alan h's activity

Questions Asked

My place is between Lakes Orta and Maggiore, and I have used Flybe in the past to fly from Birmingham to Milan Malpensa.Looking for flights in Sept/Oct, I was disappointed at the high costs - so went to the Easyjet site to look at the Luton to Tur

Thu, 08/20/2009 - 04:27

I have often advocated swinging up through Belgium when travelling from UK to Italy, on the grounds of the cheap petrol in Luxembourg and toll free motorways. I did this route again a couple of weeks ago, but found the roadworks on the Dunkirk-Lil

Tue, 07/28/2009 - 09:32

 I thought it might help people not break the law [or get caught breaking it] to some info on speed cameras they might come across in driving down to Italy. [This really applies to people like me who don’t have a sat-nav that tells them all the in

Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:03

When driving to Italy, [Lake Maggiore area], from Calais, I almost always drive up towards Dunkirk and then head East towards Luxembourg.   The reasons for doing so is simple:-

    Fri, 07/03/2009 - 12:52

    If you are driving down to Italy, this regularly updated AA site gives you the latest info on fuel prices across Europe.  Its useful for deciding where to fill up. Note - in Luxembourg, [where I always fill up - its worth the minor detour from Cal

    Thu, 07/02/2009 - 05:32

    .     I heard this today on Radio 4.  I take it you already know of tough and bough and cough and dough?Others may stumble, but not you,On hiccough, thorough, lough** and through.Well done!

    Sat, 06/20/2009 - 16:58

    .   I'm considering handing over ownership of my Italian Holiday Home to my kids. Does anyone know

    • How easy this is to do, and how costly?
    • Whether this can be done in the UK - or do I have to do it in Italy?
    Fri, 06/19/2009 - 04:54

    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