Member Since: 11 May 2006
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Driving through The Balkans questions
Just mulling a potential Road Trip for when we are eventually able to do such a thing and was thinking of a jolly to Crete with SWMBO. The obvious route down is via Italy and ferry Ancona, Bari or Brindisi but thought what about through the Balkans down to Piraeus then ferry from there.
What’s it like driving through the Balkans? Would go Salzburg down to Zagreb, Belgrade then through N Macedonia. We did similar in the early 90s but a lot has gone on since then. Good roads, safe, would a UK car attract too much attention?
Anything 30 miles or so either side of the border with B&H is potentially bandit country with lots of smuggling of everything from arms and people to more mundane stuff. It's one of the areas under constant, very active, watch by the Eye in the Sky folks under the FRONTEX banner and there's always activity along there.
As many of the people being smuggled across the border are hoping to reach the UK and may be many months into a desperate journey, you shouldn't expect rational behaviour from everyone you meet.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
24th Feb 2021 3:38 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
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Will be just like when we did it in an old 110, everywhere we stopped peeps were trying to either sell us something or get a “lift”. Was thinking of sticking on the E70/E75 plus make sure any hotel we used in, say, Belgrade had secure parking.
Had a look at the long way round (Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria) does not look a very good option.
24th Feb 2021 3:44 pm
Trailered Movements
Member Since: 16 Jan 2020
Location: East/West Sussex Coast Borders
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I know in a truck you would avoid Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia and Albania, as It's just not safe from a personal point of view, and local militia make up their own rules.
Travel via Romania and Bulgaria is better, but you will encounter fines for all manner of things, and if you go off the main road system whatever vehicle you have, it will suffer especially tyres and suspension.
We would always travel by ferry to Greece, and although Bari ferries will be the cheapest, the port there is very active with regards to crime.
Brindisi would be better, but anywhere south of a line across from Rome to Pescara can be frought with problems, we considered it 'bandit' country and never did it solo if there was an alternative.
Overnighting safely is a big issue, in a truck it's bad enough, in a small lower access vehicle, I would not consider it.
Of course when we had the time and the customer was paying, Ancona would be the choice port of exit.
It would be a fantastic journey if done without any issues, but unless you travel in numbers and are prepared to accept some hassle, I'd ferry out of Ancona.
Dave2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
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24th Feb 2021 3:58 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
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Many thanks both of you!!
Ancona sounds the way to go, the long way round deffo sounds like too much hassle. I did that route in the early naughties and it was a good way to go then. Plus it’s gets us to the right part of Greece to spend time in the Peloponnese and ferry to Crete from Githio, if it’s running.
Do check recent reviews though as it's 3 years since I last stayed there.
Recommendations for Peloponnese if you wish.
Regards
NigelAm I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.
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24th Feb 2021 4:14 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
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Many thanks, will give you a shout if it happens. The ferry departures seem to be afternoon so would prob stop around Milan somewhere, then nice lazy bimble down to Ancona. Heading up to N Cape is so easy by comparison to going to Crete.
just need to buy a D3 and 400 McD wrappers to fill the footwell now ?
24th Feb 2021 4:27 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
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^^ ^^I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
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24th Feb 2021 4:46 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
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Hopefully SWMBO’s feet will be occupying the footwell so would need a braver soul than me to Chuck the McDees wrappers there.
24th Feb 2021 4:49 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
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I was in the Balkans during the early mid 90s - much like you as it sounds. B-H and occasionally (when we could sneak out) into Serbia, quietly, or down into Croatia. I have no idea what it's like now but I can't imagine it's that bad. A friend of mine worked in Bulgaria with his family for 3 years - wife and young children - and loved it. They travelled all over. No problems at all. Never been to Albania but based on what I've heard I won't be going.
If it's you an mates I'd be comfortable. If I were taking the family along I'd think more carefully about the route. There are a host of things that one can do to avoid sticking out and reduce risks, of course.PAGODA
24th Feb 2021 5:22 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73121
Would be just me and SWMBO and very obviously tourists travelling through. We went through Yugoslavia before main motorways were built, it was a very long and tedious drive then, not helped by being in the country only a few minutes and saw the aftermath of a car crash with full body bags on the pavement. We drove all the way down to the southern tip of Greek mainland, saw the sights, then drove all the way back and did some touring in the Austrian alps. All in a D reg TD 110.
24th Feb 2021 5:30 pm
Trailered Movements
Member Since: 16 Jan 2020
Location: East/West Sussex Coast Borders
Posts: 1200
Things have changed since the 80s and early 90s, for the worse.
We used to go to Moscow via Belarus, now you just don't go there (Belarus), and just about everyone in Russia who isn't a poor peasant is packing a gun.
The former Eastern Bloc and dictatorship countries are more lawless now than ever.
Dave2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
2010 RRS TDV8 (Gone)
1980 OBLIC 4.0ltr Range Rover (went a long time ago)
24th Feb 2021 5:39 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73121
Looks like it’s deffo via the ferry from Italy. Whenever that will be.
24th Feb 2021 5:47 pm
LT
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A Russian UAZ 4x4 would attract less unwanted attention.
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