If like me, one of the few things you miss in Italy is a decent department store, in particular John Lewis, you may be interested to know that they now offer international delivery for £7-50.
Does anyone have a phone number for Telecom Italia that can be used from UK? We started trying to cancel our landline/ADSL contract with them last October - following their instructions to the letter.
After 10 years in Italy, the last 7 of which have been in Le Marche (Macerata province) for family reasons we now have to return to UK for at least a year.
If you enjoy walking around foreign cities, one of the best guides to Rome is by Georgina Masson, she gives over 20 walks with all the 'must do's' en route. The book is full of information and details and covers many places not on the usual tourist routes, few photos but great to follow and to plan your itinerary. It is no doubt available via Amazon/Play.com etc . Alternatively and often a good start point for many, especially if time is limited, is the city tour bus, can't remember the number, (no doubt someone else will remember) which starts at Termini but once you have bought your ticket you can hop on and off at will at all the major sites. Can save a lot of shoe leather! And finally, if time allows, Ostia Antica for us is always a definite must - a mini Pompei but without the crowds and despite having visited there I don't know how many times we always find something new. It is easy to get to on the train from Pyramide. You do not need a car in Rome, indeed a car is more of a hindrance so you have, I think, made the right decision.
Not sure about S Marche but in the Macerata area we no longer have a problem with a non Italian card. I assume that this will be true all over as presumably the machines are all linked in some way. Ages ago we did have the problem mentioned above as for a while we could only get money out of the PO bancomat machines as no other would accept foreign cards. Those days now seem to be long gone and we have no problems with any machines using any card, all work. Not sure about the 'internet' option mentioned as never bother to change screen language to English but I do know that at the PO we can withdraw up to €600 daily whereas with the same card at other machines the max is €250. After a long time away, enjoy being back in Marche!
Yep, last time we renewed our son's asthma medication we had to pay a token amount, it was a couple of months ago and we did question the amount to pay with the pharmacist having never been asked to pay anything before, forget his exact reply, but yes it was in effect a new tax. It was not much compared to the 'real' cost of the inhalers so cannot complain.
We use HIFX - once your account is set up it can all be done online and even for me, a complete techophobe, is easy. www.hifx.co.uk In the past we have also used caxtonfx - not sure why we changed as both have been fine and allow you to set up an account with an Italian address - some of the others insisted upon a UK address so were instant non-starters for us. The rates are better, we recommended them to a friend of ours when they were buying their house and the difference between the bank rates and the specialists was thousands. However, be aware that the published rates are usually for large amounts, so if you are transferring less then you do not get the 'top rate' but it will still be better than the High St banks.
http://www.abruzzoairport.com/Interna.aspx?lnk=jUJromERtI8=&lang=en Have a look at the above link to the Pescara Airport 'Parkings' (sic) web page. Depending upon how often you visit, the prepaid card costing €700 per annum but offering unlimited parking at the airport may be worth your considering. At least you would then have your car immediately available and would not have to rely upon taxis, or remember to book them for the return! I have no idea what the car park is like but is does say it is manned from 0600 to 2300 and is open 24 hrs.
Totally agree with the previous posts, however I would add re the supply of wine, decant into plastic bottles beforehand. When we last went, all glass bottles (and contents) were confiscated - only plastic bottles were allowed.
Comments posted
If you enjoy walking around foreign cities, one of the best guides to Rome is by Georgina Masson, she gives over 20 walks with all the 'must do's' en route. The book is full of information and details and covers many places not on the usual tourist routes, few photos but great to follow and to plan your itinerary. It is no doubt available via Amazon/Play.com etc . Alternatively and often a good start point for many, especially if time is limited, is the city tour bus, can't remember the number, (no doubt someone else will remember) which starts at Termini but once you have bought your ticket you can hop on and off at will at all the major sites. Can save a lot of shoe leather! And finally, if time allows, Ostia Antica for us is always a definite must - a mini Pompei but without the crowds and despite having visited there I don't know how many times we always find something new. It is easy to get to on the train from Pyramide. You do not need a car in Rome, indeed a car is more of a hindrance so you have, I think, made the right decision.
Not sure about S Marche but in the Macerata area we no longer have a problem with a non Italian card. I assume that this will be true all over as presumably the machines are all linked in some way. Ages ago we did have the problem mentioned above as for a while we could only get money out of the PO bancomat machines as no other would accept foreign cards. Those days now seem to be long gone and we have no problems with any machines using any card, all work. Not sure about the 'internet' option mentioned as never bother to change screen language to English but I do know that at the PO we can withdraw up to €600 daily whereas with the same card at other machines the max is €250. After a long time away, enjoy being back in Marche!
Yep, last time we renewed our son's asthma medication we had to pay a token amount, it was a couple of months ago and we did question the amount to pay with the pharmacist having never been asked to pay anything before, forget his exact reply, but yes it was in effect a new tax. It was not much compared to the 'real' cost of the inhalers so cannot complain.
We use HIFX - once your account is set up it can all be done online and even for me, a complete techophobe, is easy. www.hifx.co.uk In the past we have also used caxtonfx - not sure why we changed as both have been fine and allow you to set up an account with an Italian address - some of the others insisted upon a UK address so were instant non-starters for us. The rates are better, we recommended them to a friend of ours when they were buying their house and the difference between the bank rates and the specialists was thousands. However, be aware that the published rates are usually for large amounts, so if you are transferring less then you do not get the 'top rate' but it will still be better than the High St banks.
http://www.abruzzoairport.com/Interna.aspx?lnk=jUJromERtI8=&lang=en Have a look at the above link to the Pescara Airport 'Parkings' (sic) web page. Depending upon how often you visit, the prepaid card costing €700 per annum but offering unlimited parking at the airport may be worth your considering. At least you would then have your car immediately available and would not have to rely upon taxis, or remember to book them for the return! I have no idea what the car park is like but is does say it is manned from 0600 to 2300 and is open 24 hrs.
Totally agree with the previous posts, however I would add re the supply of wine, decant into plastic bottles beforehand. When we last went, all glass bottles (and contents) were confiscated - only plastic bottles were allowed.
They also weigh hand luggage at the gate at Ancona, and have a credit card machine on standby for payments!