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

Tue, 07/26/2016 - 16:52

"What are the regulations regarding change?"Talk to a local Geometra, Architect or your Comune

Tue, 07/26/2016 - 11:15

I think the Notaio wil sort out what is required.

Fri, 07/22/2016 - 08:27

"...................... I also wanted cheque book, but they will not send one to London, they say I have to come and pick it up, ..............."You have to pick them up at my bank also. Its an interesting process at mine - no need to order as the cheque book doeasn't have my name on the cheques, only my account number. When you go in for a new book, they get out a blank cheque book and their John Bull Kiddies Printing Set, and hand stamp my account number on each cheque.Efficient or what?

Fri, 07/15/2016 - 03:53

Unless you are going tp live in Italy, I would suggest that the simplest thing to do is not apply for residency, but accept that as a non-resident you cannot have the property as Prima Casa. In other words you will have to pay the IMU  tax. But not Income Tax, which you could be liable for as a residentI think all [?] other property related taxes are not affected by whether you have residency, but you will have to pay more for the [basic] electricity supplied to your property.  You also cannot buy a car if not rsident. [I know people say that you should be able to, but you cannot]Italy is so bureaucratic that applying for anything [inc residency] is a time wasting nightmare.

Thu, 07/07/2016 - 12:10

If all else fails, you could try asking a local Gepmetra or Architect for recommendations

Sat, 06/18/2016 - 05:10

If you have an Italian Bank account - sign it and send/fax/email it to the bank with a request they pay it from your accountNo Bank? - sign it and send it to the Lawyer, ask him to pay it for youy and add the cost to his [probably already exorbitant] bill.  Or wait until August - pop into your Comune and ask them to help sort out a new F24 for the amount plus the fine.  If you do that, ask them for Decembers F24 as well - you can then pay both at the same time. If paying via your bank or Laywer - ask the Lawyer to send you the December F24, so you can pay it in August, and get it out of the way

Mon, 06/06/2016 - 04:07

I think the lack of responses indicates that aprt from walking and seaside - there's not a lot for teenagers to do there.Don't forget also that there will [I believe] be restrictions applied this year on the number of people lallowed to access the area

Tue, 05/24/2016 - 07:20

"I am going to drive to pescara from England and was just wondering how much do you think it will cost with petrol and tolls, ...."I use Via Michelin as my first choice route planner. For the journey of Calais to Pescara via Sion, it gives the following;-

  • Distance     1054 miles
  • Time            18.4 hrs - 14.5hrs on motorways  [but that depends on how fast you drive]
  • Tolls            Road tolls £80 + Swiss road Tax £28
  • Petrol           £165 - but again it depends on how and what you drive

If I was doing the journey with 2 dogs and no other driver, I'd say 4 overnight stops [possibly 3, but it depends on how far you have to drive in the UK]Add to that the cost of Eurotunnel - say £250 return in peak season [half that one-way]Hotels - say £100/night Hope that helps

Sun, 05/22/2016 - 11:57

If you are lucky [and if a chipped tooth cap qualifies].....................The NHS leaflet "Health Advice for Travellers"   https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/PandV/PIL/Patient%20information%20leaflets/Health%20Advice%20for%20Travellers.pdf   states [for Italy] that most dentists are Private, and you would need to use a"national health service hospital or a dentist who is working in an ASL-managed centre."