Driving in Bosnia! (gulp)

Driving in Bosnia! (gulp)

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Discussion

mcgandalf

Original Poster:

657 posts

156 months

Thursday 30th April 2015
quotequote all
Hello PH,

In a couple of weeks the missus and I will be flying to Dubrovnik (Croatia), driving to Sarajevo (Bosnia) and then down to Kotor (Montenegro).

What standard of roads and driving am I to expect? I presume the Croatia leg (short) will be reasonable - it's an EU member state and hence a Western country now. Bosnia is a different kettle of fish - I'm aware the landmine threat means you shouldn't really venture off roads on foot, but am I to expect the drivers to be suicidal lunatics? Roads horribly potholed? (I'm assuming the short Montenegrin leg to be similar ot Bosnia.)

On a side note, does anyone know what the border crossing procedure is like between Croatia and Bosnia, heading north?

mcgandalf

Original Poster:

657 posts

156 months

Thursday 30th April 2015
quotequote all
Great recommendations - thanks.

I've heard of some car hire companies wrongly convincing you that you need to pay for some sort of permit to take a Croatian-registered vehicle into Bosnia. Did you have this problem?

Also, is fuel readily available and do petrol stations take credit cards?

mcgandalf

Original Poster:

657 posts

156 months

Thursday 30th April 2015
quotequote all
jamoor said:
I don't see how being an EU state means you become a western country? What about Iceland or Norway? (I know O/T but it's an utterly ridiculous way of thinking)
Was being mildly ironic. Better Off Out etc.

The fact stands that EU = Schengen (roughly) and Vodafone EuroTraveller, with all the ease of movement both entail.

mcgandalf

Original Poster:

657 posts

156 months

Thursday 30th April 2015
quotequote all
Visa Debit ok - or just Visa Credit?

I do have a MasterCard (credit) as well.

mcgandalf

Original Poster:

657 posts

156 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
quotequote all
Driving in Croatia at the moment - when people have flashed to let me out etc., I've raised my hand in a quick wave to say thanks. Perfectly usual in the UK.

Here this is invariably met with an irate beep.

Is the raised open palm an offensive gesture in the Balkans?!

Have I just told a nice chap in a Yugo to fk off?

mcgandalf

Original Poster:

657 posts

156 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Haven't been pulled for speeding (yet) despite having long given up on the idea of sitting at 50 kph in 'villages' without a soul or house in sight for miles.

Do you mean 10 EUR, or 10 BAM, as the default sum to give the police?

The quality of the driving here - particularly by HGVs - is seriously bloody awful. Weaving all over the road - on the phone, smoking, watching TV while hauling 44 tonnes. A bloke driving a Mk 2 Fiesta with no front or rear bumpers. Countless shells of vehicles, long since stripped of anything of value, by the side of the road - don't they have car breakers' yards in BiH?

mcgandalf

Original Poster:

657 posts

156 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Haven't been pulled for speeding (yet) despite having long given up on the idea of sitting at 50 kph in 'villages' without a soul or house in sight for miles.

Do you mean 10 EUR, or 10 BAM, as the default sum to give the police?

The quality of the driving here - particularly by HGVs - is seriously bloody awful. Weaving all over the road - on the phone, smoking, watching TV while hauling 44 tonnes. A bloke driving a Mk 2 Fiesta with no front or rear bumpers. Countless shells of vehicles, long since stripped of anything of value, by the side of the road - don't they have car breakers' yards in BiH?