Europe By Camper - Travelling Europe By Motorhome: Country Guide

Getting into Morocco with a Motorhome

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A Guide for Entry into Morocco with a Motorhome 
We spent just over 6 weeks in Morocco with our good friends Catherine and Chris from <a href="http://www.theworldisourlobster.com/The_World_Is_Our_Lobster/HOME.html" target="_blank">The World Is Our Lobster</a>. We’d highly recommend that you go and attempt it yourselves! We’ve had a couple of e-mails asking us for more information on the crossing, so here is our long awaited guide to getting in (and out!) of Morocco. 
 
 
 
Choose where to sail from 
We sailed from Algeciras to Ceuta. The crossing is shorter than the route to Tangier and once you disembark the ferry you are still in Spanish sovereignty so you then have an opportunity to park in the rest area before the border crossing. 
 
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rest Area before the Border Crossing</td></tr>
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However, en route home we passed the brand new Tangier Med port and were impressed by what looks like an incredibly modern port set outside of the city. The port appeared to have none of the hustle and bustle that can be seen at the Ceuta-Morocco border. This would be our preference for our future visit and we’ll report back once we’ve done it for ourselves. 
 
 
Get your tickets 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dMKIMoPGSzYh9pfHTUYaNtGwNtIu3x0VG3OOrJeUeXCaX0e_cGQzbA3mOQld0fm4MtRPLc4jQuuU5f8IACSGdhrkyKZtNyTi9LpvgsjoeAPmPf2dpwmZL62paLI7GwHhvdAsmzimnMA/s1600/IMG_8197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dMKIMoPGSzYh9pfHTUYaNtGwNtIu3x0VG3OOrJeUeXCaX0e_cGQzbA3mOQld0fm4MtRPLc4jQuuU5f8IACSGdhrkyKZtNyTi9LpvgsjoeAPmPf2dpwmZL62paLI7GwHhvdAsmzimnMA/s200/IMG_8197.JPG" width="200" /></a>We would recommend that you follow the French example and purchase your tickets from Carlos in Algeciras. These tickets are NOT as some people would lead you to believe cancelled tickets, tickets with other people’s names on or other such scaremongering. Carlos is a licensed ticket seller and his reputation precedes him when dealing with motorhomers. The tickets are printed with your information on and he is able to give you lots of helpful advice and directions to the port although a little Spanish is advantageous! 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1Rh8l6txfDV_YitG9ZJKMpWWPqYT4U53Z41AwK8M45F5lZfhPXAyOly-8CaGVzUzy3g2ryhsynlIb8ozda8aluJe4lH4izYRPygxNPueBjSBcAJkSkYABKM1AX52N0UYo9-jcz64Bqs/s1600/P1100084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1Rh8l6txfDV_YitG9ZJKMpWWPqYT4U53Z41AwK8M45F5lZfhPXAyOly-8CaGVzUzy3g2ryhsynlIb8ozda8aluJe4lH4izYRPygxNPueBjSBcAJkSkYABKM1AX52N0UYo9-jcz64Bqs/s200/P1100084.jpg" width="200" /></a>When you arrive, park next to the Lidl in Algercias (GPS: 36.18136, -5.43977 and if you don't believe us just check all the motorhomes on Google Maps <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/9Zri" target="_blank">HERE</a>!). They are very tolerant of motorhomes parking and overnighting here since the majority of people do a large shop before departing. There is even a butcher selling largely pork products which are unavailable in the Muslim country.  Don’t forget to stock up on Wine / Beer – this is expensive in Morocco and better than hard currency when trading with native Moroccans! 
 
Carlos is located here, just a two minute walk from the car park. Take with you a copy of your vehicles V5 certificate and your passport and tell him when you wish to sail to Morocco and that you would like an open return. 
 
The Border Crossing 
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As with most non-EU borders, there are three stages to the process: 
 
1. Immigration 
2. Vehicle import 
3. Customs 
 
Ignore the apparent chaos at the border and focus on achieving these three steps in that order. 
As you approach, men will wave bits of paper at you. If you have been to Carlos for your ticket, you don't need any further paperwork, so you can safely ignore the paper-wavers. 
 
If there are two of you, one can stay in the vehicle. Once you enter the fray, “helpers” will offer to assist. Look for ones with an official badge. You can either be firm and say “No thanks, I'm fine”, or graciously accept and tip them €5, which may be the more pleasant experience for the sake of a few quid, especially if it's your first crossing. 
 
The first office you need clearly says “Police”. Complete your entry form and hand it over together with your passport. You will get a stamp, plus an official Moroccan immigration number. That's it. Move on to any of the offices saying “Enregistrement des Vehicules”. 
 
Queues here are often slow, so be patient but firm; stand your ground or people will push in. Here you hand over the first copy (out of three) of the Vehicle Import Form, plus your V5 and Green Card. If you have bought your ticket from Carlos, he will have already completed the Import Form for you; just hand it in. If not, fill in the details from your V5. You will get the form back with the appropriate stamp. 
 
Now comes the fun part as you attempt to drive past all the other queueing vehicles to the Customs Officer, squeezing past stationary cars, buses and motorhomes! The Customs Officer may well look in the van but customs is quite relaxed. Then take the Vehicle Import Form to the customs office, and you're done. 
Finally don't forget to tip your helper if you used one! 
 
You do not require a Visa to enter Morocco for a maximum of 90 days. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after your entry date. If you wish to stay longer than 90 days the only way you can do this is by becoming a resident. 
 
