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3 Mar 2008
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Poland and Czech Republic
Thinking of taking a brief detour through these two countries on my way to the Alps this April (yer, I know it's not exactly 'on the way'!)
What are the borders like? Anything particular I need to know about riding in these countries, for example, do I need to buy local insurance etc?
Of course I'm hoping that with them being in the EU now I'll be able to ride thru the border at 100km/h like in France, Germany etc!
Matt 
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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3 Mar 2008
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Hi Matt,
as long as you're crossing into/out of Poland and Czech Republic from another EU country, there's absolutley no problem. If you have a Green Card from your UK insurance company, this will normally cover these 2 countries, so no need to buy additional insurance.
Unfortunately, the borders are still there, so you can't yet go hammering through as you would from Belgium to France for example.
Only thing to be aware of - since there is historically a booming trade in stolen vehicles passing into Poland and Czech, you may well be asked for the original vehicle documents as proof of ownership. Make sure you've got these with you!
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3 Mar 2008
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I traveled to Prague earlier this year and the borders fully open now, they opened them 1st of January this year.
So you will be able to hammer on through with out stopping.
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4 Mar 2008
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Yep you can go on through with no hassle at all. In Czech Republic cars need a Motorway tag but bikes are exempt, not that you would use them anyway.
Careful of women in wearing next to nothing by the bushes after the Dresden border from Germany! Sounds crazy but it's true.
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4 Mar 2008
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Green Cards are not a legal requirement. Insurance is.
Most UK insurance includes basic legal minimum throughout the EU for up to a certain number of days a year - and certify to this effect on the reverse of the UK Certificate of Insurance. This document is accepted throughout the EU as proof of MINIMUM legal cover and costs nothing more.
A Green Card is a further Certificate that is largely obsolete for Police purposes throughout the EU. What it does represent though is an extention of your full policy cover in the UK to the countries you have requested be added - and you paid for.
POLAND BORDERS. Last summer I was asked for my bike's V5 and my EU Passport crossing from both Germany and Russia (Kalingrad) into Poland. Nothing more. Exit was virtually non stop - just a Passport check.The Russians had rather more formality, both in and out, but as you don't mention Kalingrad I wont clog up the thread with it. Take your bike to the head of any queues!
I have no experience of Czech by road. Air was straightforward.
Both countries are outside the Schengen Agreement area and will require a Visa if you are not using an EU passport.
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4 Mar 2008
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Schengen Area
Tony P
"Both countries are outside the Schengen Agreement area and will require a Visa if you are not using an EU passport. "
As mentioned in an earlier post this is no longer the case... they are now part of the Schengen Area.. Schengen area means free movement between member states. There will be a (very) ocassional border check, but this is not the norm.
Ride on.....
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4 Mar 2008
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Thanks for all this excellent info.
Spot on as always!
Matt
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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com
http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/
*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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4 Mar 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney
Thinking of taking a brief detour through these two countries on my way to the Alps this April (yer, I know it's not exactly 'on the way'!)
What are the borders like? Anything particular I need to know about riding in these countries, for example, do I need to buy local insurance etc?
Of course I'm hoping that with them being in the EU now I'll be able to ride thru the border at 100km/h like in France, Germany etc!
Matt |
No problem with these borders, Matt. Just head to the front of the border queues, straight up to the control point.
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4 Mar 2008
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Andorra
Steve,
A useful map indeed: Kaliningrad is clear enough, but is that Andorra that is out of the Schengen agreement area or did you squash a bug in your map while folding it? 
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Dave
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4 Mar 2008
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Good Spotting 
Andorra still retains border checks and control, they use the Euro currency unoffically.
The approach from the French side passes through TUNEL D'ENVALIRA which requires a credit or debit card for payment of the fee. This amounts to
Cars 4,80€ (bikes?) an extra euro for winter (yed be oof ye heed anyways...cold!!  )
Entering from the Spanish side is a relatively straightforward drive, the road form France has a lot of hairpin bends 
The other microstates in the EU are all good;
\ Microstates and the European Union - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black
It's not that life is so short, It's just that we're dead for so long....
"The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page." ~ Saint Augustin
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4 Mar 2008
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Stevesawol. Post #6
Yep. I take the correction - I forgot about the changes since I rode through from Russia (both Kaliningrad and the big bit to the east!) last July.
The fact remains if one is not an EU passport holder, a Schengen Visa is required to enter any/all States within the Schengen Area. Irrespective of any visa free rights to enter UK.
A Schengen Visa is issued by any of the Schengen States and you should first enter the Area through the State you applied to, to validify the Visa on entry.
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4 Mar 2008
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Correct Tony, though there is a visa waiver for the countries listed below ( you get an automatic 3 months for the ENTIRE schengen area i.e. that includes doing a tour around Germany up to Sweden down to Spain. you have only 3 months for all of this. As a dodgy kiwi i got around this when i wasn't working in Germany   by simply entering Switzerland for a daytrip, I had to beg the border guard to stamp my passport, which he did. I then got another 3 months. There's no "visa" in your passport nothing to apply for etc if you're from the list below. I believe you can apply for an extension. Which I'm not to sure about, but I'm sure it would simply entail proof of funds, flights/means out of the area, etc 
Visa waiver countries;
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Hongkong (only for SAR and BNO passport holder)
Iceland
Israel
Japan
Liechtenstein
Macau (only for RAEdM passport holder)
Malaysia
Mexico
Monaco
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
San Marino
Singapore
Switzerland
South Korea
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
St. Kitts and Nevis
United States (USA)
Uruguay
Vatican City State / Holy See
Venezuela
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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black
It's not that life is so short, It's just that we're dead for so long....
"The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page." ~ Saint Augustin
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4 Mar 2008
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Matt,
We've highjacked your thread! Sorry mate!
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'99 R1100GS - In a suitable shade of black
It's not that life is so short, It's just that we're dead for so long....
"The world is a book, those who do not travel read only one page." ~ Saint Augustin
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7 Mar 2008
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czech republic :-)
hi, there will be not any problem in zcech republic, from 21st of december 2007 we are in schengen so we have no border crossing between us and ours neighbours. if you have green card, you dont need any local insurance. Highways are payed only for cars, you can buy 10day vignette for about 10USD. now i am leaving CZ, but i will be on email if you have any questions. low@low.cz
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10 Mar 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevesawol
Matt,
We've highjacked your thread! Sorry mate!
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No worries! I learn some of the best wee useful facts on hijacked threads!
Matt
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http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/
*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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