Hi All, I thought that some of you may be interested to hear that this years long drive is going to be a little bit different to the last ones Ive done (visiting France/Spain/Germany/Switzerland/Italy)...

This July/August Im taking Beti into Eastern Europe, somewhere where Ive never previously set foot!

The rough idea is currently looking like this:

From Calais...

Through France, Belguim and Germany to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia. I'll be staying at a mix of camp sites and cheap hotels From Calais to Slovenia and I'll be travelling with two friends in two vehicles, one of them aboard Beti as a passenger, the other driving his Jeep Wrangler.

I dont have a clue what to expect and somehow imagine it being quite different to the usual central Europe jaunts I quite regularly do. We are estimating two to three days and nights at each of the above places so although we are doing a little more than just driving straight through the country, I guess we wont get to see much of each place.

Once im finished at Slovenia, Im heading to Bergamo airport to pick up the family for a brief stay in Northern Italy - most likely to be Venice for five days and the Lakes for five further days. For this part we'll be staying at two Eurocamp resorts.

So, the Italian part I feel quite confident about but as for the rest of it, Hmmmm. :wonder:

I'd love to hear any advice on the above countries ie things not to be missed, where to stay, where to eat, any particularly good driving roads to take in enroute etc etc.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Focus,

went out to CZ for a couple of nights before heading south into Austria, last July. Stayed in a small but comfortable hotel in Beroun, south west of Prague.

Found our accommodation though this outfit;

My link

Driving wise not much different to the rest of Europe, main roads were in general OK (drainage not good mind in rain), off the beaten track then hit and miss. Also got held up on the Prague outer ring for about a hour by some form of Police incident; a lot of officers heavily armed and in black military style kit had blocked the outside lane for a quarter mile section or so. Asked our Croatian hotel proprietor about it and he muttered something about issues with Romanian bandits holding up banks How true that statement was I'm not sure :wonder:

Communication could be a challenge on occasion, got the feeling British tourists were an uncommon site away from Prague. Local restaurant food was very good; stews that type of thing. Also found the local populous pleasant but refrained.

Hope that's of some help,

TP

Oh forgot to say I drove via the tunnel from our home in the East Riding to Beroun in one push; about 980 miles/18 hours from memory.

Thats great advice TP - thanks. Ive already figured that the whole communications thing is going to be one of the biggest issues and overall its my greatest concern tbh. I can get by in France, Spain and Germany in that respect but I wouldnt have a clue where to start with the 'Good morning, could you please direct me to...' in Serbian, for example! Food is also a slight concern as (although maybe Ive just watched too many Top Gear specials) Im thinking lambs brains and testicles will be served at any possible opportunity...

Thats great advice TP - thanks. Ive already figured that the whole communications thing is going to be one of the biggest issues and overall its my greatest concern tbh. I can get by in France, Spain and Germany in that respect but I wouldnt have a clue where to start with the 'Good morning, could you please direct me to...' in Serbian, for example! Food is also a slight concern as (although maybe Ive just watched too many Top Gear specials) Im thinking lambs brains and testicles will be served at any possible opportunity...

I learnt several phrases in Slovenian from language students when younger, unfortunately nothing that can be used in polite society, but used a couple of them on angry drivers when navigating through the Maribor traffic on a visit a few years ago, the food is good, and you can always count on the golden arches where ever you go!

...and you can always count on the golden arches where ever you go!

If I ever had to resort to eating mcdonalds when abroad I'd consider the 'cultural' aspect of the trip a complete failure!

If I ever had to resort to eating mcdonalds when abroad I'd consider the 'cultural' aspect of the trip a complete failure!

I will not eat one here let alone abroad :no: horrible things

Sounds a good trip Lee!

I'm still waiting to see the pictures of your last trip - with a certain Kamei roofbox!

Sounds a good trip Lee!

I'm still waiting to see the pictures of your last trip - with a certain Kamei roofbox!

Thats true! I sort of got caught out with that one as I changed memory cards towards the end of the holiday and never made a point of putting it to one side - so its with the other 10+ on my desk at home waiting for me to get a free hour or two... :(

I really hope the trip will be a good one. Im certainly more anxious over this one however then any of the other more central european country visits Ive done previously.

I'm sure it will be a great trip.

I did France/Belgium/Germany/Austria/Slovakia/Croatia and had a thoroughly good time.

Croatia in particular was lovely.

Snow driving in the mountains in the morning and then sitting on the beach in the Med in the evening.