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

Wed, 02/14/2018 - 07:40

You could tryhttp://www.weddingcelebrantitaly.com/

Tue, 02/06/2018 - 16:23

"the form that is to be completed is all in Italian and I really don’t understand it as my Italian isn’t great.​"Can you find a local Italian Teacher, [either school or '1to1'], and pay for a translation/help.

Tue, 02/06/2018 - 07:06

Do a quick google search on   "redeeming italian postal bonds" and you will find details of how to do it from abroad[Ignore businesses touting for work on these forums]

Sun, 01/21/2018 - 11:42

Info from the internet states that in general;-    [https://www.seat61.com/bike-by-train.htm]"Motorbikes are not carried on any regular European passenger trains at all, only on special car-carrying motorail trains which run on certain dates on a few key holiday routes......."​So I think you may not be able to put the Vespa on a train, as it would be classed as a motorbike

Sat, 01/06/2018 - 14:56

I’d suggest you look at Orta San Gulio [on Lake Orta, North-West of Milan].  A beautiful small lakeside town/village.  Beautiful Church and the gardens by the Comune, where they do Civil weddings, have wonderful lake views – we’ve seen several weddings there, and they look stunning in these surroundings.  In easy reach of Malpensa, Bergamo and Turin airports.  Cooler than the south of Italy, and plenty of places to rentGoogle throws up;- Guardian newspaper article 20012               https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2012/mar/09/italy-lake-orta-unspoilt Local Newsletter               http://www.orta.net/eng1/ Review on TripAdvisor about weddings therehttps://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187854-d585256-Reviews-Lake_Orta-Orta_San_Giulio_Province_of_Novara_Piedmont.html Also – Google  “Lake Orta Weddings” for more details on wedding planners etc Good Luck 

Mon, 01/01/2018 - 06:20

Looks like they are - this may help;- https://www.snooper.co.uk/blog/can-i-use-my-dash-cam-in-europe/ 

Sun, 12/10/2017 - 07:39

Calais, head north towards Dunkirk and take the A25 t0wards Lille, then go on to Luxembourg [fill up with Fuel in Luxembourg - cheaper than most of Europe - use the big services just before the border with France], on towards Metz. All toll free so far

Option 1 - Go towards Strasbourg on A4 and on to German autobahn [Toll on bit to Strasbourg] - then down to Switzerland and on to Gotthard Tunnel and into Italy [Swiss Vignette required] and eventually pay on Italian motorways

Option 2 - Go on to Nancy on A31 and Mulhouse and on to German autobahn, and Gotthad Tunnel - no tolls in France

Option 3 - to avoid Gotthard Tunnel [or Gotthard Pass when not snowy] take option 2 as far as Remirement, then take the N57 to Besancon, and on into Switzerland, and round Lake Geneva and through the Simplon Pass [great drive up the Pass - Cafes etc at the summit] and less hold ups than Gotthard Tunnel] into Italy - only cost is Swiss Vignette

Option 4 - further east through Germany avoiding Swiss Tunnels- don't know these routes

Hope this helps

Fri, 11/17/2017 - 11:53

Your problem s that many Italians think the Brits are all money and luittle sense - some are of course, and prices reflect this when given.Talk to locals, and use local [recomended ] tradesmen.Last job on my house [couple of years ago] - done by friend of neighbour.  Neighbour thought that quote from his own uncle was too high and got a verbal from his friend as well.Job entailed remove 3 internal unsafe glass panel doors to bedroom and replace with solid, plus making good., replace 3 external double glazed windows, replace double glazed patio doors and side panels, kitchen exterior double glazed door and make one external doorway into window [double glazed] with a new wall below.  all widow frames etc in woodLeft him the keys - came back 6 weeks later - perfext job [neighbours wife had popped in and given it a proper clean after the men had finished their clean up!] - cost about 11,500.00Euros [cash of course].  never acyually met the builder at all - all done on trust.  Thats how its done in Italy

Fri, 10/06/2017 - 15:06

Surely it depends on what type of life style you want?

Tue, 10/03/2017 - 06:10

You might find this useful;- http://www.conssydney.esteri.it/consolato_sydney/en/i-servizi/per-i-cittadini/notarile