Tam &Toby do Europe ...Take two

[Lenny HB]

From what I've seen of como driving round and round it I can't see the nice bits.

The waterfront, the old town.

 

[Northernraider]

The waterfront, the old town.

Can't get near there yet but I'll wait and see if some of the car parks clear out in an hour or so

 

[chaser]

From what I've seen of como driving round and round it I can't see the nice bits.

But it's absolutely heaving , there's one aire with 3 spots which are full and another 3 campers squeezed in to other spaces but carpark is heaving, I've been to 5 other places off park4night round the town and all are full of cars ...not sure I can be bothered.

It's not a whistle stop tour I just get bored if I've seen what there is to see and there's nothing happening around me.

but you are missing the places where there is something and happening to see, seem to me you have seen most of the things to see, just in different places, dont know what else there is,in my opinion which i know means nothing, time you stopped somewhere for a few days to get your enthusiasim back.

 

[Figaro]

I found free day parking in Cernobbio last may.
Didn't keep coordinates unfortunately but it's just down the road towards Como from Parco Di villa d'este. 3 or 400 yards on the same side of street.
Water taxi takes you into Como.
Como was a nightmare, got stuck in a narrow street

 

[suavecarve]

45.802551, 9.091633 This one frees up of cars overnight. I think there were about 6 or 7 official spaces. We parked by the road and it wasnt as bad as could be expected overnight.
Worth putting up with for the night and wondering around as it is very pleasant if warm.

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[Podney]

Well,you’re not short of advice about where to go Tam,are you?!
Trouble is,these old codgers have “been there,done that”,so I suppose they might know summink.............................


Maybe

 

[Northernraider]

Ended up parking here for the night

I was knackered so I went for lie down and woke up at 20.10 ...feel like shit now lol and I'm roasting.

Another big motorhome has turned up behind me ...seems a quiet spot though

 

[Val 3 dogs]

Doesn't sound too good Tam. Hope you have a quiet night and feel better in the morning.

 

[Lenny HB]

Convenient only a couple of km from the old town.

 

[Northernraider]

I'm starting to think this was the worst planned trip in history.

I had never originally planned to go in to Switzerland in fact I didn't consider being anywhere near this area ....I planned following the coast pretty much like I had dine with spain and Portugal and zigging inland now and then to visit sights.
So it was just a last minute thing yesterday when I was so close to the border I thought well it's another country I can say I've been in regardless how short a visit.
So I hadn't researched or looked about vignettes etc and I had only seen a few things on here about them so I just thought if I wasn't on a motorway I wouldn't need one.

I've also never queried my insurance as when I told them I was doing a trip this year and how or would brexit affect me they had said only morroco and Turkey required a green card and they gave me one so I put it to the back of my mind.

Looking in here this morning there's a thread regarding ferries from Italy to Croatia etc and people are saying Albania and Montenegro aren't in the eu so insurance isn't covered and that you've to cross a bit of Bosnia which again I wasn't aware of.

I'm starting to think things are just too bloody complicated

I need to now go and dig out my insurance paperwork

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[Just smiffy]

I'm starting to think this was the worst planned trip in history.

I had never originally planned to go in to Switzerland in fact I didn't consider being anywhere near this area ....I planned following the coast pretty much like I had dine with spain and Portugal and zigging inland now and then to visit sights.
So it was just a last minute thing yesterday when I was so close to the border I thought well it's another country I can say I've been in regardless how short a visit.
So I hadn't researched or looked about vignettes etc and I had only seen a few things on here about them so I just thought if I wasn't on a motorway I wouldn't need one.

I've also never queried my insurance as when I told them I was doing a trip this year and how or would brexit affect me they had said only morroco and Turkey required a green card and they gave me one so I put it to the back of my mind.

Looking in here this morning there's a thread regarding ferries from Italy to Croatia etc and people are saying Albania and Montenegro aren't in the eu so insurance isn't covered and that you've to cross a bit of Bosnia which again I wasn't aware of.

I'm starting to think things are just too bloody complicated

I need to now go and dig out my insurance paperwork

For about €40 you can get around Bosnia with a ferry from ploče and and go down to Dubrovnik it’s nice over on the peninsula that way....
Don’t know about Albania though.....

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm starting to think this was the worst planned trip in history.

When did you ever do planning?
Planning is not that important but research is, that's the bit you have fallen down on.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I'm starting to think this was the worst planned trip in history.

...thought that was your style Tam... only the vaguest of "plans".
These days, most 'issues' can be resolved with a bit of interwebnet, or even global mobile roaming...

 

[Northernraider]

?
When did you ever do planning?
Planning is not that important but research is, that's the bit you have fallen down on.

Aye very true ...but it seems to be one headache after another with this trip and it's becoming more stressful than fun to be honest.

