Archived:CountryMatters

Countries

• UK - No visa

Condoned Balkania

• Croatia - No visa, but must prove we have funds to sustain ourselves
• Bosnia - No visa. Register with the police within 48 hours of arrival.
• Serbia - No visa, must get passport stamp on way in so as not to be an illegal immigrant. Must not go in through Kosovo unless going out through Kosovo. Must cross at recognized border point.
• Montenegro - Get stamped, pay €10 eco-tax on way in. Register with local police within 24 hours of arrival. Make your presence known to the british embassy. Declare all items of value, credit cards, large sums of cash on way in and out.

Environs North

• Austria - No visa
• Slovenia - No visa. Must register with the Police within three days of arrival.
• Hungary - No visa
• Slovakia - No visa
• Czech Republic - No visa

Environs South

• Kosovo - Might not be allowed into serbia after we've gone there. May be required to give a reason for our stay.
• Albania - No visa
• Macedonia - No visa
• Bulgaria - No visa, provided you're an actual british citizen
• Greece - No visa
• Turkey - £10 visa, can be bought at the border, must have 6 months passport validity

Not Passing Through

• France - No visa
• Belgium - No visa
• Germany - No visa
• Netherlands
• Luxembourg

Driving Regulations

I'm assuming we're going to play it safe and not drink at all pre-driving, and not use a phone at all while driving.

Also that we're going to declare route to hire company to ensure insurance is all kosher.

And that we've all got travel and medical insurance out the wazoo.

Condoned Balkania

All of below:

• Require dipped headlamps at all times.
• You are advised to drive defensively and to avoid confrontation with other drivers.
• Do not stray too far from paved roads of dense population due to unexploded ordinance and land mines.

Specifics

• Croatia - FCO: Must have fluorescent jacket in the car.
• Bosnia - FCO: Require all-weather tyres.
• Serbia - FCO
• Montenegro - FCO: Eco-tax on entry. Probably will get hustled for "insurance" moneys at border, can get refund if incorrectly charged. Beware of massive flooding (since early December) in river areas.

Environs North

• Austria
  • FCO
  • Need to ensure we have all-weather tyres.
  • High visibility warning vests are required, must be within reach of the driver, and must be worn day or night when exiting the vehicle on the hard shoulder.
  • "If you use Austrian motorways ('Autobahn') and 'S' roads you must display a Motorway Vignette on the inside of the windshield of your vehicle as you enter Austria. Failure to have one will mean a heavy, on-the-spot fine. Motorway Vignettes are obtainable at all major border crossings into Austria and at larger petrol stations."
• Slovenia
  • FCO
  • "Slovenia has a ‘Vignette’ system for motorway travel. Vignettes are available for weekly, monthly or yearly periods, and can be purchased at petrol stations and DARS (the Slovenian Motorway Company) offices in Slovenia as well as outlets in neighbouring countries near the Slovene border. The Vignette is compulsory, fines, blah blah"
  • Winter equipment is mandatory from 15 November until 15 March. i.e. All-weather tyres
  • Required to carry a reflective jacket, a warning triangle and a first aid kit in the vehicle.
  • Headlights on at all times.
• Hungary
  • FCO
  • Headlights on at all times outside towns.
  • Motorway vignette, obtainable at petrol stations and post offices, or pay online in advance here £5
• Slovakia
  • FCO
  • Headlights at all times
  • NB: speed limits in cities is 50kph
• Czech Republic
  • FCO
  • Motorway vignette again.
  • Headlights on dipped beam at all times.
  • It is a requirement under Czech law that all private cars, including those of foreign visitors, carry the following items:
    • 1 x Fluorescent Green High Visibility Safety Jacket
    • 1 x First Aid Kit
    • 1 x Spare pair of prescription glasses (if necessary)
    • 1 x Warning triangle
    • 1 x Complete set of spare bulbs