Thanks to all the information posted in these threads, I think I have a plan. Any feedback is much needed, and appreciated. I meet spouse in Genoa spend one night. Leave for Venice, (bus or train?) spend 2 nights. Leave for Radda (bus or train?), stay for 3 nights, with day trips to Florence, and Sienna. Leave for Pisa spend one night on the way back to Genoa, fly back to US. Any suggestions on Hotels or opinions about bus vs train would be great. Thanks

ttt

Hello ssp. Well first of all I would take the train from Genoa to Venice.

Two nights will give you just one complete day without traveling, but sure you know that.

Radda, I believe that is between Florence and Siena, am I correct? I think I am (but I may be wrong).

Why are you choosing Radda? Maybe there is a special reason, you have family from there perhaps. I would choose to stay in Florence The train from Venice to Florence would be a very easy trip. Then you could take the bus to Siena for a day trip. I do not know about a day trip from Florence to Radda. IF Radda is between Florence and Siena perhaps the bus on the way from Florence to Siena stops in Radda?

I would not waste my time with the few days you have spending a night in Pisa. But that is just my thinking.

I believe you have your husband arriving in Genoa by ship. So an overnight there IMHO would be great. Genoa is a beautiful city. Leave for Venice by train the next day. I would spend 3 nights in Venice (so you have two complete days without traveling into or out of Venice). This would give you more time to enjoy beautiful Venice.

Then I would take the train to Florence and spend 3 nights there and again you could take a day trip to Siena via the bus and again not sure about Radda but perhaps someone else here on Fodors will know about that.

Then I would fly back to Genoa to fly home. I assume that is where your return ticket is from.

Whatever you decide do have a beautiful time.

We stayed in Radda last August, but unless you're planning on renting a car or hiring someone to drive you around, you're going to feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. Radda is tiny-- only a few streets long-- but with a car only 45 minutes from either Siena or Florence.

I don't know if there's train or bus service to Florence from Radda. It might be easier to base in Florence and simply take day trips from there either by bus, train, or private car to Siena, San Gimignano, etc. Also, at this late date, (didn't you say that you're leaving soon?) you'd probably have a better shot at getting accomodations in Florence. Radda only has a few hotels, and they are pretty small.

Good luck!

thank you loveitaly and weadles, I'm still working on my trip, leaving next week. Train it is! I'm checking the train schedules now to see what thats all about. Still looking for hotels though.

ssp, my wishes for a beautiful trip with wonderful memories. Take good care! And let us know how your trip was!

Ssp - - Here's the bus timetable between Florence and Radda:

http://www.sita-on-line.it/sita-tosc.../Vpesa/345.pdf

For bus timetables between Radda and Siena and other services in the Siena area go to:

http://www.trainspa.it/home.html

Hope this helps ...

Steve