Which country is on the edge of your comfort zone to visit in the motorhome?

carolyn said:
One thing’s for sure ,I will at no time be getting on a horse! Claire has just reminded me of a very embarrassing episode in Costa Rica on a family holiday when we were supposed to be going on a horseback ride. They all heard this hysterical screaming and looked round to see me jumping off and walking back to the ranch. Not my finest moment!

We’re going with GB motorhome tours , the same company that we visited Turkey&Cyprus in 23, and Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia in 24.

I know people go on about how much more cheaply we could do it on our own but it’s good fun and these are a bit outside our comfort zone on our own but now that we’ve done them they’re on the edge.

Some of the places we stayed in Turkey would not have been available to your ordinary folk either.

We do plenty on our own in your traditional European countries.
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We did 10/11 hours in the saddle every day lol, but all of the group where horse owners with plenty of experience, but I am sure that however you visit Iceland that you will enjoy it, it really is a great place, make sure that your wallet is full lol👍
 
CaptainPaul said:
Met Queen Rania of Jordan on her last visit to Ireland in 2023 and I was telling her I would love to visit Jordan in my camper van and she said I have to come to see it all
You'll not get a better invite than that! 🤣
Just have to work out how to get there now without getting my head blown off! Lol
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Apparently it may be possible to drive to Jordan via Syria.
But I think I'll wait on that trip until a few others have done it first.

That said, I remember my Scout leader heading off on a retirement trip to circumnavigate the entire Mediterranean in the early 1970's in his little Fiat camper. I think it took him about 6 months, and the only place he had 'trouble' was Israel.
(I guess this would have been just before the 1973 war)

I suspect the early 1970's would have been the last time this trip was possible,
as borders between so many of the countries have been closed for decades.
Turkey/Syria
Israel/Lebanon
Israel/Gaza
Gaza/Egypt
Egypt/Libya
Tunisia/Libya
Algeria/Morocco
 
I've only ever been threatened in one country - An attempt at mugging with a knife, and on another occasion I had a loaded gun pointed at me - I don't intend to visit that country again - USA. In Djerba (Tunisia) my wife and I were kidnapped by a taxi driver - Instead of taking us back to our hotel he took us to meet his family where we had a wonderful evening meal! The locals also offered me 5 camels for my daughter. I was also told off by a vendor for not haggling hard enough. That's a place I'd love to return to...
 
Brains said:
Apparently it may be possible to drive to Jordan via Syria.
But I think I'll wait on that trip until a few others have done it first.

That said, I remember my Scout leader heading off on a retirement trip to circumnavigate the entire Mediterranean in the early 1970's in his little Fiat camper. I think it took him about 6 months, and the only place he had 'trouble' was Israel.
(I guess this would have been just before the 1973 war)

I suspect the early 1970's would have been the last time this trip was possible,
as borders between so many of the countries have been closed for decades.
Turkey/Syria
Israel/Lebanon
Israel/Gaza
Gaza/Egypt
Egypt/Libya
Tunisia/Libya
Algeria/Morocco
Click to expand...
Jordan Egypt is apparently doable. In the Ewan Magregor Long way down series, Libya was ok for british but not for American citizens, not sure whether its still the same but Ive heard that Libya is very interesting with pretty impresive roman remains ( as does Jordan)

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jongood said:
Jordan Egypt is apparently doable. In the Ewan Magregor Long way down series, Libya was ok for british but not for American citizens, not sure whether its still the same but Ive heard that Libya is very interesting with pretty impresive roman remains ( as does Jordan)
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Egypt into Israel at the Taba crossing, through Eilat to the Southern Crossing: Wadi Araba / Yitzhak Rabin border crossing into Jordan. Although once the situation improves worth going up through Israel, Timna park, up to the white desert then up the escarpment into the Negev, Dimona, Arad, Beer Sheba, coastward up to Jaffa, Tel Aviv, onward up the coast via Natanya to Haifa across to Beit Shaan (Holocaust museum) then cross to Jordan. Or if staying in Israel down the Jordan River valley, the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) Bethlehem, Jerico toward the Dead Sea, Bo Gedi, Massada and across the King Hussein / Allenby Bridge into Jordan. A month will be enough.

Swim in the Red, Dead and Med seas. Have done that in one mad day, just to say I have!

Jordan is worth a runaround too.
 
Northernraider said:
I think Serbia is the one I'm dubious about over in that direction .
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Serbia is a perfectly safe, normal, European style country. Beautifully rural in the south and Belgrade is a great city to explore. We found a motorhome park up just a few miles from the centre and cycled in from there. The only contentious bit is the border with Kosovo. Bosnia is a great place to motorhome too.
 
