…and such a detail came to my mind; not sure if Kosovo was officially declared by someone as a “location of armed conflict” but if so, this may invalidate your insurance in the area. or at least, current situation may give a good reason to the insurer not to pay for a potential damage you’d have suffered there
milodon Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:21 am Post subject:
viamichelin shows 1783km alexandroupoli gr to radom pl through oradea, ro
and 1941 km through mk and srb.and cost? its a couple of hundred euros for transiting mk alonem and so on and so on. and I´ve been on every route mentioned here more, than I care to remember. not to mention I have no idea how you could say that the borders are easy to cross, sometimes the queues are for a day or so
Just to be clear, my previous entry was on getting from Split to Greece, not Greece to Poland! Britain has an agreement with FYROM , so that the only transit charges are on the two toll booths between Veles and Skopje, and of course agents fee’s at the border! Queues at the borders differ, even on the same border, I must have more luck than you, END OF!
> Kosovo - if you have not noticed, Kosovo declared independence earlier this year (February time, IIRC) under more or less obvious support of the USA (as they had discovered oil somewhere in norther Albania). Many countries have recognized the independent Kosovo (incl. UK I think) but many have not - incl. Serbia which part Kosovo is / was. There’s a sort of a government, not truly functional IMHO, police forces are provided by the EU to limit drug smuggling from Albania, slave trade, stolen cars trade etc. There’s nothing like Kosovan army but there’re some armed freedom-fighting groups. And the UN peacekeepers. And Serbian army all around the disputed borders. According to some backpackers blogs I’ve come across, cars with numberplates from all over Europe are driven around Kosovo. Bought or stolen, who knows, but no one can be bothered to re-register them. And there’s probably no official authority to do it either. And so on and so on…
From what you’ve written, can I assume that you’ve never been there? (In fact what you’ve written sounds auwfully like a political rant.) Cause you’re talking twaddle. Kosovo is not the lawless state you make it out to be and is closely watched by the OSCE and various other EU and UN authorities, which infact would make it one of the safest Countries in the Balkan region. Napoli is far more dangerous, mind, so are some areas of the UK now
milodon:
turnip:
have you been there yourself? or is it just mmtm
What does mmtm mean ■■
No have to admit haven’t been there so could be talking twaddle . Slovenia is the only former yugo country i have been to , and very nice it was too . Good job there are nice friendly peopel like yourself to help out . Bka .
turnip:
mad monk:
i might have a bit of a wierd trip coming up , ive not done a great deal of the balkans so any ideas would be good
i think there it will be go to croatia for one possibly in the split region . from there its onward to greece the north east region nearish to turkey followed by one in polandany ideas people
Split to Greece wont be easy overland , in fact i have my doubts that it is doable atall . Would suggest you look at boats ex split . Good luck .
I wondered about this one too, and wondered which other way to go 
But there was only one country to transit when I did it, Bosnia, Croatia and Serbska have been invented since to confuse me…
We had three trucks subbed to EST for the Madonna tour this summer and they went to Athens, they shipped from southern Italy- Bari I think it was- to Patras or the other one whose name escapes me at the moment…
The last time I went to Greece I went on the Ancona-Patras Superfast ferry but I have also done it overland. I would never go overland if I was an O/D asked to price a job up, it is simply too much grief. More enjoyable, but too much grief!
turnip:
What does mmtm mean ■■
MMTM = My Mate Told Me.
MMTM Tacho Rules are also very confusing, you’d be amazed at what can and can’t be done under them 
.
Simon:
turnip:
What does mmtm mean ■■MMTM = My Mate Told Me.
MMTM Tacho Rules are also very confusing, you’d be amazed at what can and can’t be done under them
AH . Aint got no mates .
bazfrombenidorm:
From what you’ve written, can I assume that you’ve never been there? (In fact what you’ve written sounds auwfully like a political rant.) Cause you’re talking twaddle. Kosovo is not the lawless state you make it out to be and is closely watched by the OSCE and various other EU and UN authorities, which infact would make it one of the safest Countries in the Balkan region. Napoli is far more dangerous, mind, so are some areas of the UK now[/b]
You’ve apparently been everywhere so there’s no point arguing with you.