 
Vehicle Insurance  
If you are planning on visiting Morocco it is worthwhile considering this when you renew or take out your motorhome policy. Saga, Comfort and Sageguard all cover Morocco at no extra charge and are able to provide you with a 90 day ‘Green Card’ which covers you fully comprehensively while in the country. If you have a vehicle of any value don’t consider buying insurance at the border. 
 
The Paperwork 
 
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                           Immigration Forms - Entry and Exit                                        Ferry Tickets</div>
 
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                                    Vehicle Import and Export Form                                   Tickets and Timetable 
 
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     Moroccan Insurance Green Card </div>
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our insurers Safe Guard from home. Valid 90 days (with start date)                                                             </div>
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Money in Morocco 
‘Western’ cash points are available throughout the country and have an English language option. We stopped a couple of miles after the border crossing for our first batch of Dirhams. It is worthwhile taking a couple of hundred euros as a backup which can easily be changed for Dirham at many bureau-de-change across the country. Exercise the same amount of caution when using these as you would in any other country. 
 
Our preference for foreign travel is the Halifax Clarity Credit Card. The card provides you with interest free transactions and a low 1.1% interest fee on cash withdrawls offset by a £5 per month reward if you spend over £300. 
 
If you use the Caxton Euro Card be aware that you will be paying two lots of interest rates Sterling > Euro > Dirham. Consider the Global card where the balance is held in Sterling and converted to the local currency on use. 
 
Cards are rarely accepted. Marjane and some large fuel stations are the only exceptions. 
 
Getting Out 
On exiting, the process is simpler. Complete your exit form and hand it in to the Police Office with your passport. Then go to Customs and hand in the second copy of your Vehicle Import Form. The third copy is for you to keep. 
 
Drive through Customs, stopping if asked. That's it. 
 
 
Fuel 
Diesel is roughly 55p a litre in Morocco and is available throughout the country. It is worthwhile filling up from the more modern looking fuel stations (Afrqua, Shell etc). Be aware that if you intend to stop overnight in the high atlas temperatures could reach as low as -10 (experienced by us in 2012) and there is unlikely to be any winter additives added to the mix. 
 
For more information see: 
 
• <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2012/01/morocco-3g-internet-dongle-maroc.html" target="_blank">Maroc Telecom Dongle</a> 
• <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/search/label/Morocco" target="_blank">View All Our Posts on Morocco</a></div>

Getting into Morocco with a Motorhome

A Guide for Entry into Morocco with a Motorhome We spent just over 6 weeks in Morocco with our good friends Catherine and Chris from T...

Our Guide to Visiting & Driving in Denmark with a Motorhome

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This guide is part of the new format of 'Country Guides' we will write to try and provide some of the information we struggled to obtain while researching our trip. It is based on our own experiences and is provided in good faith but your own experience and impressions may differ to ours. We hope that you find it of use and will encourage you to visit. 
 
 
Country Facts 
Country Code (DK), Currency DKK, Capital Copenhagen, Full EU Member. Schengen Country; no visa requirements for EU citizens. There are no import restrictions but there are export limitations for alcohol and tobacco. 
 
Road Vignette Required? 
NO. 
 
Toll Roads 
No, but there are tolls on bridges. Oresund Bridge joining Denmark to Sweden costs €40 for motorhomes up to 6m and €80 for motorhomes over 6m. Storebaelt Bridge (linking eastern and western Denmark) costs €31 up to 6m and €47 over 6m. 
 
 
Road Condition ★★★★★ 
Excellent.  
All main arterial and side roads which we encountered in 2011 were excellent. 
 
Driving Standard ★★★★★ 
Excellent. 
Be wary of right turns as pedestrians have right of way. 
 
Winter Tyres Required 
Not by law but is highly recommended 
 
 
Diesel, LPG & Autogas 
Diesel/Bifyl. Fuel prices vary depending on the time of day, the only pattern we could muster is that it seems cheaper in the evenings. Be wary of Automatic stations which have a surcharge. Practice filling up where you see it cheapest rather than when you are nearly empty as the variation can be as much as 25p! 
LPG is rare and expensive but is available if required. Click <a href="http://www.visitdenmark.dk/international/en-gb/menu/turist/turistinformation/a-z/autogas.htm" target="_blank">HERE</a> for a list of LPG Stations in Denmark. 
 
 
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Official Aires / Service Points ★★★★★ 
Generally Good. There are a handful of aires but the ones publicised in 'All the Aires' as being free, now largely charge so beware. Wild Camping opportunities are frequent and this is perfectly legal to do so, especially around beaches and marina locations. There is a 'grey area' between the 'No Camping' signs and what constitutes as 'Camping' - i.e. getting your chairs out etc. If you don't fancy risking it you'll be sure to find somewhere else to stop just down the road. 
 
 
 
Campsites ★★★★★ 
Generally Good.  
When it comes to campsites, they are geared up to cater for the Danish obsession with Caravans, although stopovers are encouraged through the 'Quick Stop' scheme. That said, Denmark is an expensive place to visit and in our view the best way to offset that cost is to Wild Camp - which is perfectly legal and practised by all the visiting nationalities. There are plenty of signs emerging specifying "No Camping" in some popular locations as to be expected, but finding somewhere to stop close by is not hard. 
 
 
Availability of Fresh Water / Waste Disposal ★★★★★ 
Generally Good.  
Fresh water and waste disposal is available at a number of dedicated service points on the main motorway networks (click here for link) We also found both fresh water and chemical toilet disposal at many marina's, check with the harbour master before doing so to avoid ruining it for future visitors. 
 
