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

    Wed, 04/14/2010 - 13:01

    " the right people to sell your geometra on the idea of a Sewage Treatment Plant are the (½ûÂþÌìÌÃ) people who would sell it to you"   Is it an italian company that makes the STP? - or were you buying in one from abroad

    Tue, 04/13/2010 - 12:41

    [and that is not uncommon in Italy], your chances of getting the necessary approvals from the Commune will be remote   Good luck

    Answer to: Camper van
    Tue, 04/13/2010 - 12:30

    but, remember to book ahead for decent sites in high season

    Answer to: Newbie
    Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:59

    "2. Accessibility to and from airports." Remember [especially if flying 'budget' airlines] that routes change - sometimes just for Winter, but also sometimes forever   Where my place is [up North, so not where you are looking] there are 4 airports within 2 hrs of the house [5 if you include Geneva] and you can drive there in a day [if you're mad/desperate] or by easily get there by train in under 24hrs

    Sat, 04/10/2010 - 18:15

    We've used them a couple of times now - big plus point - no coach parties! Very good boats, food not bad

    Sat, 04/10/2010 - 15:31

    Dover - Dunkirk  [cheap ferry service - very good Lille - Belguim, - Luxemburg [fill up with petrol] - metz - Nancy - mulhouse - Basel - lucerne - St Gotthard Tunnel [or pass - pretty and adds about 30 minutes or so] and on into Italy No charges on roads until you get to Switzerland, where you need the annual vignette [buy on line] Then pay in Italy

    Thu, 04/08/2010 - 13:21

    Thu, 04/08/2010 - 04:20

    "But, aside from fruit growing considerations - could you cope? 900slm can be pretty restrictive November through February: think snow chains or complete isolation. Before you take the plunge make sure you live there for at least a month in the 'brutta stagione'." Now that is what I call good advice. I recently spent a couple of days snowed in at my holiday place in northern Piedmonte [at about 650m] - loved every minute of it - so relaxing  BUT my ½ûÂþÌìÌà neighbours were  bemoaning the weather and how disruptive it was,  You do need a different mindset when living there, as opposed to holidaying

    Answer to: Renovation
    Fri, 04/02/2010 - 08:28

    Marco If UK based - if the pound rises in the meantime, UK based buyers of ½ûÂþÌìÌà property also lose out that way.   I bought when the  Euro was about 65 pence - if I sold now ][at about 90p] for what I paid then [in Euros] I'd make about 38% profit - [and the place is worth more now that 8ish years ago.] Now - if the reverse happens and the pound rises again [a big if at the moment] the reverse effect would occur for UK based buyers now.  In fact, as an investment for ½ûÂþÌìÌà based people, it would most probably pay to buy in the UK by converting your Euros to pounds

    Tue, 03/30/2010 - 18:07

    It takes between 3 and 5 hrs for the train journey from Ttrapani to Termine ImereseApparently there is a bus from the airport to the train station [and on to Palermo] Best site for train times is the [German!!] Rail Planner site Some general info