Driving from Greece!

[Graveworm_Hunter]

Hi,
We're driving up from Greece and will be passing through FYROM, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. I've never driven though these countries before and have heard some quite bad things about driving though Serbia. If anyone has driven these places before I'd appreciate some tips if you have any!
Cheers!

 

[Lady_Wolf]

Hi,
We're driving up from Greece and will be passing through FYROM, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. I've never driven though these countries before and have heard some quite bad things about driving though Serbia. If anyone has driven these places before I'd appreciate some tips if you have any!
Cheers!

Only thing I can tell you is that you will need a vignette for the Czech Republic and that Serbia has toll highways.
I also know that the Czech Republic has shit highways and I am guessing that those other countries wont be much different (as in bad quality of the roads, with holes/bumps etc)

 

[Graveworm_Hunter]

Thanks! I'm prepared for the road quality, luckily I've got a 4x4. I've just been reading a lot about the corrupt police pulling people over for speeding when they weren't and getting ripped off at gas stations. I reckon I'll only have to fill up once through Serbia. We're then overnighting in Bratislava (staying clear of any HOSTELS), I want to come to Wacken with all my organs intact!
Any other help or tips would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers!

 

[Quark]

Go via Patras (Gr) - Brindisi Italy.
Way safer.

 

[Lady_Wolf]

Go via Patras (Gr) - Brindisi Italy.
Way safer.

and 800 km further

 

[Lady_Wolf]

and 800 km further

and 19 hours longer according to google maps

 

[Quark]

and 800 km further

and 19 hours longer according to google maps

At least you're going through less stranger countries.

 

[Graveworm_Hunter]

Can't be bothered with the ferry, and the ports will be a nightmare at this time of year, and it adds another 180 euros to the travel costs!
I'm going for it...Greece, FYROM, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Rep and Germany! Euro Road Trip!!!!

 

[Lady_Wolf]

Have a safe trip

 

[Graveworm_Hunter]

Thanks! I hope it will be...I'm still getting some rather scary reports about Serbia! Oh well, I guess the world wasn't explored by being afraid of the natives!

 

[Love-Lies-Bleeding]

May I ask where do you get all those scary reports about Serbia? Quite a few of my friends (from Slovenia) travelled to the country or through it and they always said people were extremely welcoming and they never had any problems. Apart from ending up totally wasted a few times because the locals in the bars would buy them rakija

 

[Graveworm_Hunter]

Hi,
I've been reading other peoples experiences on other sites, here's a couple:

"Please I beseech you, do not try to drive thought Serbia, it is lawless. My company has lost three articulated lorries in that country.
I WILL NOT allow any of my staff to take a route through Serbia, I route them through Hungry, Romania and Bulgaria."

"take plenty of money for when you are pulled over frequently and have to pay extortionate amounts of money on demand or be arrested,even though you've done nothing wrong!!!!"

It's not put me off though, I'm still going that way as I like to see different places.

 

[Love-Lies-Bleeding]

Uh, those reviews surely sound pretty bad I guess it must depend on the area you're travelling through too. I'd say main roads and the more populated areas should be okay.

Let us know how it went once you're back from Wacken, will you, as I'm really curious about this. As I said, people here travel to that country or through it quite often and I've never heard of any problems, so yea, I'd really like to read your experience.

I wish you good luck on your trip.

 

[NomTheWise]

We're then overnighting in Bratislava (staying clear of any HOSTELS), I want to come to Wacken with all my organs intact!

 

[Lady_Wolf]

Uh, those reviews surely sound pretty bad

but keep in mind that nobody is gonna write: ooow I drove to Serbia and nothing happened.

I WILL NOT allow any of my staff to take a route through Serbia, I route them through Hungry, Romania and Bulgaria.

I honestly dont think these countries are any better or worse.
I know that a father of an ex colleague drives through Bulgaria every year to get to Turkey, and that man bring about 300 euro in small notes so he can bribe the Bulgarian cops