Driving through Europe - current status?

[kiethton]

elise2000 said:

kiethton said:

Current thoughts are a return to Brac/Bol, but potentially even somewhere like Pag. Was considering Dubrovnik but don't think I could face that extension....

Nice. I would suggest going anywhere that is usually touristy as this year everywhere is much quieter then normal!

We’re on hvar and last week there were only 65 tourists on the whole island. Normally this time of year there are around 5000!

Ah wicked, things have changed slightly, now looking like 6 nights in Pula, 6 nights in Hvar and a stopover in Stuttgart/Munich on each leg over

[elise2000]

kiethton said:

Ah wicked, things have changed slightly, now looking like 6 nights in Pula, 6 nights in Hvar and a stopover in Stuttgart/Munich on each leg over

Ah good plan.

When on hvar:
Go to dalmatinos restaurant- best one in the town
The top bar at the Adriana- great view and cocktails
If you can, hire a speedboat with skipper for the day to see other small islands- hvarboats is the best company for this
As you’ve got the car you’ll be getting the ferry from split-stari grad. Stari grad is a very nice town. Also worth checking out Jelsa.

If you want any more recommendations let me know (I’m in the process of building a house on the island so know it pretty well).

[kiethton]

Thanks - much appreciated, will add all on the list - always good to have recommendations, know Brac well having been a few times but never made it to Hvar. Trying to get a meeting cancelled so I can leave in a week’s time...else we’ll hopefully be off Thursday week!

[elise2000]

kiethton said:

Thanks - much appreciated, will add all on the list - always good to have recommendations, know Brac well having been a few times but never made it to Hvar. Trying to get a meeting cancelled so I can leave in a week’s time...else we’ll hopefully be off Thursday week!

Enjoy!

[theboss]

stevethegreek said:

My sister drove to Greece 3 weeks ago, with no issue at all and no border checks.

For reference the route was, Calais - Frankfurt - Vienna - Nis, Serbia (through Hungary) - Sofia - Greece.

Contemplating driving over to Belgrade and back in late August / early Sept and this is the route I would be taking too. Obviously a lot can change in the next 2 months and in some of those countries it’s currently getting worse not better. I heard from family over there that the Serbia-Greece border just closed again.

Edited by theboss on Monday 6th July 22:22

[elise2000]

theboss said:

Contemplating driving over to Belgrade and back in late August / early Sept and this is the route I would be taking too. Obviously a lot can change in the next 2 months and in some of those countries it’s currently getting worse not better. I heard from family over there that the Serbia-Greece border just closed again.

Edited by theboss on Monday 6th July 22:22

Croatia has also closed the Serbian border. All the border closures in the region seem to change very quickly back and forth

[theboss]

Anyone doing Balkan direction long haul drives know any particularly nice / interesting spots for an overnight stay? Was thinking Passau, Regensburg, somewhere in that area.

[elise2000]

theboss said:

Anyone doing Balkan direction long haul drives know any particularly nice / interesting spots for an overnight stay? Was thinking Passau, Regensburg, somewhere in that area.

I just did nurnberg. Mask wearing is compulsory everywhere so generally staying in Germany isn’t that pleasant in my opinion.

[theboss]

elise2000 said:

I just did nurnberg. Mask wearing is compulsory everywhere so generally staying in Germany isn’t that pleasant in my opinion.

I’ll just turn up in a gimp mask - it didn’t bother anyone last time

[elise2000]

theboss said:

I’ll just turn up in a gimp mask - it didn’t bother anyone last time

You’ll fit in perfectly!

[kiethton]

Thanks for all the assistance, tunnel and accommodation booked last night, we leave on Tuesday.

Intention is to do a few laps of the Nurburgring in the evening open session before heading onto somewhere around stuttgart overnight, likely the Porsche museum the next morning before pressing on to Pula, Croatia. The second half will be spent in Hvar before we come back via Munich.



Now the big question is which car to take...fear the head (and comfort) will win over the heart however...

