We are driving down to Puglia to arrive by Easter and want to stop off to see Venice. We have just lost our dog and thought we would make the most of the journey as I don't think it will be long before we get another.
I keep coming back to the community and trying again but I have no idea how to 'post'. I try to reply to things but although I can type in my message I can't work out how to 'send' it. I was an avid reader of the previous forum but cannot get my
I would regard an open fire more as a furnishing feature rather than heat source. I certainly wouldn't be without ours - it is the first thing I think about when going to Italy in the winter. However, it burns an enormous amount of wood and its heating effect is really only psychological. We also have a pellet stove in the same room which we use as a heat source and to heat the hot water. We considered siting the pellet stove in the fireplace but were reluctant to lose the fireplace. Our decision to site the pellet stove elsewhere in the room was certainly the best decision we made - the open fire removes the desire to go out in the evening - just sitting in front of it is so relaxing - rather too much wine consumed though!
Glad this has happened to someone else (if you know what I mean) as I thought I was going mad.Will keep checking the site sporadically and see what happens. I often get different prices for things, particularly car hire, each time I go into the site within minutes of each other.
Just done the exercise like you, and yes I now get a reasonable single price. Not what happened in the past . Must admit it is quite a relief as I was worried I could only book returns. As I will probably often only need a one way ticket home if I drive out with the other half and fly home, Heathrow is much more convenient as I can at least get home by public transport. Thnks for putting me right - would have given up trying.
We live half an hour from Heathrow, three quarters from Gatwick but I will still praise Ryanair. For us Stansted is awful to get to. No problem if there are no hold ups - an easy hour and a quarter round the M25. However, the road is so unreliable that one must leave so much margin for holdups that it would be easier to come from the north - at least less stressful. I would prefer a two and a half hour drive that was reliable.Even so, we use Ryanair a lot - it flies direct to where we want - despite all its silly charges it is very efficient and I have only ever found the staff helpful and friendly - more than can often be said of the other passengers. I do not understand why there is a scrum at the gate to get on the plane - we all have a boarding card and therefore a seat. I am not bothered if separated from fellow travellers.This summer I flew Al Italia for the first time. Excellent, but it did involve a change. Was actually cheaper than Ryanair for peak times, but that was only for a return - I cannot work out how to book a single flight under about £1,000. We do not rely on Ryanair to get to our house (prefer to drive) and we now have a little more time on our hands and can cope with changing airports if necessaryl However, have just booked to go out for a week in November with Ryanair for under £25 including taxes, checkin fees and credit card fees. Can't really complain about that. I don't think MO'L helps himself with all these extra charges - but we all know about them and they are quite clear on the website when you book. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
I certainly find it a lot slower than the old forum - I do not read a lot of posts that I otherwise would for that reason. I had assumed it was our computer - but perhaps not?
When do you need it by and how bulky is it. My husband is driving down to Puglia at the latest beginning November, possibly few weeks before. A break of journey in Abruzzo would probably be helpful as he will be on his own.
As far as hotels go its horses for courses.We find the Formule 1 type of hotel excellent for just getting a few hours sleep and shower and then moving on with the journey. The benefit is that you can arrive and leave at any time of day/night and do not have to see a soul. So if we get tired at midnight we can stop and leave again at 5am as everything is automated and paid for up front.Whilst normal hotels are wonderful if you have a lot of time, just the checking in and out can be very time consuming and if you want to leave early you often forgo the excellent breakfast that has been included in the cost. The days must be getting nearer when we have sufficient time for a leisurely journey from Calais to Puglia taking perhaps a week with stops in the wonderful places we travel through. For now though it is not to be and we always seem to have a 24 hour dash.
We've also just come back. Left Puglia about 11.30pm Tuesday 8 September. No problems all the way through Italian motorway system. No problems at border, although we turn off just before border and drive through Chiasso and come out just the other side onto the motorway. Slow through Switzerland due to continual roadworks, not traffic. No problems at Gotthard. Straight through border at Basel. Very heavy traffic at Luxembourg - think must be rush hour got there about 5.30pm. After that no hold up at all through Belgium, Lille and on to Dunkirk. Caught mid-night ferry. Then, surprise, surprise couldn't get southbound onto M25 from M26 and had to go north to go south.Timing is everything I think - our mistake was the time we hit Luxembourg - a couple of hours earlier and we would probably have been fine - and caught the ferry we were aiming for!
