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, 10/26/2014 - 16:08

    Talk to the Comune - they'll advise you on the requirements  

    Thu, 10/23/2014 - 06:03

    Sorry - forget  to add link, Its;-

    Tue, 10/21/2014 - 10:06

    You may find this site useful. For my comune, it calculates the IMU and TASI payments  [I see it also recognises where you live.- Sarnano]It also allows you to print out the completed F24 form[s]I then sign them and email them to my ½ûÂþÌìÌà Bank, who pay the taxes from my account

    Fri, 09/26/2014 - 09:16

    I enjoy driving in Italy - with the exception of the cities, where it can get hecticOtherwise - no probs.

    Tue, 09/23/2014 - 07:06

    Excess Insurance Cover All car hire companies charge the earth for insurance to cover the excess payable in the case of an accident.Buy Annual Car Hire Excess Insurance [search on-line] for about £40 - £50.  It is well worth it if your hire is over a week duration

    Mon, 09/22/2014 - 09:25

    Things to avoid;- As a first time renter, I strongly recommend tha you stick to using one of the 'big' companies like Herz, Eurocar, Avis etc - you pay more but they do tend to treat customers better than some of the smaller/cheaper companies.Its worth doing an internet search to look at feedback on whichever one you choose [before renting, of course]Personally, I've never had trouble with Hertz or Avis - but would never ever use Locauto again

    Wed, 08/27/2014 - 04:40

    Using toll route for variety.  We've been driving down 2 or 3 times a year for the last 10 years, so occassionally we like a changeAlso, now we have a dog, we do shorter 'hops' [3 overnight stops], and are seeing if this route is OK for avoiding an overnight stop in Switzerland  [No dog this time]

    Tue, 08/26/2014 - 16:04

    "............  is this the famous alternative epinal route many do as an alternative?  ..........." Don't think so - the 'alternative' is probably the route passing near Lorrach, that by-passes Basel

    Tue, 08/26/2014 - 11:06

    Route from Nancy is E23/N57 to Remiremont then E512 to Mulhouse - a delightful run, but I think the Nancy/Colmar direct route is easier [Doing it at the end of October - Calais to Mons [1st overnight stop] then on to Colmar [2nd stop, in Mercure in Town centre] - then on to Lake Maggiore area for a10 days before returning via Pontarlier and St Quentin [using french toll roads]

    Tue, 08/26/2014 - 10:15

    You could do Nancy to Mulhouse direct - but still the same problem [if that is what it is] of going over the mountains - but to me that is a very interesting part of the trip, and a nice break from motorway/dal carriage way drivingThe Colmar direct route is the shortest - its about 25 miles further via Strasburg, and 20 direct to Mulhouse, but the timings are about the same.  I do think that you save a little fuel on the Colmar direct route - but its probably not a great deal Flashed by a speed camera in france?  See;-You might be lucky - opinions differ on how good the French are at getting the fines paid [Google it]