 
Free / Wild Camping ★★★★★ 
Excellent. 
City Camp is available for central Copenhagen or there are lots of Wild Camping opportunities, see our blog posts and summary's below for more info. 
 
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Price Index / Food and Supermarkets ★★★★★ 
You'd be wise to stock up with food and alcohol prior to entering Denmark; the Lidl's in Germany are excellent for doing so. If you have the capacity to bring enough food and alcohol for your visit then do so, we found bottled water especially hard to come by (due in part to the 35p refundable deposit you pay on bottles, vs 8p in Germany) and a strange absence of fresh fish. If you're making your way to other Scandinavian countries afterwards, you'll be wondering why you didn't stock up with more food! We found fuel prices on par with Germany and other EU countries nearby. 
 
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNul0NO-JUrKFWcn0A-N-h1s-RrkD_2CmaNkuJGC-bxJtqfkdlCXXrwlqfKWkb8Ti24RmHEk9rUo0ZX48RYPwdos1PDjMBSrIqXsnNH6pSFLs7y8uwtMsocxZs8xQwSqvkRWApLf2lJG4/s1600/IMG_2687+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNul0NO-JUrKFWcn0A-N-h1s-RrkD_2CmaNkuJGC-bxJtqfkdlCXXrwlqfKWkb8Ti24RmHEk9rUo0ZX48RYPwdos1PDjMBSrIqXsnNH6pSFLs7y8uwtMsocxZs8xQwSqvkRWApLf2lJG4/s200/IMG_2687+(Large).JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ribe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 
Eating & Drinking Out 
Generally expensive, we found that a takeaway sandwich and drink could set you back up to £14. 
 
 
Availability of Open Wifi ★★★★★ 
Our success rate for finding unsecured Wi-Fi in Denmark was 59%. 
 
 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GoB-ebc0ntr37LILc79y-LDznHPCRv8zQAsTnbeMEMFN_8bxwDM67MuVYGbkoNg9NPEn3a3sshLGHyPEx64MD4wRlD_LZOHYLcV9KUukxwrhO76b_zGtIlWtj-THZT32W4T9M4zydjw/s1600/IMG_3505_6_7_fused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GoB-ebc0ntr37LILc79y-LDznHPCRv8zQAsTnbeMEMFN_8bxwDM67MuVYGbkoNg9NPEn3a3sshLGHyPEx64MD4wRlD_LZOHYLcV9KUukxwrhO76b_zGtIlWtj-THZT32W4T9M4zydjw/s200/IMG_3505_6_7_fused.jpg" width="200" /></a>Denmark is a clean and safe country and from the look of some of the improvements which are on-going, it stands to get even better. Every town has an excellent tourist information office with thick, full colour glossy materials available in every language. The reality when you scratch the surface is a lot of the attractions are manmade and some of the towns offer little by way of history with any real narrative. The flat terrain is perfect for cycling and if beaches are your thing Denmark holds countless prestigious "Blue Beach" awards and the beaches are worthy of any Mediterranean destination (fingers crossed for the weather, 27c Easter Weekend 2011). Anyone under 40 will without doubt speak fluent English and many older people too, we heard very little other than English music on the radio during our time there. 
 
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Denmark is made up of three main Islands: Jutland, Funen and Zealand. The trip to the most northern point of the first island, Skagen, is a worthwhile visit to see the mysterious sight of the two seas lapping over each other but the journey there and back is largely unrewarding save for a handful of nice bits and pieces. Ribe, Arhus (if you're under 40) and the mysterious dune covered Ringkobing Fjord were our personal highlights, not forgetting Lego Land - worth a whip round and free to get in 30 minutes before the rides close where the park stays open for a further 2 hours. 
 
Much of Denmark’s parking is free but limited by time; you will need a Parking Disc displaying your arrival time so best get one before you set off. 
 
 
Our Summary and Posts on Denmark: 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/05/denmark-in-motorhome-summary-of-our.html" target="_blank">Summary of our tour of Denmark</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/first-taste-of-denmark.html" target="_blank">First Taste of Denmark</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/windy-denmark.html" target="_blank">Windy Denmark</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/hirtshals-skagen.html" target="_blank">Hirtshals, Skagen and Grena</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/denmark-aarhus.html" target="_blank">Aarhus</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/denmark-vejle-legoland.html" target="_blank">Vejle & Legoland</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/faaborg-svendborg-island-of-langland.html" target="_blank">Faaborg, Svendborg & Island of Langland</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/svendborg-odense.html" target="_blank">Svendborg & Odense</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/kalundborg-roskilde.html" target="_blank">Kalundborg & Roskilde</a> 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/copenhagen-in-motorhome.html" target="_blank">Copenhagen in a Motorhome</a> 
 </div>

Our Guide to Visiting & Driving in Denmark with a Motorhome

Odense This guide is part of the new format of 'Country Guides' we will write to try and provide some of the information we ...

Our Guide to Visiting & Driving in Greece with a Motorhome

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This guide has been written based on our own experiences in Greece and is published to provide you with some basic information on Greece to better equip you for your visit. For more information and pictures of the places we visited, see the links to our individual blog posts at the bottom of this post. 
 
Visited By Us: 
September - November 2011 
 
Country Facts 
Country Code (GR), Currency Euro (€), Capital Athens, Full EU Member. While it is a Schengen Country it is landlocked by non-Schengen country so there are manned border crossings, but no visa requirements for EU citizens. 
 
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Road Vignette Required? 
No.  
 