KASPAR said:
Egypt into Israel at the Taba crossing, through Eilat to the Southern Crossing: Wadi Araba / Yitzhak Rabin border crossing into Jordan. Although once the situation improves worth going up through Israel, Timna park, up to the white desert then up the escarpment into the Negev, Dimona, Arad, Beer Sheba, coastward up to Jaffa, Tel Aviv, onward up the coast via Natanya to Haifa across to Beit Shaan (Holocaust museum) then cross to Jordan. Or if staying in Israel down the Jordan River valley, the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) Bethlehem, Jerico toward the Dead Sea, Bo Gedi, Massada and across the King Hussein / Allenby Bridge into Jordan. A month will be enough.

Swim in the Red, Dead and Med seas. Have done that in one mad day, just to say I have!

Jordan is worth a runaround too.
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We stayed at an all inclusive hotel in Taba Heights a couple of times. From there one time we travelled to Jerusalem
stopping off at the dead sea. Getting across the border into Israel was a pain and it was a long day!!

Another time we went to Jordon from Taba -Wadi Rum and Petra.
 
jongood said:
In the Ewan Magregor Long way down series, Libya was ok for british but not for American citizens, not sure whether its still the same but Ive heard that Libya is very interesting with pretty impresive roman remains ( as does Jordan)
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That was in 2007...pre the 'Arab Spring', the ousting and killing of Gaddafi....but it's a country I'd love to go to. Full of interesting history, Leptis Magna as an example.
whc.unesco.org

Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna

Leptis Magna was enlarged and embellished by Septimius Severus, who was born there and later became emperor. It was one of the most beautiful cities of the Roman Empire, with its imposing public monuments, harbour, ...
whc.unesco.org whc.unesco.org

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Barchetta47 said:
The more I go to Morocco the more I look south, Mauritania, Senegal and the Gambia…. I had intended to go down to Dakhla this year but some family matters got in the way. How dangerous could it be……😎
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Just heard that the blacks in Senegal have become VERY threatening to dare I say it us whiteys !! From a couple who had been everywhere and done everything!!
Mitch
 
Barchetta47 said:
I hope not too dubious as we are planning to visit in May/June!
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Visited Serbia last July on a climbing trip. Very friendly people but still very clear that Kosovo is part of their country and they feel they are victims of NATO. So steering clear of those topics, my tour went well!
 
KiltedCamper said:
I've only ever been threatened in one country - An attempt at mugging with a knife, and on another occasion I had a loaded gun pointed at me - I don't intend to visit that country again - USA. In Djerba (Tunisia) my wife and I were kidnapped by a taxi driver - Instead of taking us back to our hotel he took us to meet his family where we had a wonderful evening meal! The locals also offered me 5 camels for my daughter. I was also told off by a vendor for not haggling hard enough. That's a place I'd love to return to...
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What so you can visit your daughter :rofl:
 
Brains said:
Apparently it may be possible to drive to Jordan via Syria.
But I think I'll wait on that trip until a few others have done it first.

That said, I remember my Scout leader heading off on a retirement trip to circumnavigate the entire Mediterranean in the early 1970's in his little Fiat camper. I think it took him about 6 months, and the only place he had 'trouble' was Israel.
(I guess this would have been just before the 1973 war)

I suspect the early 1970's would have been the last time this trip was possible,
as borders between so many of the countries have been closed for decades.
Turkey/Syria
Israel/Lebanon
Israel/Gaza
Gaza/Egypt
Egypt/Libya
Tunisia/Libya
Algeria/Morocco
Click to expand...
I definitely would give Jordan a go at some stage but like yourself I think I'll wait to see if a few more do it successfully first, royal invite or not! 🤣
It probably sounded like I met Queen Rania on some official engagement but unfortunately nothing as formal as that... I do work for the hotel she stayed in whilst visiting Belfast and I just happened to stop for a bite to eat and she was there in the restaurant too, just her and 2 bodyguards that were built like brick walls and looked just as hard but she was very friendly & approachable most of the staff hadn't got a clue who she was lol, we chatted for about 20 mins when I mentioned going in my van to Jordan and she really did seem to like the idea! So who knows maybe some day 🙂🤞
 
CaptainPaul said:
I definitely would give Jordan a go at some stage but like yourself I think I'll wait to see if a few more do it successfully first, royal invite or not! 🤣
It probably sounded like I met Queen Rania on some official engagement but unfortunately nothing as formal as that... I do work for the hotel she stayed in whilst visiting Belfast and I just happened to stop for a bite to eat and she was there in the restaurant too, just her and 2 bodyguards that were built like brick walls and looked just as hard but she was very friendly & approachable most of the staff hadn't got a clue who she was lol, we chatted for about 20 mins when I mentioned going in my van to Jordan and she really did seem to like the idea! So who knows maybe some day 🙂🤞
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Drive to Athens
Ferry to Cyprus
Ferry Cyprus to Alexandria
Drive to Taba in Egypt and take the ferry to Jordan (or cross into Israel and then Jordan)
Sorted!

