alan h's activity

Questions Asked

Tesco and Eurotunnel[Copied from another Forum]If you shop at Tesco you'll probably be rewarded with Cash Vouchers.  What you may not know is that you can exchange these for 3x their value with Eurotunnel.

Sun, 03/18/2018 - 16:50

ITALIAN GENEALOGYI am researching my family tree [all UK based], and belong to a Genealogy Group here in the UK - its part of the U3A [an organisation for 'retired persons who want to do things rather than sit at home all d

Wed, 01/04/2017 - 05:24

Cancelling a Eurotunnel Booking I have had to cancel a return trip on Eurotunnel [Car + 2 + Dog], as I have to go into hospital for an op.The booking was 'non-refundable'.I rang them to cancel and they confirmed it was non-

Thu, 05/26/2016 - 08:00

IMU - Its still around I thought this had disappeared in the new tax system, but my Comune website says the first payment for 2014 is due by 16th June Paid it via my bank today - emailed them the F24

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 08:56

Looks like the days of the easy/cheap trip to italy through Switzerland are numbered. Apparently, the Swiss government has decided to raise the cost of the vignette to 100 Swiss Francs for 2015. They are introducing a two month vignette for 40SF,

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 15:58

Petrol prices in France are now comparable with the UK, except on the French Autoroutes.One option is to fill up at the L'Eclerc superstores with their SP95 E10 petrol [its a petrol with some ethylene in - generally used in France - which is OK fo

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 04:25

For a change this year we drove down to Italy via Besancon  [avoiding most tolls by taking some good french non-motorways.]However - Besancon roads are in total chaos as they are digging them up to lay tram routes - this will take about 2 more yea

Wed, 07/10/2013 - 16:44

Can you help?I've just completed making a 'variation' of Limoncello. The only change is that I dispensed with the lemons, I and substituted Sloes that I picked here in the UK at the end of last year.

Sun, 01/20/2013 - 09:10

In today's GuardianRyanair have announced their credit card will now be liable to the same charges as other credit cards - so the end of no charge bookings

Sat, 11/10/2012 - 09:07

Comments posted

Sun, 10/26/2014 - 16:08

Talk to the Comune - they'll advise you on the requirements  

Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:06

You may find this site useful. For my comune, it calculates the IMU and TASI payments  [I see it also recognises where you live.- Sarnano]It also allows you to print out the completed F24 form[s]I then sign them and email them to my Italian Bank, who pay the taxes from my account

Fri, 09/26/2014 - 09:16

I enjoy driving in Italy - with the exception of the cities, where it can get hecticOtherwise - no probs.

Tue, 09/23/2014 - 07:06

Excess Insurance Cover All car hire companies charge the earth for insurance to cover the excess payable in the case of an accident.Buy Annual Car Hire Excess Insurance [search on-line] for about £40 - £50.  It is well worth it if your hire is over a week duration

Mon, 09/22/2014 - 09:25

Things to avoid;- As a first time renter, I strongly recommend tha you stick to using one of the 'big' companies like Herz, Eurocar, Avis etc - you pay more but they do tend to treat customers better than some of the smaller/cheaper companies.Its worth doing an internet search to look at feedback on whichever one you choose [before renting, of course]Personally, I've never had trouble with Hertz or Avis - but would never ever use Locauto again

Wed, 08/27/2014 - 04:40

Using toll route for variety.  We've been driving down 2 or 3 times a year for the last 10 years, so occassionally we like a changeAlso, now we have a dog, we do shorter 'hops' [3 overnight stops], and are seeing if this route is OK for avoiding an overnight stop in Switzerland  [No dog this time]

Tue, 08/26/2014 - 16:04

"............  is this the famous alternative epinal route many do as an alternative?  ..........." Don't think so - the 'alternative' is probably the route passing near Lorrach, that by-passes Basel

Tue, 08/26/2014 - 11:06

Route from Nancy is E23/N57 to Remiremont then E512 to Mulhouse - a delightful run, but I think the Nancy/Colmar direct route is easier [Doing it at the end of October - Calais to Mons [1st overnight stop] then on to Colmar [2nd stop, in Mercure in Town centre] - then on to Lake Maggiore area for a10 days before returning via Pontarlier and St Quentin [using french toll roads]

Tue, 08/26/2014 - 10:15

You could do Nancy to Mulhouse direct - but still the same problem [if that is what it is] of going over the mountains - but to me that is a very interesting part of the trip, and a nice break from motorway/dal carriage way drivingThe Colmar direct route is the shortest - its about 25 miles further via Strasburg, and 20 direct to Mulhouse, but the timings are about the same.  I do think that you save a little fuel on the Colmar direct route - but its probably not a great deal Flashed by a speed camera in france?  See;-http://www.thelocal.fr/20130530/france-cracks-down-on-speeding-foreign-driversYou might be lucky - opinions differ on how good the French are at getting the fines paid [Google it]