Toll Roads 
YES. There are many toll motorways in Greece and they can be expensive, however there is usually always a non-toll alternative which is more scenic but perhaps not as direct. In 3 months in Greece we didn’t find it necessary to go on any toll roads, often finding the non-toll roads ran directly alongside. 
 
Road Condition ★★★★★ 
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Generally Good. Having driven in Eastern Europe and entering Greece from Romania/Bulgaria we found the roads are of a generally good standard however given the economic crisis it stands to reason that road condition could deteriorate somewhat from its present state. If travelling on a mountain road it is common to see rocks in the road and for the outer edge to be crumbling away so extra care is needed here. 
 
 
Driving Standard ★★★★★ 
Below Average. The apparent roadworthiness of some of the vehicles are some of the worse we have seen in Europe and broken light clusters are so common it’s the norm. Add to that a liberal mix of non-locals in hire vehicles during season and you’ll want to stay alert behind the wheel. Vehicles often stop or turn without warning (or brake lights!) sometimes for a chat with a local and Stop signs are frequently ignored. The Greeks counteract the need for a rear view mirror with liberal use of the horn, two short beeps mean “I am here and about to overtake you” and is often met by a friendly beep and a wave in return. It would be wise to adopt this local custom and also to allow faster vehicles to pass so that they don’t become frustrated and attempt to do so on a blind bend. 
 
Diesel, LPG & Autogas 
We only found one fuel station willing to accept a card payment despite signs advertising that cards were accepted so it is worth carrying plenty of cash with you. Fuel prices varied dramatically from €1.39 and €1.60 for Diesel in August 2011 with some of the cheapest stations being ‘cash only’ and usually a RevOil, we practiced filling up whenever we found a station at our ‘target’ price. There are now nearly 100 LPG stations in Greece. 
 
Useful Links: <a href="http://index.pois.gr/poicard.asp?POI_ID=143" target="_blank">LPG in Greece</a> 
 
Winter Tyres Required 
No. 
 
Official Aires / Motorhome Service Points 
None. 
 
Campsites ★★★★★ 
Good. The quality of campsites varies greatly and it is worth doing some research first into the facilities as many primarily capitalise on their location. In three months in Greece we only used one campsite for Athens so we will contact our friends and update this section shortly. 
 
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many excellent free camping opportunities in Greece.</td></tr>
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Free / Wild Camping ★★★★★ 
Excellent. We only visited Greece out of season and found it to be a Wild Campers paradise with endless opportunities and many of the main beaches and towns relatively deserted. However you could see from the seating and parking capacity that these areas can get incredibly busy during peak season and would make Free Camping more difficult and less appealing during these times. Out of season you have the pick of the bunch, with the obvious exception of Athens which was the only time we opted for a campsite. We felt totally safe at all times and had many friendly interactions with locals and other campers. 
 
Useful Links: Our <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/p/wild-camping-gps-poi.html">Wild Camping GPS</a> page has over 30 locations for Greece 
 
Availability of Fresh Water ★★★★★ 
Excellent. There are communal taps available in most towns, marinas and rest areas and not once did we struggle for water. It might be worth carrying a funnel and short length of hose / water container as on a handful of occasions we made use of the beach showers to obtain water when no tap was obvious. 
 
Grey / Black Waste Disposal ★★★★★ 
Below Average. There are many toilets at popular beach and marina locations suitable for emptying your black waste but these are not commonplace. 
 
Price Index ★★★★★ 
Generally Good.We found Greece relatively expensive in 2011 and the prices of most things are roughly comparable to the UK. This is however offset to some degree by the sheer number of free camping opportunities and the fact that Greece does offer a great deal in terms of natural beauty and historic sites. We had no difficulties withdrawing cash from our Credit Card in ATM's but be weary of Greek National Bank ATM's (and possibly others) which will ask if you would like to withdraw in Sterling rather than Euro's. The result is a poorly weighted exchange rate much less that what your provider would give had you have chosen to withdraw in Euro's and have it converted at source. 
 
Food / Supermarkets ★★★★★ 
Generally Good. Greek’s are dependent on traditional butchers and fishmongers so it should come as no surprise that some supermarkets carry a limited selection of meat and fish. Lidl is commonplace however the stock was sometimes limited and appeared to be used as a ‘Cash and Carry’ with many apparent Greek business owners stocking up in bulk on water, feta, olive oil and such like. There is a large chain of Carrefour which we found to be horrendously expensive and instead opted for City AB which appeared much more middle of the road. Watch out for pickup trucks with loudspeakers and vans selling fresh produce especially in some of the smaller villages as well as fish being sold from boats these are a great way to mix with the locals. 
 
Eating & Drinking Out ★★★★★ 
Good. Greek hospitality is generally excellent and out of season you will have the pick of the restaurants with the staple being grilled meats and fish served alongside a Greek Salad. Expect to be invited into the kitchen to see the specials on offer that day and perhaps taste the sauce to see if it is to your liking. If you want fresh fish then many restaurants have chilled display cabinets outside with the fresh catch of the day displayed so you know you aren’t getting a frozen offering. Average meal for two with a decanter of wine is in the region of €25-30. If you like a coffee it is worth looking for a coffee shop with plenty of older greek men present – here the coffee is usually better value and more authentic. A traditional Greek (or Turkish) coffee is a strong drink and served in espresso style cups along with a tall glass of water with sugar added at the time of brewing, you can only drink about two thirds since the grounds settle in the bottom of the cup. If you’ve paid in the region of €1 each then you know you’ve gone to the right place anymore and you must be in a tourist trap! 
 
