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, 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]