Croatia bound, hopefully!

Westbarn1

Westbarn1

LIFE MEMBER
Joined
Sep 25, 2019
Posts
581
Likes collected
996
Location
Norwich
Funster No
64,720
MH
Hymer BMC-T 600
Exp
Newbie
Been away from U.K. for 2 weeks now France, currently Germany, got caught in the biblical rain in the Mosel area for 2 days, but now in the Sun. Spent 2 days in the car park of the
Hymer museum (well worth a visit) and had a look in the Bad Waldsee Hymer showroom this morning, plenty there to see and even some good reductions on new vans, almost forgot, whilst exploring we found an unmarked building with several Hymer in the compound with RV HY reg plates ie RV HY 780 one of them had some interesting mirrors, which were obviously rear view cameras with a screen on the inside (will attach a pic of I can) I take it they were experimental.
Anyway, we are just short of Lake Constance at Ravensburg today, had a free COVID test this afternoon, thanks Angela M! with a certificate too and tomorrow, transiting Switzerland in 4/5 hours via A13, hopefully getting to Como for the night.
 

Attachments

  • 969B00B6-F2E4-481D-87D0-0D7AFDF62783.jpeg
    969B00B6-F2E4-481D-87D0-0D7AFDF62783.jpeg
    364.6 KB · Views: 284
  • 88C3CAC4-BC56-43E5-A907-816D480B37DA.jpeg
    88C3CAC4-BC56-43E5-A907-816D480B37DA.jpeg
    350 KB · Views: 283
Well, we arrived late last night, long drive from Ravensburg DE, Austria, Switzerland Italy Slovenia Croatia, at no time were we asked to provide any documentation, apart from passports at Slovenia/Croatia border and then it was just a glance at the passports in my hand and the official seemed quite annoyed when I asked for them to be stamped!
 
We're waiting to leave for a similar trip. Did you pre book any sites in Croatia, before leaving?
 
We did book this site, Camping Savudrija just a couple of days ago, by email, just so would have something to show at border, if asked, but as I said before they were totally disinterested in us.
 
Have a look at Plitvice lakes, 101 waterfalls. Fantastic area. We left Rosenheim yesterday, wanted to get a free PCR they do in town for anybody. Didn’t need it so we went off just with the nhs vaccine which is recognised.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Westbarn1 said:
We did book this site, Camping Savudrija just a couple of days ago, by email, just so would have something to show at border, if asked, but as I said before they were totally disinterested in us.
Click to expand...

Do you intend to keep to campsites?

If you wildcamp please PM the experience to me . Do not declare it on open forum as it is officially illegal.

Geoff
 
Camps only I reckon, though not my favourite environment!
 
Westbarn1 said:
Camps only I reckon, though not my favourite environment!
Click to expand...

I know what you mean but in Croatia it seems to be the only way.

Thankfully in Greece wilding is easier - we have had 4 weeks there and left the MH there for our return in Sept.

Enjoy your time in Croatia.

Geoff

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
There are camps and there are camps. For us the couple of times we’ve been to Croatia it’s been a couple of nights by the coast, and the rest inland with much nicer people and sites. Even a few non sites.
 
nicholsong said:
I know what you mean but in Croatia it seems to be the only way.

Thankfully in Greece wilding is easier - we have had 4 weeks there and left the MH there for our return in Sept.

Enjoy your time in Croatia.

Geoff
Click to expand...
Thanks Geoff, Greece is definitely on the list, last time there was on a m/c trip through Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania through to the Southern tip of the Polopponese, back via Italy etc. But, no way I’d travel through Albania in this MoHo!
 
Keen to know why you wouldn't travel through Albania in the MH? We were thinking of going through Albania to Greece rather than ferry from Italy, after visiting Croatia etc. Being very much newbies, we're trying to learn as much as possible.
 
