Tony114's activity

Questions Asked

I usually drive to Italy with my old style UK paper drivers licence with no photo.  Back in early 2020 this was also good to show for car hire.  Have the rules changed since Brexit?  is an old style UK paper licence still valid for car hire?  The

Thu, 01/18/2024 - 11:39

Just in case it might help anyone not already aware.  My comune is discounting the costs of IMU by 37.5% for second home owners resident abroad who are in receipt of a recognized pension as proof of retired status.

Fri, 01/06/2023 - 08:57

Any recommendations on an Italian bank? I have used MPS for years and they are fine and I can manage stuff online but they seem expensive, I assume to pay for an extensive branch network.

 

Fri, 08/05/2022 - 04:17

Comments posted

Mon, 05/31/2021 - 14:28

Can I add my thanks as well. Looks like France is off limits without a quarantine. A British chap on You Tube travels from Austria to Italy and was having tests at Italian chemists for euro 50 some with appointment and some just walk in. I think even that requirement is being lifted within the EU. Hopefully this here will be some sort of vaccine passport that might make it easier.

Sun, 05/16/2021 - 13:11

Hopefully someone can offer better advice on this stressful situation. I hope the payments are recorded as a bank transfer so receipt cannot be denied and some correspondence on what was agreed. If so then can ultimately challenge via notary or failure to provide a receipt but it is best to up the ante without going straight to litigation. Easier done via a face to face meeting. Perhaps list the payments made and the work agreed and highlight what is outstanding. Best of luck and I hope someone can offer better advice.

Sat, 05/15/2021 - 11:02

I shall get all wistful. We go to Tuscany and the route Calais, Arras, Reims, St Dizier, Pontarlier, Lausanne, then into Italy via Gran St Bernard (lovely diner on the Italian side at the Agip), Etrouble, then down to Genova. It pretty well follows the via Francigena and is a straight line. You can choose Nationales or autoroutes in France. Quiet roads and some lovely towns such as Laon, Langres, Aosta. We do vary to the route some years such as via Mulhouse and lake Como or south via Annecy. Frankly any route would be great right now.

Fri, 05/14/2021 - 15:24

We buy our vignette at the last German service station if via Germany or at the border if via Pontarlier. Always pay with card as if use euro then the change is in CHF which not even enough to pay for all the pay toilets now at service stations.  As others have said they are keen on vignettes even starting to unpeel it to make sure it is used. Be interesting to see how these intrepid early travellers get on. Good luck to them. I. Can't wait to drive once the paperwork and testing settles down.

 

Thu, 05/06/2021 - 15:34

In similar position. We bought elsewhere and wanted to sell our previous place that we stopped using. I know this is obvious but the usual rules apply, it helps to keep in touch with the agent so not forgotten and let him/her know what is your bottom line and understand the market, also tidy it up with a clean and reduce clutter so it presents better. Ultimately though dropping the price helps if it means avoiding more years of local taxes and deterioration.

Thu, 05/06/2021 - 15:27

I would avoid the winter due to poor driving weather and you will need chains or winter tyres. I would aim for September or October when France and Italy will have caught up with vaccinations and I think you might not need testing if vaccine passports are introduced in some form. Plus schools will be back.

Mon, 03/29/2021 - 10:00

I tried ringing the ProLoco at Bagni as they are often a good source of local knowledge but they seem closed. Pagine Gialle lists a few in Lucca such as Gierre Garden who also do private garden maintenance. I've no idea who is best. Looks like the Comune is still a decent bet for a name or the Facebook route suggested by Beth. There is quite a British enclave in Lucca with even an occasional journal but I'm sure you know that.

 

Mon, 03/22/2021 - 15:36

We bought on the coast just south of Livorno where I have family. Love it and missing it. We did consider your area as it is good value and it's charms are underrated, I like Bagni, but senior home management wanted the sea. When we bought our place we kept in touch with the estate agent who has been a source of traders such as a builder and got to know the neighbours and local hardware store who are also good for names as well as just building a network. No different to anywhere really all on recommendation. I am sure I am not going to get there soon so I will have to try my neighbours gardener. 

Fri, 03/19/2021 - 17:06

I know the feeling, my little garden had missed two lots of tidying from me so I will have to call the gardener used by by neither. A tree and 12 metres of hedge about 200 euro.

I've only got obvious suggestions. The best is whether you know someone local either a neighbour or a trusted trader who can recommend someone or ask around. The next is to ring the comune to see if they can give you some names. I'm not sure about paginegialle. Certainly 1,700 seems expensive.