19 replies to this topic

[Ahududu]

Well guys we did it!!
It was an experience, not TOO bad really, but we won't be doing it again!!
We bombed over to Kapikule in 2 .5 days and wobbled back in 3.5 days.
If you have 3 or 4 drivers, it would be alot more comfortable and quicker.
Managed to not get stopped by police or get a speeding ticket, so good one!
If you are going to Edirne, Istanbul, or northern Turkey, it is better, because once you're in Turkey, the last part down to the south is a bit of a killer, by then you are SOOOOO very tired!!!
I actually kept a notebook so I could write a very detailed report for you, but erm, have mislaid it at the moment!!!

Our route out was:
Night ferry to Calais which is good because you have a full day of daylight driving.
Belgium
Holland
Germany - some crazy driving on the autobahn in the dark and rain, there was a massive pile up of apparently 250 cars, which we were lucky enough to miss as it happened behind us, but not nice for all involved I'm sure.
Austrian border -stayed the night
Hungary
Serbia
Bulgaria
Kapikule

Summary: Take a car kettle, coffee prices are high, and you WILL drink lots of it!!
Serbian roads can be quite good with a toll and a low speed limit, then absolutely rubbish with a high speed limit! Tempted to speed on the good bit? DON'T! Lots of money spent on toll roads, vignettes, and there some gypsies in Hungary wearing Hi-Vis jackets flagging you down with a torch to sell you an overpriced vignette!!
Night driving can be a bit hairy....cat's eyes in UK are truely a fantastic invention!! Get in a convoy, but watch your speed.
Lots of places to stop on the side of the road with lots of Turks making the trip too. All toilets 50C Euros.
Bulgarian roads bad and lots of poplice on the look out for speeding.
Getting to Kapikule was such a relief!
But then some of the roads from there were really bad! Some were absolutely fantastic and very cheap tolls.
As I said if you could reach your destination then it would be great, but the drive south seems so long and it gets hotter and hotter.

So - R&R, pool, sleep, home cooking - lovely
Then we visited family in Eskis(h)ehir, family in Istanbul for a few days which was lovely, and had developed a bit since we were previously there. The MetroBus through the city is fantastic. Then family in S(h)arkoy and then to the Greek border.


Our route back was:
Ipsala had to wait about 4 hours to cross, as every Turk was returning!!
Greece fantastic lightning storm, but a 10 car pile up which we 'just' missed
Macedonia
Serbia again with the bad roads and tolls!!
Croatia fantastic roads and infrastructure and not even done with EU money!! Hats off to them!
Sloavnia
Austria fantastic daytime drive thru the Alps and lots of tunnels
Germany
Holland
Belgium
France ferry from Calais

Summary:
Much more popular route absolutely packed evrywhere with returning Turks. If you've got 5/6/7 people then it must definately be cheaper than flying, I think they do it every year.
Again, you'll need the coffee and the 50C for the toilets.

You need the Green Card for the car in Turkey and Serbia.
Sorry I can't give you more details on the finances, but when I find my notebook, I'll add on!!
If you have the time and money then getting the ferry from Italy to south Turkey would save a lot of that drive!
Sat Nav worked fine but I also took a large map of Europe which we did use occasionally, and of course when we got lost it was my fault!! But I say those are the bits you never forget and make the best Traveller's Tales!!

I'll try and answer any questions. if you've got an urge to do it then go for it, but with 3 drivers!!

Sue

[Cukurbagli]

I actually kept a notebook so I could write a very detailed report for you, but erm, have mislaid it at the moment!!!

Marvellous adventure, thank you very much for writing about it, look forward to the additions when you find your notebook.

So did you get stopped at any borders (apart from Turkey) and what did they want? How do you recognise when it's the gypsies stopping you in Hungary?

[sunny]

That's absolutly fantastic Sue. Congratulations. Thank you so much for posting that as I'm sure a lot of people will be interested and it would be great if you can tell us about your adventures when you find your notebook.

[Abi]

Thanks for a really excellent write up. It will be well worth anyone taking the trip to read to read through it.

I am really looking forwards to the reading the rest of your adventure and costs when you have found your notebook.

Thanks for the tips on the kettle and loo they are important things to know

Edited by Abi, 24 September 2009 - 08:11 AM.

[Ahududu]

hahaha no pressure to find the notebook then?

Borders, just wanted passports and to see the kids faces. Green card, and even 'baksheesh' at a couple!!!!

As we entered Bulgaria, it was very late at night, and right by the border control, we saw Hi-viz jackets and torches flagging us down. All the other cars sped past and bipped their horns at us, then we saw that the people were wearing old, scruffy clothes, long skirts, looked very dirty and were asking 16 Euros for the vignette they shoved through the window. Didn't look right at all and with the other cars bipping and driving past we just carried on. Then bought a vignette at a garage for 10 Euros.
Because so many of the Turks do it every year, it's good to be able to pick their brains about different parts of the journey. A lot of them don't bother with vignettes and just risk it!