Just to inform you the stuff like “…Kosovo …is closely watched by the OSCE and various other EU and UN authorities…” sounds like bad political rant to me. And the “… one of the safest Countries in the Balkan region…”…
Go there, find out and confirm I’m not going there.
I had the pleasure to dealt with (i.e. live and work) Albanians and I’m glad I’ve never been there and never want to go there and would not recommend anyone to go there.
Re Albania and Kosovo the safest
Few lines from travel advice section of Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the UK, one of those OSCE and EU and whoever else countries closely monitoring Kosovo:
Albania: We advise against all travel to the north east border areas (i.e. the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje) between Albania and Kosovo because of the risk of unexploded ordnance placed during the 1999 Kosovo crisis and the poor condition of the roads.
Although public security is generally good, crime and violence still represent a serious problem in some areas. Gun ownership is widespread.
Driving can be very hazardous. Roads are poor, especially (but not only) in rural areas. In winter, mountain roads are snowy and icy. During hot spells, the tarmac can melt and become slippery. Flash flooding is possible throughout the year. You should stay alert for large, unmarked potholes. Street lighting in urban areas is subject to power cuts. Elsewhere, except on the major inter-urban arterial routes, there is no street lighting, so night travel is best avoided. We suggest using four-wheel drive vehicles in Albania. There is no national recovery system, so cars should be self-sufficient, carrying minor repair equipment including jack, spare wheel, fan belts, wiper blades, local phrase book, first aid kit, water and overnight food when in remote areas.
Drivers with foreign plated vehicles draw particular scrutiny from the Road Traffic Police. You should adhere to road traffic law at all times as committing even minor offences may result in you being fined.
Albanian driving can often be aggressive and erratic. Minor traffic disputes can quickly escalate, especially as some motorists are likely to be armed. If you intend to drive you are strongly advised to avoid reacting to provocative behaviour by other road users. If you are involved in a traffic accident, even a minor one, you are required to wait until the police arrive. This will usually happen quickly in built-up areas
You should expect queues at all border crossings, especially at weekends and during the summer months
British passport holders are obliged to pay a 10 Euro entry tax. The entry tax will be waived for holders of Albanian resident permits
Medical facilities (including those for accident and emergency use) are very poor, particularly outside Tirana. We do not recommend using the dental facilities
here are high levels of Hepatitis in Albania. Rabies is also a matter of concern
Drink only bottled water and UHT milk
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Albania and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.
Kosovo:
We advise against all but essential travel to North Mitrovica following violence there on 17 March 2008. During February 2008 a number of police and customs border posts between Kosovo and Serbia were attacked. If you intend to travel between Kosovo and Serbia you should consider alternative routes
The overall security situation in the rest of Kosovo remains calm. You should keep a low profile, stay alert at all times and take particular care to avoid public gatherings, political rallies, protests and polling stations. You should monitor local media for developments and check this travel advice for updates.
The Serbian authorities will not allow you to travel into Serbia from Kosovo unless you began your journey in Serbia or via Macedonia, Montenegro or Albania. There have been incidents where foreign nationals have been denied entry into Serbia if they hold border entry or exit stamps from Kosovo. When visiting Kosovo, you may be required, by the Kosovo border police, to provide documents explaining your visit (for example a letter of introduction
Residual landmines and other unexploded ordnance remain in Kosovo, although all roads and tracks have been cleared. You should exercise caution when travelling in remote areas
To avoid the possibility of being inadvertently caught up in any violent incidents, you should check local developments before and during your journey
We recommend you stay alertat all times and take particular care to avoid public gatherings,political rallies, protests and polling stations, and pay close attention to local media reports
There is still some danger from residual mines and other unexploded ordnance left over from the 1999 conflict. mountainous region between South Serbia’s Presevo Valley and Kosovo is also problematic
You should exercise caution when travelling in Kosovo. there were instances of armed individuals stopping vehicles travelling in west and central Kosovo, although these tended to target KosovoAlbanians rather than foreigners.
The general standard of roads is fair to poor with conditions worsening in rural areas, especially in and after bad weather. There remains an inherent risk of landslide. You are advised against travelling at night.
