Well the latest I could get for my Uffizi reservation was 2pm on May 19th. I was hoping on either three or four which would’ve gave me plenty of time to get off the train, check in to the bed and breakfast we’re staying at and then wander over to the museum but now things are a little more rushed. Looking at the train times, I am not positive of which one is looking like the best route at the moment and I’m in dire need of some advice!

Possible trains:
1) Leaving La Spezia at 9:32 and arriving at Firenze - Campo Di Marte train station at 11:21. This train has by far has the best times and is direct, but I am not positive how easy it is to get to S.M. Novella from that train station. Our location is about a 10-minute walk from the S.M. Novella station. I really don’t want to spend the money on a cab as we’re budgeting ourselves as much as possible.

2) Two trains leaving at 7:59 with a station change in Pisa and arrive at 10:39 at the S.M. Novella train station. I really didn’t want to leave this early, but if this makes the most sense I’ll suck it up and do it.

3) Train leaving La Spezia at 10:02, station change in Pisa, and arriving at 12:26. This would only leave us with about an hour and ½ to leave the station, check in at the hotel and make a mad dash to the Uffizi. Seems like an uncomfortably small amount of time, but I don’t know Florence well enough to make the judgment on whether it’s possible or not.

Last but not least, I am going to call a few more times and see if any more times magically open up from 3-4. If that’s the case I’m going to take the #3 option. Last but not least! Do you think it’s wise to book a Eurostar ticket from Firenze to Rome online prior to leaving? Only ticket I am thinking about preordering before I leave.

Jared, you didn't mention where in Florence your B&B is located. I would think ninety minutes is plenty of time, but I guess it depends on how far the B&B is from the train station and from the Uffizi.

Odds are you won't be able to check into your room so early in the day, unless it was empty the night before, but you'll probably be able to drop off your luggage and check in later.

One of the benefits of the earlier schedule is that you would be able to sit down and enjoy lunch before your appointment at 2 PM. With the 12:30 arrival, you'll probably be forced to eat on the run.

quote from the b&b peterson website:
"From railway station S.M. Novella (300 mt. 5 minutes walking). Inside the station you take the right exit, you go down the stairs, you turn right and you are on alamanni street, you go along it, till the traffic lamp, you cross the street and you are on Guido Monaco street, at the nr. 25, on the left pavement, you Find "Bed & Bed Peterson".

I couldn't find the exact "address" per say, but I hope that helps slighty. Any information on the Campo Di Marte train station?

From what I'm seeing on the Trenitalia site, you can take that 9.32 train out of La Spezia, change at Pisa (arr 10.17, lv 10.29) and arrive at S.M.N. at 11.33. That would seem best, although if you go to Campo di Marte you should be able to get a city bus.

As far as reserving Florence-Rome, there's no need to do it in advance, but you can do it on the Trenitalia site if you're sure of your times and don't want to spend time on this in Italy. The trains are so frequent, you might want to wait until you have a better feel for what time you'll be ready to leave.

There is a bus line from train station Campo di Marte to train station Santa Maria Novella.

It is Linea 12, as shown here.

It seems to run about every 15 minutes, and it takes about 20 minutes to get to Santa Maria Novella.

However, it will not get you to SMN much earlier than the train that arrives at SMN at 12:26.

Added after seeing Andrew's message: His solution would obviously be the best.

I see what you're saying. I would have to book the 09:32 LA SPEZIA to PISA C, then when I get in Pisa book the next train to Firenze? When I look at it on trenitalia site and pick "La Spezia to Firenze" it doesn't show the train station switch in Pisa for some reason for the 9:32 intercity one unless i actually put Pisa as my destination. The rest of the trains all list pisa.

Pisa to Firenze has a 10:29 and 10:43 train like you said that would be very conveniant.

That does help. From your B&B to the Uffizi will take between 15-30 minutes, depending on how fast you walk. I walked to the train station from near there a couple of months ago but forgot to factor in my mother's walking speed, so we almost missed our train.

Camp di Marte is east of the historic area of Florence. Have you looked at the ATAF site? Bus line #12 goes between the two stations.

On the map, you can find Campo di Marte on Map 2, quadrant 34M.

On the Trenitalia site, I entered the destination as Firenze S.M. Novella, and it put that all on one itinerary. The La Spezia-Pisa Intercity takes reservations but doesn't require them, and the Pisa-Florence train doesn't take reservations. That's to say that you could buy a ticket for the whole route at once, but at least part of it would be without reservations.

Wow, I don't know why I didn't think to put "S.M. Novella" in, instead of just Firenze.. Thank you all for your prompt and informative responses! I believe at this point I am going to take the 9.32 train that Andrew listed from La Spezia, station change at pisa (10.29) and arrive at Santa Maria Novella at 11.33. Knowing now that it's fine to just put in s.m. novella and it comes up, I will be getting the tickets at the train station.

This will definitely give me that extra time to get lunch, etc. before entering the Uffizi. I think we should be able to get from the b&b to the uffizi pretty promptly(two twenty year olds), and thankfully we won't have to rush as much. Ohh and Ellens, I live right in Bergenfield, NJ =]

Campo di Marte is out of way and best avoided if possible.

In front of your B&B there should be a bus stop. Bus #22 runs frequently and leaves you near Duomo; this saves a few minutes to your Uffizi trip. (There is no easyreturn bus, as one-way streets force buses to take different itineraries.)