DonB Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Thinking about Turkey next winter. Can anybody advise on the best route to take, and any advice on what part of Turkey to visit? Avoidance of long sea crossings would be helpful but not essential! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Hi Don, We have traveled out to Turkey in the winter time (Dec/Jan), up to now we have used the Italy - Greece ferry route. We usually use North Sea Ferries from Hull to Rotterdam. then Luxembourg (cheap fags/fuel), Strasbourg, Basel, St Gothard Tunnel, Milan, Bologna and Brindisi and ferry to Igoumenitsa The quickest way from Igoumenitsa would be via Ioanina, Konitsa, Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli then cross the border into Turkey at Ipsala. In the winter on the short sea crossings Bari/Brindisi to Igoumenitsa/Patras they will allow you to use you motorhome during the crossing although the Camping on Board only runs from 1st April to the 31st October. We usually use the Agoudimos Lines day sailing from Brindisi to Igoumenitsa and the spend the night at Igoumenitsa ferry terminal. Be warned the Camper Deck option can have its drawbacks. It's the cheapest crossing from Italy to Greece but you could find yourself parked between or very close to some refrigerated trucks which also use this deck. We have been very lucky and have never had this problem yet but I know some who have. A new Turkish Immigration/Customs border post was opened at Ipsala. This has greatly reduced the congestion at the border. A three month visa costs £10 per person. An English (they will not accept Scottish notes) £10 note is required and must be in good condition with no writing on it (I kid you not). You will get a customs document to import the motorhome for six months (I'm at a loss to understand why a vehicle gets a six month visa and a personal visa is for three months). The Vehicle Registration Document and a valid Manual Green Card are required to enter Turkey. You should not have any language problems at the border. A point worth noting is the vehicle details are entered in the drivers passport and under normal circumstances the driver will not be able to leave Turkey without the vehicle. Make sure your Vehicle/Recovery or Travel Insurance will cover the Duty/Customs Bond if you are taken ill and have to fly home or the vehicle is written off in an accident. We have never had any problems at the border the Turks, as always, are most polite. Sometimes the Greeks are a bit slow in letting you through the border but you just grin and bear it. In winter you will need to get east of Antalya for the warmer weather. If you would like further info please shout out. Safe travelling. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonB Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 Thanks Don. We have been sitting at the dining table with maps spread out following the route you suggest. Bit worried about the ferry crossings, 8 to 9 hours or more is a very long time for me, seasickness being a major problem! Have you ever tried the route through Hungary/Romania/Bulgaria, or is it possible to go through Croatia and Serbia, i.e. Zagreb to Belgrade and then on? Or even down the Croatian coast past Dubrovnik, and then inland through Montenegro, or is it possible to pass through Albania? Sorry about all the questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Hi Don, I would forget about Serbia/Bosnia and Albania/Montenegro is out of the way. A straightforward overland route to Turkey through the Balkans is via, Luxembourg, Heidelberg, Regensburg, Vienna, Budapest, Szeged, Arad, Timisoara, Craiova, Sofia, Plovdiv and entering Turkey at Edirne. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonB Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 Yes, that's what we were looking at. Have you, or anyone else out there, any knowledge or experience of this route? I am wondering about the state of the roads, and whether they would be snowbound in winter. Are we being a bit too ambitious here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Madge Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Don, We have travelled that route, as long as you stick to the main roads you should be OK. If you want to discuss the trip PM me a phone number/Skype and we can have a chat. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Considering the time of year I was going to say baste well, enhance the stuffing with added rough cut onion and cover the legs with strips of bacon! C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonB Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 It is so reassuring in these uncertain times to know that there is always an expert on this forum to help with life's problems. Don - I have sent you a PM, many thanks. Clive - you are most welcome to come over and cook our Christmas turkey. Many thanks to you also! However don't forget that in compliance with the rules of this forum, you will have to do it in your motorhome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maureend Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Beware of loading on and off ferries to Greece and back. We were there last autumn and it was absolutely chaotic. There are no lines - everybody just faces the ferry and when it starts loading it is every man for himself!! When we actually got on we had a great spot right by a deck window, plugged in to electricity, but had to move about 7 times before they could fit all the motorvans on. It was hilarious! I don't know if this is only relevant to Endeavor Lines. On the way back, without going into detail, it was even worse. Quite an experience, late at night, watching the illegal immigrants trying to get into, or onto lorries. But an adventure, all part of motorcaravanning, living and learning. (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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