for the food markets, be aware that they close on Thursday afternoons. It is very much worth seeing the statues in the church of Santa Maria della Vita on the via Claveture (which is right in the market quarter), so a good plan for sightseeing in Bologna is to go there first thing when you arrive. A great budget meal experience for lunch in Bologna is to shop in the markets to collect a "picnic", and then take it to Osteria del Sole, where you can sit at a table and eat so long as you buy a glass of wine.

http://www.osteriadelsole.it

I've not checked out train routes or schedules, so this might not be optimal, but I am wondering, since you have been to Verona, if you might prefer to go directly to Trento, and then from there making your way to Switzerland.

I should have added that if you like the idea of going straight to Trento, the Hotel America would be my recommendation, with restaurant Vo nearby. The bistro associated with Lo Scrigno del Duomo can also be a great value meal, although it is more expensive than Vo.

Great suggestions Sandralist- thank you. I'll check the train schedules and see if getting straight to Trento for two nights may be a better plan.
An apartment in Padua is a possibility that I will explore further.

http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p482809

This a very nice apartment in a palazzo in Padua, a short walk from the food markets. We have rented it several times and the kitchen is well equipped, marble worktops etc.

Great apartment Tarquin! Looks as though they have a seven night minimum.

I would ask them as they don't always adhere to it.