New and Looking for Advice and answers please

Ceejaylo Image
08/22/2012 - 10:15

Hi, Next year is our 50th wedding Anniversary and Hubby and I had decided we would like to return to Italy for a little longer than the three weeks we spent here for our 25th and another trip 3 years ago when we were there for Christmas & New Year... we are now thinking 12 months. We don't know how realistic this is. We would be renting out our house here to pay for a rented place in Italy and have about £400 - 450 per month. We would like to stay in one place for 3/4 months at a time. Is this realistic for a place in Southern Italy & Sicily? Can anyone suggest a web site for long term rentals? CJ

Comment

Thanks bunterboy,  ...  Don't think we are ready to commit to anything just yet, but what a great idea.  I shall certainly be putting the word out in that direction when we have made our final decision...    On the one hand I'm finding all this so exciting, on the other there are is so much to consider apart from renting a property, the next big ask is, how does hubby get his medication...would our present GP give post dated repeat prescriptions, would they be accepted in Italy or what?    

Hi Ceejaylo and welcome. Congratulations on your forthcoming anniversary. We are also members of that group of couples who stay together for a long time, as long as we can stretch it (43 going on 44 years in our case) and still feel that there is plenty to celebrate. IMO, we deserve a medal!!!! Going back to your plans, I am going to play devil's advocate, as there could be some hidden problems, even if the idea is wonderful and worth considering. You mention your husband's medication and treatment. Only your doctor would answer your question. It is something that they can do; however, whether they would be prepared to do it or not, is a different matter. I have been able to obtain chronic treatment medication from my doctor in Spain for up to 6 months, but she knows that I travel a lot and she is a very nice person, but I would say that 6 months may be the limit , as there are residency implications. Your EHIC card would allow you to get treatment overseas for up to 6 months at a time, but be very careful about this, as many countries are only allowing free emergency treatment.

Sorry, I had problems with my tablet and my previous post. I am continuing here. Have a look at your EHIC conditions and requirements. If you google EHIC, you will get plenty of information. also, have another search using the words ITALY RESIDENCY PERMIT. If you intend to stay more than 3 months in Italy, you have to register with the local police. Citizens from EU countries are allowed free circulation and stays of up to 3 months i any EU country; however, after that, you have to apply for a permit and show availability of funds so that they know that you are not going to become a burden. Amongst those matters that you will have to justify is health insurance or its equivalent. Now, if you request the UK  to transfer to Italy your health entitlements and you return to the UK after a year, you may have to wait for up to 6 months before getting back your full benefits. My advice would be to plan for 3 months only and see how you go. Perhaps you would like Italy so much that you may decide to live there permanently; however, that would be a different matter. In any case, best wishes with your plans.

In reply to by Gala Placidia

Hi Gala,   Thank you so much for your input...it's just what we need..  We have no idea how realistic our idea to spend 12 months in Italy is or what the implications are, so your playing devils advocate is spot on.    I will be checking out the  EHIC terms and conditions as you suggest..  we can not afford to loose our medical entitlement back in the UK for 6 months... so a big thanks for that piece of advice.     I  now have a quote from Stuart Collins the car insurance agent someone suggested and the cost is just over double what we are paying at present and the excess is double too...all this we need to  take into consideration.   If you or anyone else has further advice and suggestions it would be appreciated...  One way or another, we will have a wonderful anniversary in Italy for as long as possible...smiley            

In reply to by Ceejaylo

Gala raises valid considerations - but not really problems! You can always take a cheapo Ryanair midweek flight back to Stanstead so that you aren't out of the UK for too long a period, and as for insuring your car maybe you come into the age range which SAGA cover - I'm told that they do long term insurance on UK cars designed for people like yourselves. House sitting could work, but also many Italian estate agents look after agriturismos and the like, and (out of season) rent them out at favourable monthly or tri monthly rates. I think it could be great fun: my approach would be to fixate on some areas which you really want to spend some time in, contact some local estate agents, choose some delightful property to stay in, and go for it.

In reply to by Fillide

Hi Fillide,   Many thanks for your suggestions but we are fast coming to the conclusion that to stay in Italy for over 90 days is just to complicated for us.   I fear we have been rather naive.   Me and airplanes are not on friendly terms :-)  so a quick trip back to the UK is a definite  no    I think we need to rethink our whole Golden Wedding trip...     We would still love to drive to Italy and tour round, but without the  financial cushion of the rent from our home, our stay would have to be restricted.     We would love to see Sicily, hubby's family emigrated from there to the US at the turn of the century... also the Ostuni area  and Rome of course,  we had a blessing in the gardens on the Vatican on our Silver wedding anniversary and threw the obligatory coin into the Trevi fountain, so we must go back.....  there is so much we would love to do and see.    I do appreciate everyone suggestions, most helpful...  I shall do more research and who knows......smiley

A bit of further advice. Look at holiday rentals, featuring apartments and houses. We prefer doing that rather than going to hotels. A place with a kitchenette will save you lots of money and some days you do not feel like going out for breakfast,lunch or dinner. Also, for accommodation in Rome, some of the old convents are nowadays operating their own B&B and the nuns will be delighted to welcome a couple celebrating 50 years together! Their prices are also very reasonable. A google search on those topics will give you plenty of answers. Best wishes!