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highlander · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 11:04 Titel: thassos by car

Hello, I'm new here.
A small introduction: I'm from holland, and I love Thassos.
My wife is half greek, and my father-in-law lives on thassos.

This summer I want to drive from Holland to Thassos by car. This is cheaper then flying there and rent a car.

I'm planning to drive the following route:
Germany, passing near Regensburg
Austria, passing Grazz
Slovenia
Croatia, passing Zagreb
Servia, passing Belgrado, Skopje
Greece, passing Thessaloniki

I think it can be done in two days, but I'm planning three days. Because when I arive in kavalla late at night, I have to wait for the boat the next day. So I think I might as well arive in Kavalla later in the day.

I want to spend the nights in hotels. The first night hopefully in Slovenia.

Are there members here who are experienced with this way of going to Thassos, and does anybody have tips or advise.

Greetings, Johan

Konstantin · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 11:42 Titel:

Hi, Johan,

last time I have done this trip, Jugoslavia still existed,
so almost nothing will be the same today.

Me and my family are planning to go to Thassos this year
by car too - but we prefer to take the ferry from Venice to Patras,
and then take the highway up to the north again.
This might be an option for you too.

Any which way you go - enjoy your hollidays on Thassos !
_________________
Cheerio
Konstantin

highlander · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 12:09 Titel:

Thanks for your reaction.

In my opinion it wil take a more time by boat, and it wil be more expensive.

My father-in-law drove the route last year and said to me that former yugoslavie was save to drive and the roads were much better then before the war.

For your information: I believe there a more ferries from Italy to Greece. So you can also drive a little bit futher en take a shorter trip by boat. But maybe you already knew that.

Konstantin · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 12:24 Titel:

Yes, we went to Greece by ferry the last years.
Venice, Ancona...

Your asking about the former "Autoput" - made me investigate
further on the topic by searching this forum -
and I am tempted to try the land version again.

Seems to have become much better to travel and is a lot cheaper.
But I will have 3 Children (5-9) back in the car and from Hamburg
it´s 2400 km to go....
_________________
Cheerio
Konstantin

Claire · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 12:40 Titel:

Hello Konstantin,

It sounds as though you will have a very interesting journey to Thassos . . . and you'll need a holiday after driving all that way with three young children!

Mine are 3 and 10 and they are quite 'interesting' enough in the back of the car on long journeys

Johan, I almost envy you enjoying the wonderful scenery driving through the beautiful European countryside.

Have a wonderful stay on the beautiful island and "Welcome to the Forum"

highlander · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 12:45 Titel:

I don't know what you mean by "autoput" Konstantin. I also have two kids in the back of my car. Age 5 and 7.
I know they are going to make trouble, but I also think there's enough to see and learn for them.
It's 2600km from my house to Potos where I will stay.

When are you going. I'm planning to drive sunday 9 july very early in the morning.

Claire: thanks for the warm welcome.

Claire · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 12:51 Titel:

Yes, Johan, and with a few stops on the way it could be an excellent educational trip for them . . . History, Geography, Languages . . . which country has the best ice cream . . . we would love to do that!

Sounds better and better.

robert... · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 14:33 Titel:

Welcome Johan!

I will also go to Thassos this year by car, but it's a motorhome - and my starting point is Vienna.
I will go via Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria. The bulgarian route will take us the same time, but it's the shorter way.
My last journey to Thassos by car was also before the war, but I was studying a lot of experiences from the last 2-3 years. According to them it should be save and almost all way highway. Slovenia, Croatia and Bulgaria is no problem to pass - I know it from some business trips. But in July be prepared to spend hours at the borders!

btw: Autoput is the name of the old route through Yougoslavia!
_________________

lg
robert...

It is better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not. - André Gide

highlander · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 14:55 Titel:

Thanks Robert.

Gladd to read from you that the roads are good.

Bulgaria is just as long as macedonia-thessaloniki. Right.
But my wife wants to go thrue macedonie. It's the same to me.

If I drive thru Hungary the distance is further (ca. 50km or 1 hour) but I have one less border to cross.

What would you advize? I haven't got a clue of the time I spent at the borders. In both routes I have to get out and back in to the European Union.
_________________

Konstantin · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 17:27 Titel:

Johan,
so you got your kids with you as well.

I thought myself to be the only mad man in holiday design.

But for our family the plane is no realistic alternative,
and the ferries add 8 € per person/car and direction.
For us that´s 8 x 6 x 2 ~ another 100 € in addition to the tickets...

So we do consider the former "Autoput".

We will stay in Potos too, where my mothers family has a holiday house.
We plan to start our journey on 15th of july expecting to arrive
on the 18th or 19th.

But there are still quite some days to go
and plans keep changing, as I see today...
_________________
Cheerio
Konstantin

robert... · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 18:18 Titel:

I can tell you, that austrian-hungarian border is no problem - as well as austrian-slovenian. Both are not part of Schengen, but in the EU. So there is a border, but they check only passports for EU-citizens, no goods. It's very fast. So if it's only 50km more to go I would highly recommend the hungarian route in high season. It's less traffic (almost noone from Central Europe is taking this route), faster borders and one country less. Roads are pretty much looking the same - they are very good.
_________________

lg
robert...

It is better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not. - André Gide

robert... · Verfasst am: 22.03.2006, 19:15 Titel:

I will go to Thassos in May/June - so I will let you know my experiences afterwards...
_________________

lg
robert...

It is better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not. - André Gide

BigAl · Verfasst am: 23.03.2006, 1:28 Titel:

I was always led to believe that going through what was Yugoslavia should be avoided as it has always been very dodgy for cars with foreign plates to drive across.
I have heard many stories of corrupt police pulling over cars and demanding money before they let you go on your journey.
_________________

(Greek guy chatting up a Scottish lady outside the Full Moon)

"A penny for your thinks"

highlander · Verfasst am: 23.03.2006, 9:26 Titel:

@ Konstantin: you'll be traveling a few days after me. Maybe we'll meet each other someday in Potos.

@ Robert: I like to hear your experiences in june.

@ Bigal: My father-in-law said: In former yugoslvia you allways meet a copp who needs a few euro's. Not much, so see it as a kind of extra roadtax.
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robert... · Verfasst am: 23.03.2006, 9:27 Titel:

Hi Big Al,

I have also heard about this from people who have never been there.

For Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia I'm going there for business trips and I've never experienced something like this! And for Serbia you can have a look here for info from someone who is living there!

So - don't be afraid! - And don't belive all these old wives' tales!
_________________

lg
robert...

It is better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not. - André Gide