Availability of Open Wifi ★★★★★ 
Excellent. Many towns have communal wifi on offer with unlimited access and availability from cafes and bars is excellent, we had no problems obtaining fast and open wifi during our time in Greece. 
 
Useful Links: Our Guide to obtaining <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/wi-fi-access-in-europe.html">Wifi in Europe</a> 
 
Our Summary and Posts on Greece: 
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/search/label/Greece">View all of our posts on Greece</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/11/lousios-gorge-olympia.html">Lousios Gorge & Olympia</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/11/methoni-pylos.html">Methoni & Pylos</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/11/mystras.html">Mystras</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/inner-mani.html">Inner Mani</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/monemvasia.html">Monemvasia</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/nafplio.html">Nafplio</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/ancient-epidaurus.html">Epidaurus</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/athens.html">Athens</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/evia.html">Evia</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/ancient-delphi.html">Ancient Delphi</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/nafpaktos.html">Nafpaktos</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/lefkas.html">Lefkas</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/parga-ammoudia.html">Parga</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/ioannina-dodona.html">Ioannina & Dodona</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/10/papigo.html">Papigo</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/09/vikos-gorge.html">Vikos Gorge</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/09/meteora.html">Meteora</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/09/were-in-greece.html">We are in Greece!</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/11/lousios-gorge-olympia.html">Lousois Gorge & Olympia</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/11/last-week-in-greece.html">Last Week in Greece</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

Our Guide to Visiting & Driving in Greece with a Motorhome

This guide has been written based on our own experiences in Greece and is published to provide you with some basic information on Greece to...

Guide to Visiting & Driving in Romania with a Motorhome

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This guide is the first in the new format of 'Country Guides' we will write to try and provide some of the information we struggled to obtain while researching our trip to Romania. It is based on our own experiences and is provided in good faith but your own experience and impressions may differ to ours. We hope that you find it of use and encourages you to visit. 
 
Country Facts 
Country Code (RO), Currency RON , Capital Bucharest, Full EU Member (Jan 07). Non-Schengen Country; there are manned border crossings, but no visa requirements for EU citizens. You may be asked for your vehicle documents, there are no import restrictions but there are export limitations for alcohol and tobacco. 
 
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Road Vignette Required? 
YES. You are required to purchase a vignette for all roads immediately upon crossing the border, a camper van comes under a 'Goods Vehicle' unless and the cost for up to 3.5t was €16 for a month or €6 for a week. If you are over 3.5t then the toll will be €52 for a month and €20 for a week. We have heard of some people getting through as 'private cars'. As of 2011 you will no longer receive a windscreen sticker, instead your registration will be logged on a database. It is worth entering the office with your registration number already written down and ensure that you get a receipt and the details and dates printed on it are correct. The offices only accept Romanian currency and Euro, not Hungarian Forint despite being on the border and are unlikely to accept card. 
 
Toll Roads 
YES. Toll roads are rare, however there is one at the Giurgeni – Vadu Oii Bridge over the river Danube on highway DN2A at Vadu Oii and one at the Cernavodă Bridge, on the A2 motorway, a 17 km long section between Feteşti and Cernavodă which consists of two road/railway bridges. 
 
Road
Condition ★★★★★ 
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Generally Poor. While many of the main
arterial routes are on par with Western Europe many secondary roads deteriorate
quickly often without warning; the size of the potholes are not to be
underestimated! Main roads always pass through villages as there are no such
things as ring roads or by passes and extra care should be taken here. Should
you stray off these roads then the tarmac quickly disappears and gravel roads
are common. If road conditions are a concern plan your route including
stopovers carefully, we didn’t allow roads to limit our exploration and
suffered no permanent damage. <o:p></o:p></div>

