alan h's activity

Questions Asked

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14995588Loved the note about changing the locks!

Wed, 09/21/2011 - 09:20

I have just got back from my latest trip to Italy, and thought some of you might be interested to hear about a Swiss hotel that we stayed in on the way down.It is the Hotel Engel in Stans [near to Lake Lucerne, a few minutes from the motorway

Mon, 07/25/2011 - 05:21

For many years now I have used the likes of 'mappy', 'via michelin' etc for calculating different routes down to Italy - for us its a part of our holiday, so we don't always want to take the quickest/shortest route down.  We prefer to vary the rou

Wed, 06/01/2011 - 09:25

Today I received an email from the Swiss Travel Centre.  The relevant portion is;- "The GBP price for a Vignette will increase from 01 June 2011 and we wanted to give you the opportunity to purchase this years’ Vignette before the pric

Mon, 05/23/2011 - 09:45

I've just driven down and back for a [much too] short holiday, and feel that an update on how fuel prices look on the way down would be useful to fellow travellers The following is a good site for seeing what prices have been like  

Mon, 04/04/2011 - 05:02

P&O have introduced a new ferry on the Dover - Calais route - its called the Spirit of Britain. They seem to have a special offer on at the moment [on this ship only] I've just booked a return crossing [car + 2] for £60 - significantly less th

Sat, 01/29/2011 - 06:08

Does Tomato soup exist in Italy? We were feeling a bit under the weather when we went out to Italy 2 weeks ago.  As part of the R&R process, I fancied some soup, and looked around the supermarket.  There were lots of different soups, but I rea

Mon, 01/24/2011 - 08:29

The route/timings for next years Giro d'Italia have been posted http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/   My son rang me up to inform me that the route passes about 100m away from

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 07:04

I think the groups now exist [at least - when I go to the 'make a new post' section, there they are, in the "Audience" section]   Hope someone uses them soon - after all the time its taken

Thu, 07/01/2010 - 04:50

Anyone used the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry service? I'm hoping to drive down to the holiday home later this year, and was thinking of using the service.

Thu, 07/01/2010 - 04:45

Comments posted

Tue, 10/11/2022 - 10:58

Duplicate Posting

Tue, 10/11/2022 - 10:58

 Normally, I'd suggest the following route down to varallo, but as it includes going through Switzerland you would need 2 vignettes, one for the car and a second for the trailer.  Vignettes cost 40 swiss francs at the border - don't buy from Swiss Travel Service in UK, they add a £20+ handling fee.

If you fill up at the Maidstone services, much of your trip will be covered. 

I don't think you can take extra fuel in cans on either the Ferries or Eurotunnel 

I'd go ......  Calais, up into Belguim near Dunkirk, then on to Luxembourg via the (free) motorways.  Fill up in Luxembourg at the petrol station near the French Border (cheapest around, as prices are set by the Luxembourg government). 

Then down to Metz, Nancy, Mulhouse and into Germany to take the autobahn towards Basle.

Stop at Bad Bellingham services to buy the vignettes, and possibly top up with more fuel. Petrol in Switzerland is significantly more expensive than Germany or Italy.  (There are websites that give European petrol prices if you want to check - https://www.cargopedia.net/europe-fuel-prices .  German petrol is still pretty dear)

Turn off autobahn towards Lorrach, and into Switzerland.  Then on past Lucern and through the Gotthard tunnel.  Turn off motorway towards Locarno and into Italy by  the West Side of Lake Maggiore.  On to Lake Orta and then you are nearly there.

The route won't be much longer, the swing up to get to Luxembourg adds a bit, but it has the advantage of no motorway charges at all, so a significant saving there - making the cost of the vignettes seem minimal

Good Luck

Sat, 09/24/2022 - 05:55

Use Google - its easy if you try.

 

https://disabledaccessibletravel.com/accessible-destinations/italy/

 

Tue, 08/23/2022 - 08:37

Well, as nobody has posted, I'll give my response as a non-resident. (I have a holiday property in Piemonte). 

Piemonte is a large (to Brits) area with differing characteristics.   There are mountainous areas, (north and west), beautiful lake areas such as Maggiore and Orta, and lots of flatter areas.  You really need to focus in on possible areas to live - weather varies across the region  so you need to get statistics online for specific areas. 

Also, if you want to 'do the woodcraft shop" thing, perhaps you need the touristy areas such as the West Side of Maggiore or the east side of Orta.  You'd probably need to live a bit away from your shop because of property prices and space availability.

Good luck with your search

 

Wed, 07/27/2022 - 03:20

Yet another essay writing advert by this person

Thu, 07/07/2022 - 17:09

Get legal advice

Tue, 06/28/2022 - 10:09

Yet another "hidden" advert for essay writing website

Mon, 06/27/2022 - 16:20

Yet  another hidden link to an essay writing website. 

Thu, 06/16/2022 - 16:38

My Comune emails me the F24 , I sign it, email signed copy to my Italian bank who pay it

Mon, 05/16/2022 - 03:11

Well, the filtering checks don't work that well  -  it seems that every other post (by newbies - but not the one above) is an essay writing advert