[omniflow]

kiethton said:

Thanks for all the assistance, tunnel and accommodation booked last night, we leave on Tuesday.

Intention is to do a few laps of the Nurburgring in the evening open session before heading onto somewhere around stuttgart overnight, likely the Porsche museum the next morning before pressing on to Pula, Croatia. The second half will be spent in Hvar before we come back via Munich.

Good luck - if you can, please post on here with updates on the overall situation. Personally I am interested in:

The Eurotunnel experience - queues and loos mainly
Border crossings
General traffic levels on the roads
Availability of food / refreshments when on the road
Evenings out in Germany / Austria / Italy

[elise2000]

kiethton said:

Thanks for all the assistance, tunnel and accommodation booked last night, we leave on Tuesday.

Intention is to do a few laps of the Nurburgring in the evening open session before heading onto somewhere around stuttgart overnight, likely the Porsche museum the next morning before pressing on to Pula, Croatia. The second half will be spent in Hvar before we come back via Munich.



Now the big question is which car to take...fear the head (and comfort) will win over the heart however...

I can help with this question I think. I’ve done this trip in several lotuses (Elise, Elise r, evora, evora s). Also in a 5 series and a 3 series.

If you can pack light, do the lotus. It won’t be comfortable, but you know that already! Well worth it to make the most of the roads (and obviously the track though).

Bmw makes the trip quicker (fewer fuel stops, less required stopping to stretch legs), more comfortable when at destination as no lack of luggage, but seriously boring compared to the lotus!

Disclaimer- if you break down in the lotus, which I did several times, you should have taken the bmw!

[elise2000]

omniflow said:

Good luck - if you can, please post on here with updates on the overall situation. Personally I am interested in:

The Eurotunnel experience - queues and loos mainly
Border crossings
General traffic levels on the roads
Availability of food / refreshments when on the road
Evenings out in Germany / Austria / Italy

As of a week ago, eurotunnel was quiet. Terminal building closed though. Toilets available on boarding lanes, but not on board.

Service stations pretty normal in Germany. Don’t know about Austria or Italy though.

[kiethton]

Thanks all, as promised an update

Took the M135i as the Mrs’ luggage/comfort requirements won out, performed far better on the wet Nürburgring in any event.

Got to Croatia last night, only a few issues:

Triggered a few speed camera’s across Germany, 2 of which were where I thought I was going the speed limit +/- 3kph, the other where I only twigged the second roadwork reduction when I saw the sign after and breezes through a 60 at 100ish...let’s hope January rolls around before any letters arrive....

We had the addition of an Italian border, after 4 hours of Austrian passes which was good fun also (took the turning immediately after the border) - went through Lentz etc.

Only other important points for those travelling:

Masks in all “public” places (shops, not bars/restaurants) in Germany/Croatia.
Hotel in Stuttgart (Ibis) we had to confirm that we were a married couple before they would let us share a room.
All borders not an issue, except for Croatia. We hadn’t filled in a new online form before our arrival. They saw I had internet on the phone so scanned our passports and let us in on the provision we did so when at the hotel.

We’re now here and chilling on the Beach in Pula, with a beer, and 1,160 miles down so far. Life is good.

Onto Hvar early next week so we’ll check out all of the places recommended, thanks

[Not Ideal]

Cool nice work. I am driving to Cannes tomorrow - see how that goes !

[matrignano]

kiethton said:

Hotel in Stuttgart (Ibis) we had to confirm that we were a married couple before they would let us share a room.

Was it run by Opus Dei?

[xjay1337]

kiethton said:

Thanks all, as promised an update

Took the M135i as the Mrs’ luggage/comfort requirements won out, performed far better on the wet Nürburgring in any event.

Got to Croatia last night, only a few issues:

Triggered a few speed camera’s across Germany, 2 of which were where I thought I was going the speed limit +/- 3kph, the other where I only twigged the second roadwork reduction when I saw the sign after and breezes through a 60 at 100ish...let’s hope January rolls around before any letters arrive....