 
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Driving
Standard ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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Generally Poor. Expect to encounter
many horse drawn vehicles, homemade contraptions and laughably  overloaded ancient cars and lorries. However
given the quality of the roads and vehicles the average speeds can be
relatively low and with the exception of the Bucharest area the roads are not
sufficiently busy to encounter widespread congestion. That said driving in
Romania can be tiring and stressful and it is worth planning regular breaks and
not expecting to cover large distances in a single day.<o:p></o:p> 
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   <o:p></o:p></div>
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Diesel,
LPG & Autogas<o:p></o:p></div>
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Limited availability of LPG/Autogas. We
saw an abundance of fresh new fuels stations being built all of which accepted
card and fuel pumped by attendants. Average price of diesel was £1.08 and LPG
50p in Aug 11.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Useful Links: LPG / Autogas GPS POI for Romaina (to follow)</div>
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Winter
Tyres Required<o:p></o:p></div>
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YES. The Romanian Ministry of Travel are looking to
make Winter Tyres compulsory between 1st November and 31st
March however as of Nov 11 this law has not yet been passed. Given the
country’s infrastructure and ability to keep roads clear it would certainly be
advisable to adhere to these guidelines. <o:p></o:p></div>
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 </div>
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Official
Aires / Service Points ★★★★★</div>
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None that we are aware of. Know different? Please get in touch. </div>
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 </div>
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Campsites  ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many of the campsites you will find listed are
usually gardens of residential properties purchased by European ex-pats and
usually filled with people from the same nationalities. Prices usually between
£10-£15 however the standards of the facilities can vary greatly but they can
be goldmines of information and links to the local community.</div>
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Free
/ Wild Camping ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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While free camping is perfectly legal and a
practice embraced by Romanians you are unlikely to be in the company of other
motorhomes while doing so. Locations vary from large open fields near tourist
locations to the inside of hairpin bends on the Transfargen Pass, basically
anywhere big enough to pitch a tent and light a fire. Rubbish in these areas
can be a problem due to lack of infrastructure but don’t let this put you off
since Romanian’s themselves are very friendly. It is worth having some small
token English gifts to hand, perhaps a shot sized Whisky or Shortbread
Biscuits, as we were often on the receiving end of Romanian hospitality but had
nothing suitable to give in return. Ground clearance on access roads can also
be an issue so it is worth carefully considering your entry and exit strategy
if you intend to venture off the paved road. A better strategy for Wild Camping
we found was to plan each day to end at a camp site while looking for a
suitable Free Camp en-route meaning that should be unsuccessful we were sure to
have somewhere to stay instead. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Useful Links: <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/p/wild-camping-gps-poi.html">Our Wild Camping GPS page</a> has some locations for
Romania</div>
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 </div>
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Availability
of Fresh Water ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fresh water is often available from Fuel Stations
and we had no problems drinking from the mains supply. There are occasionally
taps or pumps in villages. Bottled water is available everywhere and in as
large as 10L containers from Supermarkets. <o:p></o:p></div>
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 </div>
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Grey
/ Black Waste Disposal ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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Very few opportunities to dispose of waste, public
conveniences were virtually non-existent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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 </div>
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Price
Index ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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Owing to being a poor country Romania will appear
incredibly cheap to Western Europeans with entry fees to tourist attractions very low at just £1-2. Typical prices
are: Loaf of Bread: 50p, 600ml Beer: 50p, 500g Meat: £2-3.<o:p></o:p></div>
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 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
Food
/ Supermarkets ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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You will find all of the Western European
supermarkets present in the bigger towns Romania, however some such as Carefour
are expensive even by western standards. Penny Market we found gave a good
selection of Romanian food compared to Lidl which just seemed to stock the
usual, albeit at less than half the price paid in Germany. Do not dismiss the
roadside stalls selling fresh produce and kiosks selling bread, however, some
of the fruit and vegetables purchased were excellent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
Eating
& Drinking Out ★★★★★<o:p></o:p></div>
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As you would expect the cost of eating and drinking
out in Romania is incredibly low, Romanian cuisine focuses on simple homemade
foods although there are of course the usual outside influences. As a rule of
thumb less touristy the place the more 'genuine' the food. Romanian wine is
excellent however we found the Romanian beer an aquired taste. <o:p></o:p></div>
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 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
Availability
of Open Wifi ★★★★★ <o:p></o:p></div>
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Surprisingly unsecured Wifi was often available in
Cafes and Bars and even more surprising was just how fast it was compared to
the UK! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Useful Links: <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/04/wi-fi-access-in-europe.html">Our Guide to obtaining Wifi in Europe</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
 
 </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
Our
Summary and Posts on Romania:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Romania was an amazing experience and is without a
doubt the most interesting country in Europe willing to reward anyone who
wishes to take it on. In that respect a visit should be likened more to an
adventure then a relaxing holiday.</div>
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 </div>
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Our Other Blog Posts on Romania:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: 13px;">
 
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/search/label/Romania">View all our posts on Romania</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/09/romania-in-motorhome-summary-of-our.html">Our 2011 Trip Summary</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/08/bucharest.html">Bucharest</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/08/transfagarasan-pass-vidraru-dam.html">Transfagarasan Pass & Virdu Dam</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/08/sighisoara.html">Sighisoara</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/08/bicaz-gorge-and-lacu-rosu.html">Bicaz Gorge and Lacu Rosu</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/08/romania-first-impressions.html">Our First Impressions</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Guide to Visiting & Driving in Romania with a Motorhome

This guide is the first in the new format of 'Country Guides' we will write to try and provide some of the information we struggled...

Estonia in a Motorhome - Our Summary

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We've been in Estonia 10 days and have travelled 634 miles so while we're hardly qualified to write a book on the place I think we can just about muster up enough credibility to write a blog post on it. 
 
We entered via Tallinn from Helsinki on a Viking Line Ferry, a two hour crossing costing £89 for our 6m van booked 3 days prior. The ship itself is like a cruise liner, with a self service buffet serving everything you can imagine for 89c per 100g (they weigh your plate at the till!) or a huge well stocked duty free shop not to mention the free on-board Wifi. 
 
You can read all of our blogs from Estonia by clicking here: 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/search/label/Estonia">http://www.europebycamper.com/search/label/Estonia</a> 
 
Our Five reasons you should visit Estonia: 
 
1.) The vast majority of roads are excellent and are obviously in receipt of a great deal of EU investment as proclaimed by the road signs at the beginning of every new patch of tarmac. I suspect if you read an account of Estonia 12 months ago things will have vastly improved since then and the only poor roads we drove across were ones currently being replaced. Granted, there are some 'gravel tracks' but these are on par with what you find off the main roads in Sweden and Finland but you'd expect that for a country of it's size. 
 
2.) The whole country is excellent value especially compared with Scandanvia. Diesel is £1.05 a litre (July 2011) and you can have a meal outside of Tallinn for about £6 for a main course and £1.50 or less for a 500ml beer or large glass of wine. Furthermore, supermarkets are not only incredibly cheap but stock a huge range of foods of a quality that seriously rivalled our shopping experience for the past three months. You know all those perfect apples in Tesco, well the Estonian's have the wonky ones that taste just as good at a fraction of the cost! 500g meat (chicken, beef, pork) about £2.50. Bottle of beer about 70c. We even saw imported Baked Beans cheaper than home! If you visited Stockmann in Stockholm (massive Selfridge-esque department store) do so in Tallinn, prices are about half for all but the top branded western products and the selection of beer and wine on offer will blow your mind especially after a beer deprived tour of Scandinavia! 
 