A UK driving licence is valid in Kosovo. You must have vehicle registration / ownership documents and a locally valid insurance policy. However, European Green Card vehicle insurance is NOT valid and you should purchase local third party insurance at the border on entry. Where an insurance bureau is unavailable you should purchase insurance from the nearest town at the earliest opportunity. You should ensure that you have sufficient Euros to pay for insurance and fuel. Fuel is widely available but the quality varies. Delays at the border crossings between Kosovo and Macedonia are common.
The health system in Kosovo is severely under-funded. Hospitals lack specialist equipment and there is a widespread shortage of medicines and other essentials. Many in the medical profession lack training in modern techniques and practices. A small payment in cash (currently €4) is required for treatment but you are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any medical evacuation.
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is common to Kosovo. Although, most cases of CCHF occur in the region around Malishevë/o (Central Kosovo), during the summer months other rural areas of Kosovo can be affected. If you suffer from a fever during a visit to Kosovo you should seek immediate medical attention.
It is a good job there wasnt a foreign and commonwealth website in the 70’s and 80’s otherwise we would be overrun with middle eastern trucks
What happened to all the ■■■■■■ and pillaging that the Anglo Saxons were so good at?
Hi we go overland every week to Thiva just north of Athens and transit Belgium/Lux/Germany/Austria border Nickelsdorf/Hungary/Romania Arad-Sibiu-Bechet (Ferry) or Calafat (ferry) into Bulgaria down to Petrich then into North Greece you will see German/Dutch/Romanian/Turks and Bulganian trucks all running this way, or go down to Ancona or Bari or Brindisi and get the ferry average 900 euros each way from Ancona/Patra/Ancona.
Regards
jjsl
Hi JJSL, out of interst, how long does the trip take going that way, especially with regard to the now approaching winter months?
Is there any real saving, financialy or time wise, going overland as opposed to the Italy-Greece ferries?
Cheers, Bullitt.
after speaking to the boss im sorry to say the job is not on , i was looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into that one , not sure if the job is off temperary or not , im weekended in newcastle , been told to run down tomorrow via manchester and run out tuesday on a quick french run , thanjs for all the replies and advice anyway 
mad monk:
after speaking to the boss im sorry to say the job is not on , i was looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into that one , not sure if the job is off temperary or not , im weekended in newcastle , been told to run down tomorrow via manchester and run out tuesday on a quick french run , thanjs for all the replies and advice anyway
Aww there’s a shame. I was actually quite excited for the diary
Some other time maybe.
If the trip does come off again try and avoid Kosovo if possible. I go out there twice a year with the humanitarian aid and on last Easter’s convoy we had to go via Split-Montenegro because Serbia would not let us transit as Kosovo had just declared independence. The Roads are bad after Podgorica and in the winter the mountain road to Pec ( Peja) is terrible especially in snow. Something like 19 hairpin bends on the down route to Pec from the Kosovo border. Dont get me wrong its not a hard road you just need your wits about you. The real problem is the green card insurance is null n void once you hit the Kosovo border and you cannot enter without purchasing insurance on the border that if I remember was about 300-350 euros and is worthless.
Travel time from Split to Pec is about 15 hours so time and costs wise its probably cheaper to go by ferry.
As for safety in Kosovo I have never had a problem and find the locals to be friendly, but then again we always travel in convoy or with local guides and interpreters, but you have to remember Kosovo is still classed as a war zone with some 16000 UN troops still in the country.
I will try and post some of the pics from the convoy if I can get them on to photobucket.
Paul
bullitt:
Hi JJSL, out of interst, how long does the trip take going that way, especially with regard to the now approaching winter months?Is there any real saving, financialy or time wise, going overland as opposed to the Italy-Greece ferries?
Cheers, Bullitt.
Hi Bullitt, yes it is cheaper about 600 euros but you have more tyre wear and additional maintenence, you can get there in 5 days, but if the drivers stop in Romania for a leg over, then allow 7 days. We started using the overland route mainly due to the holiday traffic taking all the ferry booking in July and August and having to wait 2/3 days in Ancona, but we have now gone back to using the ferries as from the 1st november all except one driver who lives in Romania, and yes the winter months are not good.
Regards
JJSL
Cheers for that, its always interesting to hear how others are doing things!!
Of course you know you may well get inundated with private emails about job vacancies now!!! 