This is in effect a reverse of the trip my step father did in 1974.
The war in Oman was declared 'won' and the foreign troops were disbanded and sent home.
He picked up a 'Pink Panther' Landrover and drove from Oman to the UAE and Bahrain and then across Saudi to Duba on the Red Sea and got a ferry to Egypt, the another ferry from Alexandria to Cyprus and then Cyprus to Athens and the across to Italy and drove to Dover.
(Where Customs impounded the vehicle! It ended up in the Imperial War Museum as the only surviving nearly complete Pink Panther)
 
Langtoftlad said:
It's not beyond imagination that Syria might open
Unlikely perhaps, regimes & politics change quite quickly
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Not in a motorhome but this you tube guy visits some amazing places. He went to Syria very quickly after the recent regime collapse. Literally walked across the border from Lebanon.

 
Morocco, I would only go with a group or Guided tour. We do have a German friend who is married to A Morrocan Lady. So we are thinking he will drive to Javea, we will fly to Alicante and drive together.

I always wanted to got to Croatia , but Schengen ruined that.

We have a Romanian friend, Married to A a German lady and we are considering Albania and Montenegro with them. Not Romania.

Other than that, no great or silly Ideas. The only reason we travel to the UAE is because we have family there.

List of other places. non motorhome:

Canada
Japan
Seychelles - Customer has a Villa I can have for free
Barbados - Free Penthouse offer
Maldives

thats it.

But I am quite happy in Spain and very lucky to have a nice place there.
 
L' Hobo said:
If treated with respect, they're nice people, give it a go! 👍
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I have spent a lot of time in France, getting them to respect anyone else but them themselves is usually the biggest hurdle . I often get fed up of their superior attitude and treat them as I find them. The tables soon turn.

Very easy to become fluent on French, you only have to know one word "NON"

I speak very basic, sometimes, limited French. The amount of times French people can understand me and pretend not too is bitterly annoying.
 
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WESTY66 said:
As above, I have a few years to retirement and all around I see on the news various countries turning to Rats##t (you could visit Ukraine more than a few years ago) and I’m hoping the list of countries to visit doesn’t get any narrower (the 90 days crap is bad enough).
So looking where I would love to visit when I retire and is on the edge of my comfort zone is Georgia via Türkiye, what’s yours?
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I think we must all remember the world is a much scarier place than in the early days of motorhoming or probably 🤔 me getting older, I can remember an old aquintance of mine, Brian Crouch sadly passed away a few years ago, his motto was Who Dares Wins, he was a keen microlite pilot in days gone by, in fact one of his many trips to Benidorm he took his machine out there, joined a club, nr Benidorm and flew his machine, he only lasted one season, the terrain around Benidorm quite mountaines, not like the ploughed fields of England, land anywhere in an emergency, he quickly rialized he didn't have that luxury from the airfield he took off from in Benidorm, and the then lord mayor wouldn't allow anything landing on the beach so he only had that one season 😢, but he still motorhomed to Benidorm. Regards ronboyracer.

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EuroTrotters said:
I have spent a lot of time in France, getting them to respect anyone else but them themselves is usually the biggest hurdle . I often get fed up of their superior attitude and treat them as I find them. The tables soon turn.

Very easy to become fluent on French, you only have to know one word "NON"

I speak very basic, sometimes, limited French. The amount of times French people can understand me and pretend not too is bitterly annoying.
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Its good that you can speak some French, you get much more out of them if you can communicate.

I can have a reasonable conversation in french, I mangle some of the tenses and have gaps but generally get by. One of the difficulties is that they- like us - have many words that sound the same but mean very different things, this is then exacerbated by their similar sounding groups not matching our similar sounding groups. My own goto example is "par" and "pas" which both sound the same but one means not and the other litterally translated means by but is also used to direct people. They complain about the "there's " and why "Plough" and "rough" are pronounced differently.

Yes some French can be very rude, but so are plenty of brits. IMho if we want to visit their country then it should be up to us to at least try and learn some of the language , afterall how many of us would be willing to try answering a foreigner in the UK in their own language? I usually google " hello, two beers please, and thank you" wherever we are, it frequently culminates in entertaining the locals with my pismonounciation but so what :giggle:
 
jongood said:
Its good that you can speak some French, you get much more out of them if you can communicate.

I can have a reasonable conversation in french, I mangle some of the tenses and have gaps but generally get by. One of the difficulties is that they- like us - have many words that sound the same but mean very different things, this is then exacerbated by their similar sounding groups not matching our similar sounding groups. My own goto example is "par" and "pas" which both sound the same but one means not and the other litterally translated means by but is also used to direct people. They complain about the "there's " and why "Plough" and "rough" are pronounced differently.

Yes some French can be very rude, but so are plenty of brits. IMho if we want to visit their country then it should be up to us to at least try and learn some of the language , afterall how many of us would be willing to try answering a foreigner in the UK in their own language? I usually google " hello, two beers please, and thank you" wherever we are, it frequently culminates in entertaining the locals with my pismonounciation but so what :giggle:
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This is the exact reason I don’t go to France or Spain and stick to the German speaking countries, I can get by with a little bit of German👍👍
 

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