Heart of Italy tour in oct

Transportation is easy. You take a train from Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the station) to Venice (Venezia Santa Lucia is the station). There are two train companies that do this route; check both for schedules and prices, using the Italian station names I gave you (even if you are using the English version of the websites, you need the Italian station names).

Trenitalia: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
Italo: http://www.italotreno.it/en

These trains have several price levels. The cheapest tickets will sell out first; these are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Next are the tickets that can't be refunded, but can be changed before travel (the cost of your original ticket is applied to the cost of the new one, so if it's more you pay the difference). Most expensive (still affordable) are fully flexible tickets. If you want full flexibility, there's no advantage to buying ahead of time. Trains on this route are very frequent.

As for lodging, what is your budget and your requirements (elevator, canal view, included breakfast, etc)?

Rick's Italy or Venice book will have lots of details to help you with your time in Venice. Also remember that with your tour, you get a discount on the planning services of his tour office, if you need more direct help than you can get from this Forum. But many here have been to Venice, so you should be able to get everything sorted.

Are you going to end in Venice? Have you bought your return flights yet? Beware that many flights from Venice back to North America leave shockingly early, and getting to the Venice airport at those hours can be time consuming or expensive.

Hi. -
Transportation is easy: take a train from Firenze S.M. Novella (Florence's main train station) to Venezia S. Lucia (Venice's main train station). You can explore schedules and prices for either Trenitalia or Italo train services here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

http://www.italotreno.it/en

Editing to add: Harold and I posted at almost the same time! :O)