alan h's activity

Questions Asked

I'm planning my route down for a months visit in July.

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 08:13

I logged on this morning to my local webcam, to look at the snow on the ski slopes.

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 04:47

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14995588Loved the note about changing the locks!

Wed, 09/21/2011 - 09:20

I have just got back from my latest trip to Italy, and thought some of you might be interested to hear about a Swiss hotel that we stayed in on the way down.It is the Hotel Engel in Stans [near to Lake Lucerne, a few minutes from the motorway

Mon, 07/25/2011 - 05:21

For many years now I have used the likes of 'mappy', 'via michelin' etc for calculating different routes down to Italy - for us its a part of our holiday, so we don't always want to take the quickest/shortest route down.  We prefer to vary the rou

Wed, 06/01/2011 - 09:25

Today I received an email from the Swiss Travel Centre.  The relevant portion is;- "The GBP price for a Vignette will increase from 01 June 2011 and we wanted to give you the opportunity to purchase this years’ Vignette before the pric

Mon, 05/23/2011 - 09:45

I've just driven down and back for a [much too] short holiday, and feel that an update on how fuel prices look on the way down would be useful to fellow travellers The following is a good site for seeing what prices have been like  

Mon, 04/04/2011 - 05:02

P&O have introduced a new ferry on the Dover - Calais route - its called the Spirit of Britain. They seem to have a special offer on at the moment [on this ship only] I've just booked a return crossing [car + 2] for £60 - significantly less th

Sat, 01/29/2011 - 06:08

Does Tomato soup exist in Italy? We were feeling a bit under the weather when we went out to Italy 2 weeks ago.  As part of the R&R process, I fancied some soup, and looked around the supermarket.  There were lots of different soups, but I rea

Mon, 01/24/2011 - 08:29

The route/timings for next years Giro d'Italia have been posted http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/   My son rang me up to inform me that the route passes about 100m away from

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 07:04

Comments posted

Sun, 12/13/2020 - 06:10

Well done Silvia - two responses so far, (plus this one), and both adverts.

Mon, 12/07/2020 - 11:36

Following on from Modicasa and Ugo's comments - it would appear you really only have two options for taking your fiance's name.

1.   Marry him in Ireland

2.   Change your surname to match his before you marry him in Italy. 

 

Good luck

Thu, 12/03/2020 - 13:06

My Italian bank has emailed me today confirming payment made. 

Hopefully I'll be over there before the next one in June.

Tue, 12/01/2020 - 15:05

I'm lucky, the Comune sends me the F24 by email, so I just sign it and email it to my Italian bank for payment.

Thu, 11/26/2020 - 09:51

Remember, (assuming you are from the UK) that if you are out if the UK for more than 6 months (continuous), you (in theory,) lose the right to NHS services when you return. And any travel insurance and car insurance is similarly time limited

Mon, 11/23/2020 - 11:53

Back in the early 2000's, I bought my house in Italy.   We decided it was easier for me to be the sole purchaser, although both my wife and I attended the signing at the Notary's. 

He was OK with her not being a purchaser,  but asked that my wife countersign each page of the documentation to indicate her agreement with me being sole owner.

 

Tue, 10/20/2020 - 07:20

"However, we both use Naples airport when going to Italy & it is only one day so we don't think this is too much trouble."

Don't forget - covid test before you go, and quarantine on your return to UK

Mon, 10/19/2020 - 04:46

The ones that are on now are still on their backing.

Sun, 10/18/2020 - 16:17

You can get cheap vignettes on ebay, if you need one again.

(Probably not legal in Swis law)

Wed, 10/07/2020 - 06:15

The Mont Blanc route is probably a little quicker than your usual route, but it is a fair bit more expensive - Via Michelin indicates about €100+ each way  overall.  ( More if you already have a Swiss Carnet). Although its marginally quicker, I've done the route a couple of times and it's a bit of a (tiring) blast on the motorways.

If it's just your usual route you want to avoid, may I suggest the following:-

Calais to Pontarlier (near Besancon), mainly motorway,  then into Switzerland and onto the motorway that skirts Lake Geneva and leads onto the Simplon Pass into Italy, near Domadossola.  Then on, via lake Orta to Varallo.  The Swiss part of the trip is very scenic, and less hectic than others.  (Its the route we use when we take the dog for its Summer holiday near Orta) 

Depending on how many stops you want to make, I can recommend a couple of hotels on the route.

ONE OTHER THING - I don't now if the Mont Blanc route has been affected by the recent storms/flooding in France and West Piedmonte

Good luck