I’m also very interested in your Croatian travels so any info/photos would be really appreciated

thanks and enjoy, i’m very envious

Al 👍
 
daveclare said:
Keen to know why you wouldn't travel through Albania in the MH? We were thinking of going through Albania to Greece rather than ferry from Italy, after visiting Croatia etc. Being very much newbies, we're trying to learn as much as possible.
Click to expand...
Maybe I went to some of the wrong area’s Dave, Tirana was a case in point, lots of shifty looking men hanging around in groups, this is adults, not kids, now as an ex cop with 39 years service and another 20 years as an RMP Reserve I’m not lacking in courage, but felt uneasy at times, and was travelling alone, the road conditions are awful, huge holes in the roads, sudden sections of gravel (even on the ‘motorway) making for interesting riding/driving, then there is the difficulty of getting insurance cover, you can buy insurance at the border, as I did and it’s a very nice gold embossed piece of paper , but is it really worth any thing. So, a visit with a nearly new £100k plus Hymer, nope!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Westbarn1 said:
Maybe I went to some of the wrong area’s Dave, Tirana was a case in point, lots of shifty looking men hanging around in groups, this is adults, not kids, now as an ex cop with 39 years service and another 20 years as an RMP Reserve I’m not lacking in courage, but felt uneasy at times, and was travelling alone, the road conditions are awful, huge holes in the roads, sudden sections of gravel (even on the ‘motorway) making for interesting riding/driving, then there is the difficulty of getting insurance cover, you can buy insurance at the border, as I did and it’s a very nice gold embossed piece of paper , but is it really worth any thing. So, a visit with a nearly new £100k plus Hymer, nope!
Click to expand...
It’s funny how impressions can vary, we had a enjoyable few days in Albania, we had previously been warned about the condition of the roads, but thought them not too bad. (2017) Elsewhere a security guard at the Roman ruins at Butrint only charged us the locals rate to get in then promised to keep an eye on us overnight. Whilst at a campsite we were invited to a local wedding, I think it was a shotgun wedding as there was liberal use of guns.
Tirana was ridiculously manic with mums with babies walking amongst the traffic trying to earn a few quid cleaning windscreens, donkeys and carts battling for road space with Range Rovers. Most saw traffic lights and junctions as optional. We were towing a box trailer behind the van, I’m a confident driver but I was quite keen to leave the city, however the gps was misbehaving, I think perhaps many roads are not logged or were not at the time. We pulled up some where to collect our thoughts when someone knocked on the drivers door, I opened the window a fraction against my wife’s advice, (we had a expensive van and a box trailer containing three enduro bikes and my bmw and precious little insurance)
Are you lost the door knocker asked, yes I replied, I just want to get out of Tirana and head north I replied, well he replied, my name is Eddie and my brother runs this cafe lets have a coffeee and I will draw you a map. Being a trusting soul I agreed to join Eddie whilst swmbo was considering her first heart attack might be a better option. Eddie drew us a map that got us out of Tirana and then wouldn’t let us pay for coffee and cakes.
We will happily return.
 
Love hearing stories of travels like this.

I went to Indonesia on a work trip. Loved it so much I want to return for a holiday. Wasn’t expecting to like it so much, the people there were absolutely lovely and treated us like royalty (which I hate). All is not what it might initially seem. In the UK when teaching we frown upon phones being used, in Indonesia they will take photos and video of you teaching to watch back again and again. Perception of what’s going on is key

I even picked up a Polish hitch hiker at 2am once on a main road into Coventry. He had missed his lift and had been fruit picking in Warwickshire. His Mom was a Dr in Poland and he couldn’t have been nicer or more grateful. He had walked miles and hours when I picked him up. Common sense would tell you stopping to pick him up was a bad idea but it wasn’t.

A kayaker I know went to Iran and was met with hospitality like no other on one hand and was then shot at with guns on the other so had to paddle down the river with his hands as he didn’t have time to grab his paddle.

I work the roughest patches of Birmingham day and night and have never had an issue anywhere.

Not being an asshole pays dividends wherever you are in the world is my experience.

