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

    Terrible accident in Viareggio. 

    Tue, 06/30/2009 - 04:50

    .     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 ½ûÂþÌìÌà 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

    Egypt 1 - Italy 0  ÌýÌý.

    Thu, 06/18/2009 - 18:08

    Comments posted

    Sun, 11/24/2019 - 06:42

    What we did when we bought our holiday home in Italy was:-
    1. Decide on area - we did this visiting places we thought would do, with ½ûÂþÌìÌà friends, who gave us a overview of the area
    2. Using ½ûÂþÌìÌà Yellow Pages (Pagine Gialle?) We got names of estate agents in the area, and by googling them got their website and email details.
    3. Booked a weeks holiday in the area and arranged, by email (in ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ- Google translate if all else fails) meetings with half a dozen agents - max 2 a day. They were all given via email our requirements - location, no of bedrooms, land etc etc, and price - so in theory they would take us to appropriate places. (Worked pretty well).
    4. Found the one we liked and offered 40% below asking price . Was accepted and we've enjoyed the ace for over 15 years.

    Good luck

    Thu, 11/21/2019 - 15:29

    If you copy the web address in stevemonkseatons post and put it into 'Google Translate " you might get a fair(ish) English version of the page.

    Wed, 11/20/2019 - 11:18

    These sites may help  [I don't know how accurate they are]http://english.controleradar.org/  https://radars.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/#/https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/french-super-speed-camera/ Good luck  

    Sat, 11/09/2019 - 05:07

    GeoffAnnn,I'm sure youve already tried this, but I Googled "Italy earthquake insurance" and it threw out some possible insurers, who say they do it.  [but caveat "ubject to the area that the property is in"] 

    Tue, 10/15/2019 - 10:07

    Try Googling something like   "Lucca  expats  forum"  -  should throw something up

    Fri, 08/09/2019 - 11:30

    If you want 'cheap' hotel - don't stay in Venice.
    We stayed in Padova and went into Venice on the train. Saved a fortune.

    Tue, 07/16/2019 - 07:03

    Toll free route through France [motorwys passing by the following];-

    • Calais - Dunkirk - Lille - Mons - Luxembourg [Fill up with fuel at motorway services just before leaving Luxembourg - cheapest petrol on route] - Metz - Nancy.  All motorway with no tolls
    • Nancy - Mulhouse [or Nancy - Colmar - Mulhouse] much dual carriage way, except when going over the 'hills'.
    • Mulhouse into Germany and down autobahn towards Basel [not Mulhouse - Basel direct]
    • Turn off onto autobahn to Lorrach and Rheinfelden and into Switzerland ...............Note - pick up Swiss Motorway Vignette at Bad Bellingham services on first Autiobahn
    • On to Lucerne and Gotthard Tunnel.  [Thus avoiding risk of traffic/customs problems in Basle]
    • on to Italy, paying as necessary on ½ûÂþÌìÌà Autostradas.

    Journey time from Calais to Pisa - approx 16 hoursStops to suit what time you started from UK -mprobably after 3 hrs on day 1, 8 hrs on day 2 and leavibng approx 5 hrs into PisaSuggest the Eurotunnel rather than the Ferries - will save about 2 hrs [minimum] on journey time [unless you need a decent break and a meal -motherwise the Tunnel is so much simpler] Good luck

    Thu, 07/04/2019 - 07:45

    My comune did 'revalue' my property, causing the IMU paymrnt to increase. But if they did that to you they should have told you, or your accountant.

    Thu, 07/04/2019 - 07:43

    Thanks - that's what I thought was the case, but its good to get feedback from you

    Wed, 05/22/2019 - 15:26

    Don't know the legal rquirements, but whenever I've seen bombola used, they have always been placed outside the building [on balcony or ground level].  Having them inside the building is a recipe for disasterTalk to a Geometra, he/she would know the legalities.