Basing yourselves in genoa could be an excellnt idea, because the Liguria region is not just the Cinque Terre, and if you plan to be around for about a week you can take in more than that. Genoa itself requires at least 2 or 3 days for a decent exploration.

Try one of the apartments on http://www.homelidays.com

As for flying, EasyJet to Nice + train or bus from there would be a possibility, as would Ryanair to Pisa + train from there (or from Stansted to Genoa). Also FlyBe from Manchester to Milan Malpensa + direct bus to genoa from there.

I'm going to second that opinion that Genoa as a base is an excellent idea. It's a beautiful but overlooked city among many guidebooks, and the Ligurian coast on either side of it has tons of day trips to offer. A few tips on the Eastern (Levante) coast: Camogli (just 30 min by train from Genoa), Portofino, and Santa Margherita (the train station right after Camogli). On the Western (Ponente) coast I've enjoyed visiting: Finale Ligure, Albenga, and Alassio. Then there are also the beautiful mountains in-land behind you both in Liguria and the Piedmont regions, which offer lots of hiking, national parks, and at least one visitable system of caves.

Though I've never flown into Pisa, I think it might be a shorter trip on up to Genoa, rather than traveling from Nice. And you might grab the chance to see the Leaning Tower too!

One more thing about basing yourselves in Genoa: the speedier trains tend to depart from the city, and don't stop at every little town along the coast where you might be tempted to stay. So in terms of saving travel time, Genoa is centrally located and might give you faster access to places further away.

The website of Italy's rail system Trenitalia is available in English and would allow you to get an idea looking ahead at train travel options. Genoa's two main stations are: Genova Brignole and Genova Piazza Principe. http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/

I think it could be easier to fly from Manchester to Genoa with British Airways:

€ 228,31 (it's about 180 Pound)

06:25 Partenza Manchester (MAN)

Arrivo Genova (GOA) 12:50 gio 9-apr

Durata: 5h 25m British Airways 2901 / 2688

Collegamento Londra (LGW)

13:45 Partenza Genova (GOA)

Arrivo Manchester (MAN) 19:00 dom 12-apr

Durata: 6h 15m British Airways 2689 / 2910

Collegamento Londra (LGW)

I suggest you: B&B La Mattonaia

I've just come back from a few days in Genoa, and yes it's well worth a visit. The centro storico is amazing, and I took a train out to Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre) and walked to Monterosso (the last two stages from Corniglia to Vernazza and Monterosso are hard work, but well worth doing. Probably less hard work if you're regular walkers). There's some great restaurants from traditional Italian "canteens" such as Da Maria (a 2 course lunch including wine for 9 euros) or more expensive ones such as La Raibetta, which I ended up going to twice. There's plenty to do in town especially if you like art galleries and palaces, the Mueseum of the Sea is interesting, I didn't make it to the Aquarium.

It might be worth considering getting the train to Stansted and flying Ryanair directly to Genoa; Pisa and Nice are a fair distance from Nice, and Genoa airport is a mere 20 minute bus ride from cental Genoa.

(I have been to Genoa tweice before, both times passing through on the way to Piedmont, which is why I decided to go back for a proper look).