I'm planning my route down for a months visit in July.
alan h's activity
Questions Asked
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
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.Ìý We prefer to vary the rou
Wed, 06/01/2011 - 09:25
Today I received an email from the Swiss Travel Centre.Ìý 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 likeÌýÌý
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.Ìý As part of the R&R process, I fancied some soup, and looked around the supermarket.Ìý 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 Ìý My son rang me up to inform me that the route passes about 100m away from
Sat, 11/06/2010 - 07:04
Comments posted
Holiday lets - who is going to clean the place [before and after let] and supply clean linen etc?Holiday Home - will you end up spending all your time tidying up the garden at the start of each holiday? - I know somebody who bought a holiday home - takes her at least 3 days to get the garden tidy, even before she can start her holiday, and another 1 or 2 days to redo it before she leaves
I think you really need to consider why you want to buy the place - what is making the decision - Heart [bad] or head [better]?You need to remember that 'initial quotes' are invariably lower than the final cost for works.Supervising the work is a nightmare if you are not there - you rely on others 'doing the right thing'.If you are worried about the total cost, and your answer is to try and find as higher sale price as possible, I think you are 'on a loser', as you can always find somebody who will give the answer you want, at a cost.ÌýMy suggestion would be to look at what the the sum you intend to spend could buy in the vicinity, in terms of a place ready to move in to.Ìý Is it really worth the hassle of months/years of spending on a 'money pit'?
My washing machine is installed [plans submitted and approved by Comune] in the garage, so I don't see whay you couldn't put one in the cantinaI did need to push the architect do do it - he wanted it in the bathroom, but I was the Client and said what I wanted.
Ceiling height required is approx 2.7metresIf you have a dirt floor, you could perhaps lower the floor to get the height.You can ask your comune for a dispensation, via a geometra or architect - but not too hopeful on that.The ceiling height refers to habitable room - you could probably argue that a workroom isn't habitable.Ìý Or you could make it a store roomThere is nothing to stop you using a workroom/store as a diningÌýroom, or bedroom [or even a store romm as a workroom]Ìý-Ìýit just means that when you sell it it will be a non-habitable room in the description.
Advice;-
When I bought my holiday home [just under 50% of original asking price, 13 years ago], I worked on the assumption that if things went wrong [they haven't yet], I could lose all my money [I haven't yet]
Bergamo - too far north?????Verona, Padova, Venice, Milan, Genoa, BolognaÌýTurin, Parma, Venice, lots of lakesÌýetc etc - all within an easy days journey.Take the offer of free accomodation in Bergamo
Google throws up;-ÌýÌýÌýÌýNever used either though
Travelling with DogsChris - we are retired, so we limit the daily drive to about 4 - 4.5 hours a day, as we find that minimises the stress of travelling for our poochWe go away for 4 weeks, spending 3 overnight stays on the way to and from northern Italy [lake Orta area].Ìý This gives us 3 weeks at the house.--------------If you are looking for a dog friendly hotel about 90 minutes from Calais [we use the Shuttle, as the dog stays with us in the car, and it only takes about 45 minutes max], I can wholeheartedly recommend the Hotel De La Paix in Bapaume, which has 3 ground floor bedrooms that are ideal for travellers with dogs. It also allows dogs in their restaurant, and breakfast room.Ìý We usually dine on the terrace, so seldom use the restaurant, but useful when it rains.Ìý Adjacent to the hotel is a park where the dog can be walked.Ìý We've stayed there about 4 times now - really good and friendly staff [family run] who speak englishhttp://www.hotel-de-la-paix-bapaume.com/ÌýÌýÌý
"........... but are considering Calais- Geneva, Geneva- Lucca (via Mont Blanc tunnel) in the hope its a bit quicker."I wouldn't do that route.Last month I did Calais to Italy via LausanneÌý and the Simplon Pass - absolute doddle and whilst slightly longer than via the Mont Blanc Tunnel, a fair bit cheaper [no charge for the Simplon] with a fantastic 'break point' on the top of the pass - great views and a couple of bars that do basic foodI do this route for a couple of reasons - saves the potential queue for Gotthard Tunnel, cheaper than Mont Blanc option - which is quicker, but more expensive, and a lot more Dog friendly - he loves the walk on the top of the Simplon PassGood luck
Going Over The TopThis simply means that one doesn't go through the Gotthard Tunnel, but leaves the motorway just before it and takes the route 'over the top' of the mountain, via the St Gotthard PassAt worst its about half an hour or soÌýlonger, plus any time you add for a tea break on the topPretty well signpostedYour first route [in your original post] took that route