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3.) Estonia, with the exception of Tallinn and it's Baltic Cruise Liners that dock here, appears on the face of it relatively unexplored by all but the Finns for whom it is on their doorstep. The tourist information is extensive (thanks again to EU funding) and I made a point of asking how many English the agents had seen - the answer is very few! Entrance fee's, if applicable, are often under £4 per person. 
 
 
4.) Estonia is changing, fast! Many of the places that would be tarted up as major pay to enter destinations are still awaiting investment in a very authentic and still visitable state.If you fancy seeing some Soviet history as it has been left now is the time. Sillamäe for example was a Uranium mining complex and a closed town that did not exist on any official maps, today it stands with large boards awaiting EU investment to turn it into a major tourist attraction into the Soviet era. 
 
5.) If Wild Camping is not your thing (and we managed it every night) there is a network of excellent value 'camping areas' which are not fully fledged sites but camping grounds that are willing and able accommodate motor homes  for a fee of between €7 and €10 a night. Some of those are listed <a href="http://en.camping.info/estonia/campsites">here</a> but you can see many on the most popular routes. Not accept full facilities, but do expect excellent local hospitality, produce and warm greeting. 
 
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We really enjoyed our time in Estonia and will continue to blog as we travel south through the remainder of the Baltic States, Latvia and Lithuania. 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/p/wild-camping-gps-poi.html">here</a> for our Wild Camping POI's.</div>
</div>

Estonia in a Motorhome - Our Summary

We've been in Estonia 10 days and have travelled 634 miles so while we're hardly qualified to write a book on the place I think w...

Helsinki to St Petersburg - Visa Free!

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If you are touring Scandinavia with your motorhome and want to experience St Petersburg this guide tells you the options for doing so. If you want to read about our visit to St Petersburg first <a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/06/st-petersburg-russia.html">click here</a>, or wait until the end of this guide. 
 
1.) The Visa Free 'Loophole' 
2.) Options, Days and Prices 
3.) Booking Via the St Peters Line Website 
4.) Budget Accommodation in St Petersburg 
5.) Leaving your van in Helsinki 
6.) Longer Stay (Visa) and High Speed Rail Link 
 
1.) The Visa Free 'Loophole' 
 
Since 2010 it has been possible to visit St Peteprovided for you at check in with the exception of your hotel reservation which you will be required to show at the same time and may be asked for it at any time. You will also be provided with an immigration form with two parts (entrance and exit) for you to fill out out and hand to Russian Customs on your entrance and exit to Russia. You will also get your passport stamped! 
 
 
2.) Options, Dates & Prices 
 
You need to take a Monday or a Thursday sailing in order to travel Visa-Free 
 
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All of the necessary documents will be provided for you at check in with the exception of your hotel reservation which you will be required to show at the same time and may be asked for it at any time. You will also be provided with an immigration form with two parts (entrance and exit) for you to fill out out and hand to Russian Customs on your entrance and exit to Russia. You will also get your passport stamped! 
 
 
2.) Options, Dates & Prices 
 
You need to take a Monday or a Thursday sailing in order to travel Visa-Free 
 
</a></div>
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The ferry departs Helsinki from the Olympic Terminal at 19:00 (GMT +2) and arrives in St Petersburg at the brand new and very smart Maritime Façade Cruise Terminal at 09:30 (GMT +3) local time, departing at 19:00. 
 
If you want to travel Visa Free you have to take a Monday or a Thursday Sailing from Helsinki. 
 
Prices depend largely on the cabin, accommodation and options chosen for your crossing. The cheapest option is a 'berth' or shared (male/female) cabin at €30 but the next up is E class, a comfortable, clean en-suite cabin without a window for roughly €130 each way. 
 
On-Board Facilities 
 
This is a 'Cruise Ship' after all and we were just using it as a means of getting from A to B and I suggest you do the same. 
 
My preference would be to either eat before you depart of take something on board with you, we had buffet breakfast in the Seven Seas (€9pp) which was fair-average. My advice would be to make up your own mind since the 'discount' for pre-booking meal's with your booking is €1. 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAa8rPbpnEae2n9rpla1vcWXJbGcsv5BN7xjIgJmzhL5KfIUoCcp0v_FWJa9Ern-WOXs58vhYV0fV17Au-dY6E7j6KOZCxsCLjyBQA61_H5gq8SPW4xTWkUeZA41w7cC7l8jjxiUPg7s/s1600/Princess+Maria+2010-09-13+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAa8rPbpnEae2n9rpla1vcWXJbGcsv5BN7xjIgJmzhL5KfIUoCcp0v_FWJa9Ern-WOXs58vhYV0fV17Au-dY6E7j6KOZCxsCLjyBQA61_H5gq8SPW4xTWkUeZA41w7cC7l8jjxiUPg7s/s320/Princess+Maria+2010-09-13+4.JPG" width="320" /></a>Cafe 'Bake & Coffee' (€3-€8): Microwaved burgers, pizza, meatballs and mash (or mush as the menu described it!), soup and sandwiches. 
 
Buffet 'Seven Seas' (€30pp): Self service buffet available in the evening for dinner and the morning for breakfast (€10pp). 
 
A la Cart 'Explorers' (€40+): Looked superior to the others, but at that price we didn't bother. 
 
Rabbit Bar & Sky Club (€9+): Same food as 'Bake & Coffee' but twice the price for getting deafened while your eat it. 
 
