.... what's the best way to do this trip? I've been asked to take a van load of very high value goods to Cyprus which can't be flown. All the export documents have been checked, all goods inspected and 'export sealed' by customs etc. The question is, which is the best way to go ........ not only from a distance aspect but the most interesting, scenic & least politically difficult. I can drive down through Germany & Austria but then hit Croatia, Macedonia & Bulgaria after which it would be crossing most of Turkey. Otherwise it would be driving through France & Italy then taking the Genoa - Tunis ferry after which it would a drive across Libya & Egypt. Then we'd take the ferry from Alexandria to Cyprus. The main question is, which is the least risky, crossing Croatia & Bosnia or Libya & Egypt. The only other option is driving down through France & Italy to Brindisi then 'island hopping' through Greece, Crete and on to Cyprus. We'd be in a RHD French registered van carrying 2 Brits ....... so, whaddya think?
1st option seems the most interesting and best option, wouldn't fancy driving all the way through Libya and egypt, bosnia is a sweet little country,
Hmmmm, interesting ....... are things calm in Croatia & Bosnia now, I've seen the coastline but never landed. Do they have owt against the French or UK?
Smug, I went camping around Croatia and Bosnia a few years back with my bairn, and was treated fine. I go to the dentist in Croatia too, as it's far cheaper than Italy. The countries are stable, Croatia is in the EU and Bosnia wants to be, so as EU citizens I reckon you'll get no trouble. I suppose to be on the safe side make sure all the Ts are crossed re export documents, etc. We were also in Macedonia and Bulgaria last summer, and again it was all easy. The roads in Bosnia are pretty ****e though! Just one lane, and winding through the mountains, so don't expect to get through the country quickly!
Excellent mate, just the kind of post I need to show to our lass We love the 'scenic route', along with the culture etc, but she was a bit worried when I offered her the choice of Libya & Bosnia. I can understand tbh, all her political knowledge comes from News at Ten ..........
bosnia id brilliant, really nice place, a very scarred past but the people are pretty awesome, and it's recovered really well, its cheap as chip and some ****ing stunning scenery along with crotia and the whole southern europe area, brilliant
Smug, make sure you are safe when you stop for the night, I reckon you can do the trip in 2-3 days depending on which route you take. I've heard first-hand some pretty nasty stories of people asleep at night having gas pumped into their vehicles by eastern Europeans. The overnight stops may prove to be the most dodgy part of your journey. Get as safe a place to stay overnight as you can. Oh and bon voyage!
Tell your lass you're doing the scenic route which takes 2 weeks. Then fly there in 2 days, thus having a bit of R&R with your pal without getting any grief. Job sorted. I'm divorced BTW.
Cheers, we're looking at the Sunderland fixtures now and deciding when to go. I'm inclined to buy a £500 van, take out AA cover, spend 10 days to drive down the scenic route and make it a holiday. Then we can flog the van for whatever and fly back which would be way cheaper than driving it back
This sounds like a whole load of fun Smug, you should call it the 'Cyprus Job'....and if you need any help handling that eh, gold bullion, count me in mate Great tune to play on the way... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbeXL6AXmi0
just make sure there's no drugs in your van entering turkey or you'll be locked up 40 years those bastards will search even knook and cranny
A more secure alternative would be to go through Germany , Austria and Italy, the whole length, so choose your route via the areas you want to see, then ferry cruise to Limassol. Doesn't have to be motor way.
Dear Mackemsrule could you pass this message on to Smug, cheers. The Hull forum. A good scenic route is to travel through France. Then through Spain. Get ferry to Morocco. Travel along the coast through Algeria, Tunisia Libya and Egypt, really friendly people all the way. From Egypt stay on the coast through to Israel and from their head through Jordan. Try to avoid Lebanon as they aren't very friendly and head over to Syria a nice quite drive and they welcome westerners with open arms. You may want to head to Iraq too, Baghdad is a wonderful city. From Iraq head up to Turkey and follow the signs for Cyprus. Sorted. Signed the Hull Tigers. Or you could plan your route on the RAC site and add in stopoff s that you fancy visiting. http://www.rac.co.uk/route-planner?WT.ac=MainNav_RoutePlanner
Avoid Libya & Egypt if you can. I would do the Island hoping route personally. I will ask one of my mate who has a transport company if I see him this weekend, he might still be in Thailand though. He has driven the routes your talking about extensively and will be able to tell me what your best route would be. He is a bit of a nutter though and has driven to places like Iraq while the war was on and Northern Ireland when the trouble was at its worst. Made him a few quid though.
aye libya and egypt are ****ing appaling countries.. got some brilliant historic sites.. but it's a ****ing awful place.. and the drive is a right bore.. just desert.. southern eastern europe.. has incredible scenery, honestly croatia is fine.. many brits go there for a vacation, it's a brilliant country only problem is turkey.. but really that's fine.. i'd hate to be you driving on their roads though, but you'll have a ****ing good shop the main question is what on earth is such valuable goods? must be cocaine?