Croatia is on my go to list as soon as I get some time off work. 👍
 
I would have to search through lots of info to find campsite names in Croatia where we have stayed but safe to say whilst many are a bit ramshackle looking we have never been disappointed with our stay. I’ll name the sites I recall the names of. It’s the location that is more important so I’ll list some places we really loved & the campsites were very close to them to be able to walk, cycle or bus it. Rovinj, caught the water bus across the bay from the Camping Amarin to the north on the peninsula Wonderful town with beautiful seafood restaurants & cobble streets with the iconic view of the church tower you see in all the photos of here. Fazana & Pula, stayed at camping Bi Village. Tito history & Roman ruins, amphitheater. Island of Krk, camping Krk. Zadar, campsite in the town to the north of old town in walking distance. Perfect walking distance if a bit ramshackle beautiful old town. Senj, a good stop off place with nice town & seafront. Camped at ACSI site but no longer listed, just to south of town centre with gate onto the prom. National Park Krka, stayed at camping Krka. Owner did guided tours of the park, fantastic! Bus outside to Sibenik which was a wonderful town. Split, fantastic historical city. Camped at great site just outside to south at camping Stobrec & bussed it in. Also bussed it via Split to Trogir, beautiful old town & well worth the effort to get there. Could camp closer but doable from Stobrec. Plitvice National Park, not to be missed but a full days walking & need to arrive as early as possible to avoid the coachloads of tourists. Pretty sure we camped at Camping Plitvice just to the north of park entrance. Big place with accommodation too but we chose here as it did a bus for campers to & from the park. Hope this helps anyone travelling To Croatia.
If going anywhere near Ljubljana in Slovenia I would never drive by without stopping for a few days to see this beautiful city. We camped at I think the Ljubljana resort hotel & camping, just off the ring road. Perfect location with easy bus access from outside into city centre. Loved this city.
If anyone wants to see photos and have access to Instagram then the 2 tours to Croatia will be on there if you scroll back over the years, user name rkt480, along with many more tours.
regards Roy

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Last edited:
Westbarn1 said:
Been away from U.K. for 2 weeks now France, currently Germany, got caught in the biblical rain in the Mosel area for 2 days, but now in the Sun. Spent 2 days in the car park of the
Hymer museum (well worth a visit) and had a look in the Bad Waldsee Hymer showroom this morning, plenty there to see and even some good reductions on new vans, almost forgot, whilst exploring we found an unmarked building with several Hymer in the compound with RV HY reg plates ie RV HY 780 one of them had some interesting mirrors, which were obviously rear view cameras with a screen on the inside (will attach a pic of I can) I take it they were experimental.
Anyway, we are just short of Lake Constance at Ravensburg today, had a free COVID test this afternoon, thanks Angela M! with a certificate too and tomorrow, transiting Switzerland in 4/5 hours via A13, hopefully getting to Como for the night.
Click to expand...
may I ask what are the photos of please/
 
Plivice lakes are not to be missed, there is dedicated motorhome parking on the main car park. Can I suggest not to start walking from the main entrance but get the free bus ( information centre will tell you how ) to the top of the Lakes as early as possible. I caught one at about 8.30am. The walk is then all downhill and very quiet for the most part, I walked for 2 hours and saw 1 person. Inevitably you will see crowds at the bottom and most popular parts but these weren't too bad when I visited during September. Please allow a whole day to take in and explore this magical place.
 
When I visited 2018 I travelled the whole Croation coastline, there seemed to be lots of very basic campsites right on the sea, the locations looked unbelievably pretty. I was touring by motorcycle so I'm afraid I've no info on costs of facilities but overall Croatia is a very cheap country to visit.

I paid as little as £12 for an overnight stay in a 3 bedroom apartment - including breakfast 😁
 
Agree, I've done it on a Crosstourer myself, all the way to the tip of Greece, over 5 weeks(y)

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Geistguy said:
Plivice lakes are not to be missed, there is dedicated motorhome parking on the main car park. Can I suggest not to start walking from the main entrance but get the free bus ( information centre will tell you how ) to the top of the Lakes as early as possible. I caught one at about 8.30am. The walk is then all downhill and very quiet for the most part, I walked for 2 hours and saw 1 person. Inevitably you will see crowds at the bottom and most popular parts but these weren't too bad when I visited during September. Please allow a whole day to take in and explore this magical place.
Click to expand...
Good advice. We have been twice, first time did the bottom area, second time the top, both times going uphill! Upside for us was being able to take the dog, on the bus and the boats as well as the paths.
We stayed at Camp Bear, a small family run site a few miles away
 
Crazylegs said:
I’ve never seen a report from folk that free camp in Croatia, is this because the wild bears eat them ?
Click to expand...
While touring 3 there years ago friends had to wait 10 minutes for 3 large bears to decide to move off the road, it was a pretty remote area and being on a large motorbike it was impossible to turn around, my pals wife was not amused 😁 . The bears are not a myth - they do exist in many European countries.
 
Morning all, well it’s been just over a week in Croatia now, 6 on the coast near Umag and have now moved inland near Pazin, just about the centre of Istria, small site, just 5 roomy plots with services and access to hotel pool next door and restaurant and great views

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Attachments

  • CA847B39-5FB3-4FDB-B542-42DB1D859264.jpeg
    CA847B39-5FB3-4FDB-B542-42DB1D859264.jpeg
    461 KB · Views: 90

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top