Sue

[sunny]

This sort of information is really valuable for anyone who wants to try the journey.

[maggiemay]

This sort of information is really valuable for anyone who wants to try the journey.

I have just bought my car and do not have my car registration document - I want to travel to Turkey this weekend - will I be asked for this document?

Margaret

[sunny]

Yes, you will need the registration document at each border you cross plus insurance.

Don't go without taking:

* a spare set of car keys
* fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tool kit, spare bulbs
* a warning triangle
* your registration document, driving licence and passport- check if you’ll need an International Driving Permit
* your UK motor insurance certificate, Green Card (if issued)
* breakdown policy and contact numbers
* travel insurance documents
* emergency helpline numbers

[selimcatkin]

Hi Sue

Did you have any problems when driving in Serbia. I know no insurance company in the UK will cover Serbia. They, the insurance company, advice you that you should get the insurance cover at the border for about 125 euro. It seems a big problem.
Thanks

Selim

[Ahududu]

Hi Selim
Apparently it is VERY expensive to buy the green card at the border. Sometimes the green card from Uk doesn't specify Serbia, so you have to make sure that box is ticked.
Easiest to void if poss!!
Good luck
Sue

[Ken]

Excellent stuff, Sue!!! Thanks for posting this!

[PINTIE]

Thanks to Sue, Sunny and several others who contributed with their driving experiences to Turkey. I enjoyed the feedback as they are very useful indeed.

I am a Turk who has been living in Scotland for nearly 35+ years. I never drove to Turkey from UK but I drove in western Europe (France etc) some years ago.

Lately I was researching via web whether it will be safe and good idea to drive to Turkey from the UK. I spoke with an officer in the Turkish Consulate General, London who suggested best way for me would be to drive to Italy (Ancona/Brindisi) then take the ferry to Cesme but this route is seasonal from April to October. I asked what did he think of driving through Hungary, Serbia & Bulgaria to Turkey? He commented "I would not recommend it as we get a lot of "complaints" implying presumably those border, police and unsafe driving difficulties Forum members here been listing in countries like Hungary, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

I also found on the web, there is a popular but again seasonal (April-November) MOTORAIL route/option of transporting the car from Villach in Austria to Edirne (run by OPTIMA TOURS). This would avoid driving through Hungary,Serbia and Bulgaria but as I said, it is seasonal.
I am still determined to do the journey from UK to Turkey via Belgium-Germany-Austria-Hungary-Serbia-Bulgaria. Never ventured, never gained. Hence all these excellent feedback are very useful.

In fact, considering large numbers of summer drivers and Turks etc who do this journey every year from all corners of Europe, it is suprising that there are not many contributions here regarding their experiences. That would be really useful to share.

Another issue kept coming up at UK etc government (travel advice) websites is that apparently expensive cars (eg SUVs) are targeted more for theft and in my opinion, could also be more vulnerable for false accusations for non-compliance by Customs, Border and Police officers? (eg if he drives this car, he must have money). Am I being paranoid here? Do I need to worry?

I would like to share more on car theft risk please particularly when driving through Hungary-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey corridor. What precautions/tips Forum members can offer to minimise or eliminate the risk of car theft or blackmail for bribe? Or are these history now? (I have a second hand / 3 years old SUV, BMW X5)

Thank you all.

Edited by PINTIE, 28 December 2010 - 05:04 PM.

[sunny]

Welcome to our forum Pintie (good one ). I'm glad that you found the information useful, but I'm afraid I can't help you with up to date info on the driving situation in those countries. Maybe other members know?

I think you are right when you say expensive cars are more likely to be targeted as their owners thought rich. I would have thought that you would need to take out a mortgage to pay for the fuel alone to get here.
Can't you get yourself a small economic car for the journey?

Whatever you do I hope you will have a successful trip.

[Ahududu]

Hi PINTIE
Welcome to the forum.

This driving route that we took is extremely popular with Turks who live in Europe. Clearly it's cheaper to put 6 or 7 people in a people carrier and drive to Turkey, that to pay for 6 or 7 flight tickets!! Especially if you are going to northern Turkey.

Please don't be put off by the horror stories, we had our kids with us, drove at night, slept at service stations, and absolutely nothing untoward happened to us!!

Every time you stop at a petrol station there are loads of Turks stopping too, so you can always ask advice from them. Remember this was in the summer. I guess the school holidays are all around the same time, and people will drive back in the last few days of August to prepare for the start of the school year.

All the vehicles travelling from Belgium/Germany/Switzerland were what you would class as 'expensive' - BMWs and the such. There were NO stories of robberies/car-jackings!!!!

The advice I can give you to allay your fears is:

Keep to the speed limit - that is the only reason you would get stopped by the police - in certain countries they will stop you and just 'tax' you!!!! - Don't risk speeding.