Just got off the phone with safeguard and they can't provide cover for Albania or Montenegro, he suggests going online to try and arrange alternative insurance. But for that I would need fixed dates etc and no idea of cost involved. There's also the breakdown cover issue etc it means I can't do the route I had thought of.

I have a budget for this trip and I really don't want to go over it if I can avoid it but I'm also finding it difficult to stick to or plan that budget....I guess that's where the lack of experience doing this comes in. Croatia and Greece were probably the 2 countries I was looking forward to the most but with other countries between them it's a nightmare.

 

[Northernraider]

...thought that was your style Tam... only the vaguest of "plans".
These days, most 'issues' can be resolved with a bit of interwebnet, or even global mobile roaming...

Well it is mostly ...I don't like having a set in stone plan ( never works anyway ) but I thought I had an outline idea if a route so I could see the countries I wanted to.

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[Langtoftlad]

Well it is mostly ...I don't like having a set in stone plan ( never works anyway ) but I thought I had an outline idea if a route so I could see the countries I wanted to.

Just had a squiz at TripAdvisor...
"Some insurance companies include Albania and Montenegro in their cover.if not you buy insurance at the border.is about 20-25 euro per each country."
That was from 2013 so assume prices will have increased, if indeed still available.

Also a suggestion of getting to Greece by ferry from Venice.

 

[Langtoftlad]

This from Outandaboutlive forum:
Posted: 9 June 2018 7:32 AM
Subject: RE: Albania
Having now passed though Albania I offer my experiences to those who may be considering making the journey.
Firstly the currant speed limits:
Within built-up areas - 40kph/25mph
Outside built-up areas 80kph/50mph
Expressways 90kph/56mph
Freeways 110kph/68mph

and
"You cannot get insurance in the UK for Albania or Montenegro. You have to buy a green card at the border. That means third party only. So you cover the risk of damage to the camper/motorhome yourself. We were stopped by the police who wanted to check our green card ( he really wanted to practice his English) and he was very pleasant to chat to."

and finally, from this very forum:
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/montengro-insurance.115335/

So I'd suggest it's possible to get legal documentation/cover at some of the border crossings if you choose to do that route.

Hope this helps you formulate your non-plan

 

[Lenny HB]

Just got off the phone with safeguard and they can't provide cover for Albania or Montenegro, he suggests going online to try and arrange alternative insurance

Mijhan wanted to go to Montenegro so I thought I would go down to Greece via Montenegro & Albania but after investigating insurance I gave up on the idea. With the idot at the helm of my van didn't want to risk 3 rd party on a newish van.

Croatia and Greece were probably the 2 countries I was looking forward to the most

I was not that impressed with Croatia a lot of it is similar to Greece & wild camping difficult so could hurt your budget.
Greece is awsome no problem wilding, water easy to get, need to carry a spare loo cassette as empting can be challenging. Ferry from Ancona to Greece £400 - £500 return.

 

[Northernraider]

Just had another nightmare satnav issue. Moved to a carpark closer to the town the stupid satnav takes me down a narrow street big high wall covered in ivy on one side and badly parked cars on the other ....I squeezed through with mm to spare ,the road then sharp turns left ...I turn the corner and faced with a 2.5metre high tunnel. Had to pull a 3 point turn only to discover the narrow street is a one way street and I'm stuck in a small square with no way out.
Had no choice but to drive up the narrow one way street the wrong way and of course 2 cars would have to turn in off the main road. So I now have scuffs on my drivers side mirror casing.

Finally get the right road in to the carpark and it's mobbed ..eventually a car leaves so I'm in that space but overhanging a bit at the front and I'm over a section of pavement at the rear. According to psrk4night photos this is normal. No sooner have I squeezed in another motor home drives in a car pulls away from a bit not in the parking bays and the new motorhome gets it ...sods law.

So I'll go have a look round the old town ...it better be bloody worth it

 

[Lenny HB]

Just had another nightmare satnav issue. Moved to a carpark closer to the town the stupid satnav takes me down a narrow street big high wall covered in ivy on one side and badly parked cars on the other ....I squeezed through with mm to spare ,the road then sharp turns left ...I turn the corner and faced with a 2.5metre high tunnel. Had to pull a 3 point turn only to discover the narrow street is a one way street and I'm stuck in a small square with no way out.
Had no choice but to drive up the narrow one way street the wrong way and of course 2 cars would have to turn in off the main road. So I now have scuffs on my drivers side mirror casing.

Finally get the right road in to the carpark and it's mobbed ..eventually a car leaves so I'm in that space but overhanging a bit at the front and I'm over a section of pavement at the rear. According to psrk4night photos this is normal. No sooner have I squeezed in another motor home drives in a car pulls away from a bit not in the parking bays and the new motorhome gets it ...sods law.

