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

    Tue, 05/03/2011 - 07:37

    have you considered buying a 5' bed in the UK - there are great sales at present - and getting someone like coseperlacasa  to ship it down for you. It would be worth finding out what the costs would be Or you could just get an Italian bed, [and throw the 5' metal frame away - or stand it on end out in the garden and grow roses over it]

    Fri, 04/29/2011 - 13:12

    There has been plenty of speculation in the UK Press - but Italy isn't mentioned.   My money is on a [relatively] low cost honeymoon - perhaps the Scillies or Scotland. - or possibly East Africa

    Answer to: Intasure
    Tue, 04/19/2011 - 18:33

     "..........unless of course you swells out there are multiple home owners." ............. or own a holiday home

    Answer to: Intasure
    Mon, 04/18/2011 - 04:29

    The estate agent I bought the house through arranges the house insurance for me - I leave the approx amount with him in January/Feb, and he pays the insurance when it falls due in April - I pick up the certificate when I'm over next, plus the change ICI - I calculate it myself [takes about 5 minutes max - very simple calculation].  Google something like  'Calculate ICI' to find out how

    Answer to: Intasure
    Sun, 04/17/2011 - 04:19

    Just about to renew insurance on my [small] place with Groupama   Cost [no contents insurance - only building, liabilities etc ] - Euros 95  

    Fri, 04/15/2011 - 13:20

    "would you advise getting off at Faido if you can see traffic ahead? So often you're in the traffic & it's too late to turn off?" It a bit like Sod's Law - if you get off, the motorway will run free, and if you stay on, it blocks up. I think I'd leave it until the junction after Faido [Quinto, I think] unless its very heavy traffic on the motorway [even if its still moving]

    Fri, 04/15/2011 - 05:28

    " .....You also save the E38.60 cost of the tunnel pass.  ...." There isn't a tunnel pass - the swiss motorway pass [vignette] costs about E40 and is required on vehicles using the motorways  [I think its a E100 on the spot fine if you don't have one]   I forgot to say in my earlier post - if using the pass, and worried about jams on the approaches to the tunnels, you can get off at Faido going North [or earlier at Biasco] and Altdorf travelling South and follow the local road that parallels the motorway to the pass

    Fri, 04/15/2011 - 04:36

    " ........ pass is an option though I haven't ever had to use it. I'm told it's about 30 mins extra but the views are slightly better" Slightly!!! - a bit of an understatement Yes - it can add about 20 - 30 minutes, but if its queueing on the motorway its quicker than staying put.  Its a useful 'break point' for the trip - coffee shop and excellent views at the top.  I often use the pass, even if the Tunnel is free flowing

    Wed, 04/13/2011 - 16:58

    there are many route planners available on the Internet - and many of these give a time travelled at each 'point' on the route chosen, [as via michelin does] What I particularly like about via michelin is the fact you can amend the rout on the map with a right hand click as  many times as you like - So you just put in [say] Dunkirk to Garda and then change bits [like the Basle Bye Pass bit] and it automatically reconfigures the route and the timings