Comments posted
I would regard an open fire more as a furnishing feature rather than heat source. I certainly wouldn't be without ours - it is the first thing I think about when going to Italy in the winter. However, it burns an enormous amount of wood and its heating effect is really only psychological. We also have a pellet stove in the same room which we use as a heat source and to heat the hot water. We considered siting the pellet stove in the fireplace but were reluctant to lose the fireplace. Our decision to site the pellet stove elsewhere in the room was certainly the best decision we made - the open fire removes the desire to go out in the evening - just sitting in front of it is so relaxing - rather too much wine consumed though!
Much better - thank you.
Glad this has happened to someone else (if you know what I mean) as I thought I was going mad.Will keep checking the site sporadically and see what happens. I often get different prices for things, particularly car hire, each time I go into the site within minutes of each other.
Just done the exercise like you, and yes I now get a reasonable single price. Not what happened in the past . Must admit it is quite a relief as I was worried I could only book returns. As I will probably often only need a one way ticket home if I drive out with the other half and fly home, Heathrow is much more convenient as I can at least get home by public transport. Thnks for putting me right - would have given up trying.
We live half an hour from Heathrow, three quarters from Gatwick but I will still praise Ryanair. For us Stansted is awful to get to. No problem if there are no hold ups - an easy hour and a quarter round the M25. However, the road is so unreliable that one must leave so much margin for holdups that it would be easier to come from the north - at least less stressful. I would prefer a two and a half hour drive that was reliable.Even so, we use Ryanair a lot - it flies direct to where we want - despite all its silly charges it is very efficient and I have only ever found the staff helpful and friendly - more than can often be said of the other passengers. I do not understand why there is a scrum at the gate to get on the plane - we all have a boarding card and therefore a seat. I am not bothered if separated from fellow travellers.This summer I flew Al Italia for the first time. Excellent, but it did involve a change. Was actually cheaper than Ryanair for peak times, but that was only for a return - I cannot work out how to book a single flight under about £1,000. We do not rely on Ryanair to get to our house (prefer to drive) and we now have a little more time on our hands and can cope with changing airports if necessaryl However, have just booked to go out for a week in November with Ryanair for under £25 including taxes, checkin fees and credit card fees. Can't really complain about that. I don't think MO'L helps himself with all these extra charges - but we all know about them and they are quite clear on the website when you book. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
I certainly find it a lot slower than the old forum - I do not read a lot of posts that I otherwise would for that reason. I had assumed it was our computer - but perhaps not?
When do you need it by and how bulky is it. My husband is driving down to Puglia at the latest beginning November, possibly few weeks before. A break of journey in Abruzzo would probably be helpful as he will be on his own.
They had some in Leroy Merlin in Brindisi a few weeks ago. Hooked onto the end of an isle in the electrical section.
As far as hotels go its horses for courses.We find the Formule 1 type of hotel excellent for just getting a few hours sleep and shower and then moving on with the journey. The benefit is that you can arrive and leave at any time of day/night and do not have to see a soul. So if we get tired at midnight we can stop and leave again at 5am as everything is automated and paid for up front.Whilst normal hotels are wonderful if you have a lot of time, just the checking in and out can be very time consuming and if you want to leave early you often forgo the excellent breakfast that has been included in the cost. The days must be getting nearer when we have sufficient time for a leisurely journey from Calais to Puglia taking perhaps a week with stops in the wonderful places we travel through. For now though it is not to be and we always seem to have a 24 hour dash.
We've also just come back. Left Puglia about 11.30pm Tuesday 8 September. No problems all the way through Italian motorway system. No problems at border, although we turn off just before border and drive through Chiasso and come out just the other side onto the motorway. Slow through Switzerland due to continual roadworks, not traffic. No problems at Gotthard. Straight through border at Basel. Very heavy traffic at Luxembourg - think must be rush hour got there about 5.30pm. After that no hold up at all through Belgium, Lille and on to Dunkirk. Caught mid-night ferry. Then, surprise, surprise couldn't get southbound onto M25 from M26 and had to go north to go south.Timing is everything I think - our mistake was the time we hit Luxembourg - a couple of hours earlier and we would probably have been fine - and caught the ferry we were aiming for!