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

Loved 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   My son rang me up to inform me that the route passes about 100m away from

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 07:04

Comments posted

Sun, 05/19/2019 - 07:08

Seat61 is a great website for train travel in europe.Also - the German Railway route p=Planner is very very useful for seeing details of any journey you wish to make       https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml[In my opinion, its the best there is]Good luck Alan 

Fri, 04/26/2019 - 11:33

There should be no reason why you don't move in - I've seen many houses where external works are being carried out with people still using the house.

You could ask your geometra for his advice, in case there are any legal reasons

Wed, 03/20/2019 - 07:43

One way of getting a good price is to use one of the websites that put prospective customers in touch with 'removers' who have an empty van going back to the UKGoogle should assist - such as;-https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=8CaSXNuFG6TDxgPbmq2wCw&q=return+loads++italy+to+uk&oq=return+loads++italy+to+uk&gs_l=psy-ab.12...41723.45348..48894...0.0..0.725.5946.3-3j8j1j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i8i7i30.vZ9K_0GgTno 

Mon, 02/25/2019 - 15:21

Would be useful for others if you would say which car hire company you used

The only successful challenges to hire companies taking charges on your card, that I am aware of, have been done by people who have involved the 'Personal Finance Experts ' of the newspapers.
I'm aware that both the Saturday Guardian and Sunday Observer readers have had success this way - the involvement of the newspaper and the risk of significant bad publicity has energised some car hire companied to review theiractions, find an 'inadvertent error' on their part and a refund happens

Good Luck

Thu, 02/07/2019 - 09:52

"Will Leroy Merlin carry such a thing? "  My French isn't that good - but these seem to show boilers.  However, I'd suggest ypou buy one locally - your plumber will advise https://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/produits/chauffage-plomberie/radiateur-seche-serviettes-chaudiere-regulation-et-climatiseur/chaudiere/chaudiere-gaz-l1308217086

Tue, 02/05/2019 - 14:46

Get a gas combi boiler fitted - size depends on number of rooms to heat. It will do central heating and hot water for sinks, showers etc. Very easy to use

Cost - depends on size - get a couple of quotes from local heating engineers/plumbers.

Wed, 12/26/2018 - 15:17

If you are going to bring large amounts of cash into the country, I would make 2 suggestions;-

  • Do not bring in 500 Euro notes - they can be incredibly difficult to use - even banks are not keen on them
  • Don't carry the cash in a wallet/puse handbag etc - use a money belt strapped around your waist, under all your clothing

[That's how i did it]

Tue, 12/18/2018 - 03:18

My other suggestion is, if you have a little time to spare, is o go via Luxembourg. It costs about an hour [max] in travel, but is toll free, and you can also fill up in Luxembourg at the services with very cheap fuel

Mon, 12/17/2018 - 03:58

You shouldn't have any real problems if you stick to autoroutes/main roads.  I see you go via Colmar, I'd get there on the main route [autoroute via Strasbourg] rather than 'over the top' [Nancy to Colmar.Otherwise, no probs  

Thu, 11/15/2018 - 09:44

If you 'Google' something like "Part load Sardinia to Cambridge" or "Part Load Italy to UK" you'll get info on a couple of websites that the Haulage trade use to fill empty vans on return trips, and also little one off trip companies Good luck