alan h's activity

Questions Asked

I think the groups now exist [at least - when I go to the 'make a new post' section, there they are, in the "Audience" section]   Hope someone uses them soon - after all the time its taken

Thu, 07/01/2010 - 04:50

Anyone used the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry service? I'm hoping to drive down to the holiday home later this year, and was thinking of using the service.

Thu, 07/01/2010 - 04:45

By chance I went on the old Forum yesterday - found that someone had PM'ed me from that forum only a few days ago.   I hadn't got any notification of a PM, but obviously the old Forum PM system still works    It might be worth doing the odd visit

Sat, 05/15/2010 - 12:15

Hopefully they may start flights to the North soon ? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8630455.stm

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 12:40

I can't beleive that its 17+ hours since the last post - or has my PC taken over and hidden everything?

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:24

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8307267.stm Hopefully this will kill Blair's ambitions off.

Wed, 10/14/2009 - 12:05

There is an interesting article in today's G2 section of the Guardian newspaper by a woman who moved to Italy, founded a successful business, and has now moved back to the UK [but still has the business] because she missed London 

Wed, 08/26/2009 - 04:55

Comments posted

Mon, 08/12/2013 - 10:52

My Suggestion. Rheims to Chalons en Champagne [the only bit of toll road]Challons. to St Dizier - normal road [not dual carriageway, but with overtaking lanes at times]St Diziere to Nancy - dual carriagewayNancy to Colmar - dual carriageway, then normal road, but with overtaking lanes in placesColmar to Mulhouse then turn left into Germany - dual carriagewayDown German autobahn towards Basel - pick up Swiss Motorway Carnet at Bad Bellingen servicesBefore reacing Basel, take turn to Lorrach, and on into Switzerland - avoids Basel [possible traffic delays at Border] - dual carriage way throughoutTake Swiss motorway to Lucerne and on to Gotthard Tunnel [or Gotthard Pass], and on into Italy and autostrada Easy route to take- done it many times

Sat, 08/10/2013 - 16:49

Get a couple more quotes as a comparison.  Then bargain the price down

Wed, 08/07/2013 - 06:42

Filter You should be able, once the listing has come up, filter the answers by specifying which year[s] you wish to see.  [filter is on RHS of the answers listing page]

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 11:48

Probably nearer 100Km, if that - but you save a ton in toll charges and time paying toll charges (plus border queues [if you go through Basel), so the overall time diifference won't be massive.  Plus cheap petrol.Still its up to you  [and the route planner you use]

Thu, 08/01/2013 - 16:56

Standard Answer from meDover - Dunkirk [DFDS] is usually cheapestCalais -Dunkirk, Lille - into Belgium - Charleroi, Namur, and on to Luxemburg - all toll free motorway. Fill up with petrol in Luxemburg [at services entering or leaving the country - cheapest on your route. Then toll free motorway to Metz, Nancy and towards Colmar [becomes single carriageway for part ner Colmar]. Toll free motorway from Colmar to Mulhouse, then over to Germany and down towards Basle.  Take turning off to Lorrach to avoid Basle [can be bad]  So far, still no charges Travel through Switzerland needs a vignette  - about 35 Euros [I think] at the services on the German motorway [at Bad Bellingen] - but thats the only charge [vignette lasts one calendar year - actually Dec to January (14 months)]Through Gotthard Tunnel [no charge] and down into Italy and on to Italian autostrada and toll charges Good luck

Wed, 07/31/2013 - 17:19

If all else fails - try 'Google Translate' on http://translate.google.co.uk/it has a 'listen' facilty, so you can hear how the words are pronounced, and isn't too bad on basic phrases

Answer to: Verne
Wed, 07/24/2013 - 09:53

I tend to go via Switzerland as it avoids french toll roads, and road tunnel charges.   I recommend cutting up to Belgium [via Lille] and on to Luxemburg, then down to Metz, Nancy and then Colmar and Basle bypass into Switzerland.It is a wee bit further than blasting down to Metz on the french autoroute, but is totally toll free and Luxembourg petrol is cheap [motorway petrol price is the same as off the motorway]You do need a Swiss Vignette [buy it at the German services at Bad Bellingen], but you have saved on French road toll charges - and it lasts until the end of Jan next yearNo further charges in switzerland [fill up with fuel before getting to Italy, on the Locarno road, just off the motorway - motrway petrol prices are high]Only toll charges will be on the Italian autostrada

Answer to: Verne
Wed, 07/24/2013 - 07:11

About 750 miles - 11 or 12 hours driving time [excluding all stops] So you could, in theory, have a kip in a hotel [just] before the Mont Blanc tunnel [depending on your route] and have about 3 hrs [or so] driving left the next morningI'd probably go into Italy and leave a shorter drive [say 60 - 90 mins] in the morning

Wed, 07/24/2013 - 06:59

The route planner on the Drive Alive website is pretty good  http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/route_planner.asp It allows you to 'drag' your route to vary it, gives a running time total for the journey [useful for booking overnight stops], and also has lots of hotels/campsites etc shown on the map.The website also has plenty of additional info on driving abroad