Duty Free Shop: Soft drinks €1, Beer €2, Bottle Wine €4, Chocolate / Sweets €1, Bottle Vodka €5, Branded Whisty €5, 200 Fags €15*. 
 
* See non-eu import restrictions comment further down. 
 
There is also a Cigar Bar, Cinema, Casino, XXXX Bar, Sauna / Pool / Gym for extra cost. 
 
 
3.) Booking Via the St Peters Line Website 
 
The St Peters Line website is fairly poor and doesn't make nearly enough fuss about the 'Visa Free' element of the trip. As a result there are several travel agents setup with excellent websites that provide all the necessary reassuring information when searching for those terms. However, they also charge a fee for the privilege and in addition they are not even linked directly to St Peters Line so are unable to offer real time availability. Avoid them -  having read this far in the guide you should be well equipt to use it and a small discount is likely to be applied on your final screen depending on the lead. 
 
The website is: <a href="http://www.stpeterline.com/" target="_new">http://www.stpeterline.com</a> 
 
 
4.) Budget Accommodation in St Petersburg 
 
I cannot recommend Sky Hotel enough, by far the cheapest accomodation we could find at €55 euro a night for a room with a shared bathroom or €65 with your own. Located just off the main through fair Nevsky Prospect down a back alley but wonderfully modern once you get inside. Staffed 24 hours and English speaking we couldn't find a hostel this cheap when we booked just a few days before we were set to sail. Don't forget to print off a copy of your booking confirmation - it is best to choose pay in advance rather than on arrival. 
 
<a href="http://nevskyhotels.com/en/st_petersburg_hotels/skyhotel/" target="_new">http://nevskyhotels.com/en/st_petersburg_hotels/skyhotel/</a> 
 
 
5.) Leaving Your Van in Helsinki 
 
There are a number of options available to you, however it is worth checking with your insurance company to see if they will cover your vehicle while you are effectively out of the country. 
 
A.) The Cheapest Option (€10/weekday) 
 
The long term parking at the Olympic Ferry Terminal is expensive at €30/day with discounts the longer you stay. Payment is by credit card and is pay and display, but no security is offered. We saw a fair few vans parked there, however. 
 
Just as you pass the Olympic Terminal on your left hand side there is a small municipal off street car park with about 15 extra wide spaces with grass at the back which could easily accommodate a 7m van. Despite being next to the terminal it falls into Helsinki Zone 3 which is €1/hr 9am-7pm, free evenings and weekends. We acually wild camped here for 3 days and it was fine, although the ticket machine only accepts coins so bring some change! I would arrive the night before as you may need to hover around to get the best space. There are a number of similar car parks around the other ferry terminal but we didn't explore these ourselves so can't recommend any specifically. 
 
 
B.) The Maximum Security Option (€30/day) - <a href="http://kluuvi-service.fi/">http://kluuvi-service.fi/</a> 
 
'Special Parking' is located just inside the port, having to pass through a security barrier and into a manned/CCTV garage within the port. Only suitable for van conversions but they have a number of 'big car' spaces that even the Jumbo 6.3m Ducato would fit into. Pre-booking advised. They may require you to leave your keys as if they get busy they block-park cars, but they have a good reputation and given the numberre date from Russia). 
2.  Two copies of Russian visa application form, completed and signed (<a href="http://www.visatorussia.com/files.nsf/Lookup/visa_application/$file/visa_application.pdf">right click, save as</a>) 
3.  Two passport-size photos signed on the back. 
4.  Confirmation of hotel arrangements from an authorized Russian travel company, or directly from the Russian hotel, showing reference number and confirmation number for the visa. 
 
If you have done the above, it opens up another method of getting to St Petersburg via High Speed Rail taking just 4 hours but costing a similar amount to the Ferry. For more information visit <a href="http://www.vr.fi/fi/">http://www.vr.fi/fi/</a> 
reliably informed if you turn up at the Russian Embassy for 9am with the relevant documentation you'll have your Visa by lunchtime. 
 
 
The following documents should be submitted to the Russian Embassy or Consulate to obtain a Tourist Visa to enter Russia: 
 
1.  Your original passport with at least 2 blank visa-designated pages (passport must be valid for at least 6 months after intended departure date from Russia). 
2.  Two copies of Russian visa application form, completed and signed (<a href="http://www.visatorussia.com/files.nsf/Lookup/visa_application/$file/visa_application.pdf">right click, save as</a>) 
3.  Two passport-size photos signed on the back. 
4.  Confirmation of hotel arrangements from an authorized Russian travel company, or directly from the Russian hotel, showing reference number and confirmation number for the visa. 
 
If you have done the above, it opens up another method of getting to St Petersburg via High Speed Rail taking just 4 hours but costing a similar amount to the Ferry. For more information visit <a href="http://www.vr.fi/fi/">http://www.vr.fi/fi/</a> 
 
Other Tips: 
When you leave the ship, make sure you queue for the "EU Citizens Only" customs booth - this one moves CONSIDERABLY quicker than the "All Other" and thus Russian Queue's! 
 
Plan you time in S26nbsp;maximize the duty free / bars which is fair enough. 
 
Restaurants are expensive but cafe's are very cheap as are the stalls selling food so look to eat here if you want to maximise your budget. If you do want to eat out, look at the reviews on Trip Advisor first and have a few ideas of where to target first as it can be difficult to choose. 
 
 
For our trip to St Petersburg, click here: 
<a href="http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/06/st-petersburg-russia.html">http://www.europebycamper.com/2011/06/st-petersburg-russia.html</a> 
 
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