We had the addition of an Italian border, after 4 hours of Austrian passes which was good fun also (took the turning immediately after the border) - went through Lentz etc.

Only other important points for those travelling:

Masks in all “public” places (shops, not bars/restaurants) in Germany/Croatia.
Hotel in Stuttgart (Ibis) we had to confirm that we were a married couple before they would let us share a room.
All borders not an issue, except for Croatia. We hadn’t filled in a new online form before our arrival. They saw I had internet on the phone so scanned our passports and let us in on the provision we did so when at the hotel.

We’re now here and chilling on the Beach in Pula, with a beer, and 1,160 miles down so far. Life is good.

Onto Hvar early next week so we’ll check out all of the places recommended, thanks

You must be the chap from Facebook.

I still find it almost impossible that they'd ask to prove you're married.

What if you're married but living apart? Or what if you're both married but to different people? Or if you're not married but living together... How can you prove you're married
And what's to stop them, if they put you in different rooms, then just going into the same room anyway?

Enjoy your holibobs.

[elise2000]

kiethton said:

Thanks all, as promised an update

Took the M135i as the Mrs’ luggage/comfort requirements won out, performed far better on the wet Nürburgring in any event.

Got to Croatia last night, only a few issues:

Triggered a few speed camera’s across Germany, 2 of which were where I thought I was going the speed limit +/- 3kph, the other where I only twigged the second roadwork reduction when I saw the sign after and breezes through a 60 at 100ish...let’s hope January rolls around before any letters arrive....

We had the addition of an Italian border, after 4 hours of Austrian passes which was good fun also (took the turning immediately after the border) - went through Lentz etc.

Only other important points for those travelling:

Masks in all “public” places (shops, not bars/restaurants) in Germany/Croatia.
Hotel in Stuttgart (Ibis) we had to confirm that we were a married couple before they would let us share a room.
All borders not an issue, except for Croatia. We hadn’t filled in a new online form before our arrival. They saw I had internet on the phone so scanned our passports and let us in on the provision we did so when at the hotel.

We’re now here and chilling on the Beach in Pula, with a beer, and 1,160 miles down so far. Life is good.

Onto Hvar early next week so we’ll check out all of the places recommended, thanks

Sounds good. We arrived home today after an uneventful drive back. German border wanted to check car documents but no other checks anywhere.

Enjoy your hols.

[kiethton]

xjay1337 said:

kiethton said:

Thanks all, as promised an update

Took the M135i as the Mrs’ luggage/comfort requirements won out, performed far better on the wet Nürburgring in any event.

Got to Croatia last night, only a few issues:

Triggered a few speed camera’s across Germany, 2 of which were where I thought I was going the speed limit +/- 3kph, the other where I only twigged the second roadwork reduction when I saw the sign after and breezes through a 60 at 100ish...let’s hope January rolls around before any letters arrive....

We had the addition of an Italian border, after 4 hours of Austrian passes which was good fun also (took the turning immediately after the border) - went through Lentz etc.

Only other important points for those travelling:

Masks in all “public” places (shops, not bars/restaurants) in Germany/Croatia.
Hotel in Stuttgart (Ibis) we had to confirm that we were a married couple before they would let us share a room.
All borders not an issue, except for Croatia. We hadn’t filled in a new online form before our arrival. They saw I had internet on the phone so scanned our passports and let us in on the provision we did so when at the hotel.

We’re now here and chilling on the Beach in Pula, with a beer, and 1,160 miles down so far. Life is good.

Onto Hvar early next week so we’ll check out all of the places recommended, thanks

You must be the chap from Facebook.

I still find it almost impossible that they'd ask to prove you're married.

What if you're married but living apart? Or what if you're both married but to different people? Or if you're not married but living together... How can you prove you're married
And what's to stop them, if they put you in different rooms, then just going into the same room anyway?

Enjoy your holibobs.

Yep, that’d be me

That’s the question I was asked, may just be a poor translation from German however. Who knows...

Thanks tho