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

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 12:27

Any chance of buying an 'old banger' and driving?

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 10:14

Try the 8.55 or 10.55 trains from Genoa to Paris via Nice Then Eurostar [who are running extra Trains] to London This site  European Train Timetables  will enable you to sort out routing options  [but probably won't have the extra Eurostars].  Look at  Eurostar  

Answer to: first time post
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 08:13

Get a couple of quotes, from your architect and a geometra, for filling the form in and submitting it

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 05:58

[I posted this on Patz 'bill' thread - but it may assist you also]   According to the Finance Ministry website  The ICI must be paid in two installments:

  1. first, to be paid by June 16, is equal to 50% of tax due for the year and is calculated at the rate and deductions the previous year;
  2. the second installment to be paid in settlement between 1 and December 16, is determined by the application of rates and deductions deliberated for the current year, then subtracting the amount paid on account.

The website has a fair amount about ICI – [its in Italian, but my Google bar translated it for me], and although it may not help on how to pay, it could help with the calculations and the [relatively small] charges for late payment  [I paid late last year – cost me about 6 Euros extra] The website is   here

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 04:48

According to the Finance Ministry website  The ICI must be paid in two installments:

  1. first, to be paid by June 16, is equal to 50% of tax due for the year and is calculated at the rate and deductions the previous year;
  2. the second installment to be paid in settlement between 1 and December 16, is determined by the application of rates and deductions deliberated for the current year, then subtracting the amount paid on account.

The website has a fair amount about ICI – [its in Italian, but my Google bar translated it for me], and although it may not help on how to pay, it could help with the calculations and the [relatively small] charges for late payment  [I paid late last year – cost me about 6 Euros extra] The website is   here

Thu, 04/15/2010 - 10:15

"I've just got a red bill from the comune for ICI 2008 which is for over €1000 and includes interest owed even though this is the first time they have sent the bill." My Commune never sends a bill out to me - I have to look at their website for the rate, calculate the ICI and pay it by the 'due date'  [bit of a bummer with a holiday home that isn't visited that much - off there in May to hopefully pay it]

Wed, 04/14/2010 - 16:24

Some people say you should always use a solicitor. My Italian friends say you would be mad to use one I didn't use one  [but lots of Brits do - they feel safer doing so] I don't regret it