If it is night and you don't know where you're going, get in a convoy with other foreign vehicles.

Always buy the correct 'vignette'.


Finally, PINTIE, if you have the urge to do the road trip - do it. (Make sure you have a car kettle and lots of instant coffee with you!!!!)
You can easily drive during the day and sleep at night, it just depends on how long you want to be on the road for.
Going seems easiest somehow, maybe because you're excited and looking forward to it. Returning seems really tiring, because you're at the end of your holiday and tired.

If you fancy taking a ferry or doing it another way, don't forget to write a report when you get back!
Oh, and btw there are some Turkish forums (in Turkish) where Turks discuss this trip too - there may be some more recent info from them.

All the best,
Sue

[PINTIE]

Sunny, Sue
Thank you for your responses and encouragement. Greatly appreciated.

Yes, it crossed my mind several times the cost (petrol) of the journey! Since I enjoy driving / motoring somehow I will have to accept the cost if I decide to take the SUV. As a matter of interest, after what I have been through to verify that I am a pensioner (see below), the cost of fuel on this long route suddenly don't seem to matter (falsely) much.

If it is useful for Forum members, it may be worth mentioning here that pensioners can apparently bring their car into Turkey as a tourist for 12 months duration, rather than the usual 6 months at a time.

I am a pensioner and I read the guidelines/links for this entitlement at the Turkish Consulate General-London website. My following tele-conversation with the Turkish Customs Directorate (Gumrukler Mustesarligi) official in Ankara further confirmed that, I can bring in my car (as a tourist) into Turkey for 12 months (-minus any duration I spent in Turkey in previous year) provided that I produce at the border a document to verify that I am a pensioner. Below process to get this verification letter took a couple of months and all by mail.

1. I obtained from my Company's Pensions Trust in London a letter indicating I am a an ex-employee, a pensioner on pension.
2. I had to get the letter verified by a Notery Public in Scotland who called my Company in London to verify its contents.
3. Then I sent the letter to UK Foreign Office Legalisation Department to "Apostil" the signature of the Notery Public
4. Then I sent the letter ( as advised by the Turkish Consulate General) to Turkish British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in London who passed the letter onto one of their "sworn" translators in London and got it translated from English to Turkish
5. Then finally, I sent the letter to Turkish Consulate General London for them to verify the translation authorisation by the Turkish British Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It would be nice to see if more feedback from Forum members can be shared on their experience of driving through Balkans to Turkey.

For instance, imagine I am driving in Bulgaria and down the road a couple officers in what appears to be in police uniforms waving for me to pull over. Do I stop? If I must stop then what are the common safety / security precautions to make sure they are genuine officers, without offending them?

Thank you all.

Edited by PINTIE, 29 December 2010 - 11:05 AM.

[KKW]

I did the trip twice between Turkey and the UK via the Balkans about 4 years ago and, despite all the warnings and horror stories of bandits and robberies etc, I had no problems whatsoever. I was on my own driving a fully loaded pick-up truck and did Northants, UK to Fethiye, Turkey in about 4 and a half days.

[sunny]

Thank you Pintie for the information on getting the Pensioner permission. It seems a lot of hassle!

As a matter of interest, how much did it all cost?

[Ahududu]

For instance, imagine I am driving in Bulgaria and down the road a couple officers in what appears to be in police uniforms waving for me to pull over. Do I stop? If I must stop then what are the common safety / security precautions to make sure they are genuine officers, without offending them?

Hi PINTIE,
Yes, I see where your paranoia is with this.

I have no idea!

Don't drive at night if you're worried.
Put your hazard lights on and drive to a petrol station??
Familiarise yourself with the uniforms and cars used.
Keep some emergency phone numbers of the consulate and tourist police if available????

What time of year will you be travelling at?

[Nagga99]

Brilliant post, alot to take in but I think I will be printing this out for a further read.

If I can do my journey in 2.5 days I will be over the MOON! but there is only 2 of us driving but im sure we can co-ordinate nicely (I hope!).

Did you manage to find your note book in the end Sue? I would have liked to learn a little more about the routes you took when you went.

Thanks for the post.

[Ahududu]

You know what? I did find my notebook when we were packing the house up to move over here!!!!
And, you know what? I don't know where it is now!!!
Sorry - talk about a big build up!!!
But I looked through it at the time, and it was just details of the border crossing town names and the costs of vignettes and amount of time taken between stops - so really nothing that would be that helpful now. You can make your own route easily enough and the time you take depends on your car, driving confidence and how tired you are, how often you stop etc. The costs of the vignettes may have increased, but someone who passed through more recently would know better.

Nagga99 - if there are 2 of you driving, you will definitely make it over in 2.5 days.
Sorry I can't give you anymore details about the route - we've since driven over again, but taking the car ferry from Ancona to Igoumenitsa which cuts out all those eastern European countries.
Good luck with your trip.