So I'll go have a look round the old town ...it better be bloody worth it

Why did you move, you were in walking distance?
Italian drivers take no prisoners.
Como is only a small town some of the big ones are a nightmare, Milan is OK. Rome & Naples don't even think about it.

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[Northernraider]

Why did you move, you were in walking distance?
Italian drivers take no prisoners.
Como is only a small town some of the big ones are a nightmare, Milan is OK. Rome & Naples don't even think about it.

You'd be surprised how far away that carpark I stayed in last night was. As it was it took 20 minutes to drive from there to where I'm parked now so decided to go to one of the closer paying carparks. 3 € for 24 hours

 

[Lenny HB]

When I looked on google maps only appeared to be about 2 km.
€3 for 24 hr, can you afford that?

 

[Langtoftlad]

When I looked on google maps only appeared to be about 2 km.
€3 for 24 hr, can you afford that?

He's got money to burn - he didn't spend €25 on a Swiss Vignette

 

[Northernraider]

Como

 

[Northernraider]

When I looked on google maps only appeared to be about 2 km.
€3 for 24 hr, can you afford that?

Aye but I think it was as the crow flies and you couldn't walk that way and too busy roads to take the dogs in the trailer. The big n&b that parked behind me last night must have had a similar idea as they drove off at 8.00am this morning and I passed them at traffic lights on my way to this carpark. Think they had been at the aire.

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[Lenny HB]

Como View attachment 298119 View attachment 298120 View attachment 298122 View attachment 298123 View attachment 298124 View attachment 298125 View attachment 298126 View attachment 298127 View attachment 298128 View attachment 298129 View attachment 298130 View attachment 298131 View attachment 298132 View attachment 298133 View attachment 298134 View attachment 298135 View attachment 298136 View attachment 298137

Looks like it was worth a visit

 

[Lenny HB]

He's got money to burn - he didn't spend €25 on a Swiss Vignette

Might bite him in the bum.

 

[Northernraider]

Might bite him in the bum.

Aye it might depending how their system works.
By the looks of the photos I took going through the border there were cameras on the side of the booth pointing to the booth windows so they may well have my van going in. But then they can't tell the weight from that so I guess it's whether they go to the trouble of checking my reg no with dvla etc.
I wasn't on any motorways or main roads and never saw any other cameras so I guess I can only wait and see. I'm not sure even if they went to that bother if they could enforce it or not as unlike speeding where police are involved.
No point worrying about it will see if anything comes of it or not.

Like you said I've just not researched this stuff enough. Half the time I get round an a wing and a prayer lol But I've had a few close calls with stuff on this trip which are starting to bug me.

Not sure yet what I'm going to do regards to route yet either. I'd heard Albania and Montenegro is very beautiful but not sure about the insurance situation. Green card is all very well but the 3rd party cover isn't the best.

I keep hearing about wild camping probs in Croatia too but there's loads of places showing on park4night

On another note ...how illegal is this lol ..German van

 

[suavecarve]

Aye it might depending how their system works.
By the looks of the photos I took going through the border there were cameras on the side of the booth pointing to the booth windows so they may well have my van going in. But then they can't tell the weight from that so I guess it's whether they go to the trouble of checking my reg no with dvla etc.
I wasn't on any motorways or main roads and never saw any other cameras so I guess I can only wait and see. I'm not sure even if they went to that bother if they could enforce it or not as unlike speeding where police are involved.
No point worrying about it will see if anything comes of it or not.

Like you said I've just not researched this stuff enough. Half the time I get round an a wing and a prayer lol But I've had a few close calls with stuff on this trip which are starting to bug me.

Not sure yet what I'm going to do regards to route yet either. I'd heard Albania and Montenegro is very beautiful but not sure about the insurance situation. Green card is all very well but the 3rd party cover isn't the best.

I keep hearing about wild camping probs in Croatia too but there's loads of places showing on park4nightView attachment 298164


On another note ...how illegal is this lol ..German van
View attachment 298165

Thats how to enter and exit switzerland.

Look and learn !

 

[chaser]

if you want a bit of advice from an old codger who has been there, we have done all this traveling like you but have seriously slowed down now, you get the miles in and can say we have done X miles in X time but you have only scratched the surface, wasted money on diesel and stuff and probably not got into the country like someone who has spent a week somewhere trying to get to know the locals or fellow travellers, i know you wont take any notice and i dont blame you i probably wouldnt either, but if i was where you are now i would make my way to jesolo find a nice cheap campsite and chill for a week by the sea you can then get a bus to venice when it suits you, and you can get a ferry to croatia from there as well.
i can reccomend a nice simple site if you decide to do this.

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