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.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

Tue, 02/18/2014 - 13:24

"I advise those of you who transfer money for the mortgage payment, by way of greater security, to transfer amounts to 20% higher than the installment loan that is due,"ÌýYou'd need to send 25% extra so that the needed amount remains.ÌýÌýi.e.ÌýÌýÌý E125-20% = E100

Sun, 02/16/2014 - 12:15

As I understand it, [from postings elswher on the net];-ÌýFrom 1st February ALL transfers to ½ûÂþÌìÌà bank accounts from outside ItalyÌýare subject to a 20% witholding tax. The bank will deduct the 20% and send it to the GovernmentThis is all about tax due on investments abroad.To reclaim the money, assuming it was not the result of an investment abroad, you must reclaim it on your next ½ûÂþÌìÌà tax return.You can also make an 'autodichiarazione' at your bank regarding the 'ritenute d'ingresso' to declare it is not money from investments abroad and the bank will no longer deduct the 20%.Ìý [UK Pension payments, for example]ÌýÌý

Sun, 02/16/2014 - 06:39

Because of the dog, and also in preparation for avoiding the 100 SF charge for the Motorway Vignette in Switzerland next year, we are looking at a new route down to North West italy [Lake Maggiore/Lake OrtaÌýarea]We are planning 3 night stops on the journey to cut down the daily in-car time for the dog to approx 5 hours a day max.Ìý We enjoy a leisurely drive down and back anyway, its part of the holidayRoute may well be;-

  • Day 1ÌýÌýÌýÌýEurotunnel and first stop near Lille Englos, at the Holiday Inn express - we've had good stays there before, and ther is plenty of space to walk the dog
  • Day 2ÌýÌýÌý Lille to Epinal area
  • Day 3ÌýÌýÌý Epinal to Sion in Switzerland - posssibly the Ibis there.Ìý The route will be cross country to Pontalier in France [avoiding Besancon]Ìýthen into and throughÌýSwitzerland on non motorway roads.Ìý The lakeside road from Lausanne is a most enjoyable drive, and it goes onÌýthrough to Sion
  • Day 4ÌýÌýÌý Sion to our place near Lake Orta- only 2 or 3 hours drive

Ìý

  • Return Jouney will probably follow the same route and stops

Distance wise this isn't much longer than more direct routes we usually take, but it will add a 2 or 3 hours to the overall journey time because of Days 3 and 4ÌýAnyone got any comments?Ìý Ìý[but not about the need for 3 stops overnight, that's a 'given' for us]Ìý

Sat, 02/15/2014 - 04:02

"ÌýDid you say there's a Thai restauarant not far from the Ibis?"Not me - the Ibis is out by the airport.Ìý Having used it once, I won't be going there againÌý [Room was damp etc etc].Ìý You need a car to get into town for good restaurants

Tue, 02/11/2014 - 17:12

"anybody out there dusting down their roadmaps to Italy?"ÌýYes - starting planningÌý leisurely drive down with our dog.Ìý First time with a pet, so changes to route/times required.Ìý Will be using Eurotunnel rather than Ferry - dog will stay in car with us, not put in cage on ferry, and will spend 3 nights on way down [and back] to reduce time in car each day

Mon, 02/03/2014 - 03:58

"wow, what's happened to it mag...a sad demisesad"It's not what it was - but things usully go quiet at the start of the year'.Ìý I think the heady days of lots of postings are gone [both here and elsewhere], but I expect it will pick up later on.ÌýHowever, I'm not a fan of this new formatÌý[The "other place" is also pretty quiet (but not as quiet as here)Ìý- It does have some interesting things on, but it's a lot about ex-pats wanting to vote in the UK and Yanks saying Knox must be innocent because she is American.]

Sun, 02/02/2014 - 08:05

"Hellooooo, anybody there?"Yes - this any good?ÌýÌý

Mon, 01/27/2014 - 11:33

Try this for infoÌý

Tue, 01/14/2014 - 11:15

Try ½ûÂþÌìÌà Yellow pagesÌýÌýÌý

Answer to: IUC
Thu, 01/09/2014 - 11:22

Try;-ÌýÌý