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Poland to Greece, safety concerns Poland to Greece, safety concerns
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  #1  
Old 7 Mar 2010
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Poland to Greece, safety concerns
Hello

I would first like to say thank you to everyone for keeping this website going and sharing the information with all of us, the more information we have, the safer we can travel.

With that being said, I would like to ask some advice on an efficient, safe route from Poland to Greece.

We will be hitchhiking, so that means very likely some camping. We are planning about 8 days to make it, which, from prior hitchhiking experience, should be more than enough time for roughly 1700km; but, as we have little to no experience in these countries, we are trying to play it safe.

The debate at the moment is whether to go through Serbia, the safety of this country being our main concern. This would of course then entail Macedonia as well and, to be frank, we have almost no idea of what it is like. The other options are Crotia/Bosnia/Montenegro/Albania or Romania/Bulgaria.

If anyone has some experience with travel and/or safety in these countries we would love to hear about it.

Thanks for your time,
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Old 7 Mar 2010
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You did not say how many people and what sexes. I think that would help.

Join Couchsurfers.com it is free and has sections that cover all those countries and they can give you up to date local information.

I have been a member for about 3 years and it is a great community to be part of.

Steve
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  #3  
Old 8 Mar 2010
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Hi, i have travelled by motorbike in all the countries you have mentioned without any problems. Away from the main highways the roads can be very quiet which may make hitchhiking difficult. Andy B
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  #4  
Old 8 Mar 2010
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Worth checking, but I think that in most European countries hitch hiking is illegal, no problem until you get caught of course.
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Old 11 Mar 2010
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Most likely we will be two males and a female, which probably means that we will have to split up into a male/female pair and a male alone.

i know that in some countries the truck drivers are not allowed to carry passengers and most especially women, so that eliminates that option in a few countries.

and whoever said that hitchhiking is illegal in europe, that is way off base. we have had many, many successful hitchhiking adventures in every country in europe, so please get your facts straight before you post something like that online.

and yes, i am also a very avid member of couchsurfing, i didnt think to use that as a resource, but that is a good idea, i will look into it.

i was more concerned with just hearing from people who have been to these countries and have some experience of what it's like on the roads there.
so if anyone has any relevant information regarding these aspects, please let me know.
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Old 12 Mar 2010
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Its a motorcycling website so I wonder if this is the best place to ask about hitchhiking.
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Old 12 Mar 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caminando View Post
Its a motorcycling website so I wonder if this is the best place to ask about hitchhiking.
When I had a Honda (XL600R) I had to hitchike home several times
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Old 13 Mar 2010
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  #9  
Old 13 Mar 2010
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First of all texasstrike is actually right regarding some european countries, there are in fact laws forbidding hitchhiking. How much these are enforced is a different story as some of the laws are ancient and are no longer in use.

Most people I know had hassle with the cops for trying to thumb a lift on the main roads because it distracts drivers isnt safe to stop ect not because they were hitching a lift.

Slovakia does actually enforce the law apparently and hitchhiking on autobahns and motorways is against the law officially in all countries and some countries also have laws regarding hitchhiking at junctions and other places too.

In most Eu countries anyone with a work vehicle is probably invalidating their company insurance by letting you get in, thats why a lot of truck drivers dont pick up any more.

Stopping on main roads or using emergency lanes is also illegal in alot of Eu countries [but then you would have to be mental to stand at the side of a motorway anyway].

Theres alot of good websites for hitchhikers in europe with all the info you need including good places to get a lift, where to stay ect

Budget travellers guide to hitchhiking in Europe

Hitchhiking Europe Forum (Continental Travel) -digihitch.com

I see a few posts of people doing the exact opposite trip there so maybe they can help more.
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  #10  
Old 13 Mar 2010
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Thumbs up
In Macedonia you will be ok
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  #11  
Old 9 Apr 2010
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My post might be a bit late, but for what it's worth...
I've been to all the countries you mentioned last summer by BMW F650. No problems whatsoever.

Depending where your're from, be a bit careful when you discuss politics in former Yugoslavia. If it can't be avoided, just know who fought whom 10 years ago. Don't talk the side down in who's country you are at the moment. I often met lokal men, be it in Serbia, Croatia or Kosovo and just about all of them had been soldiers in these wars. Beeing German they liked me everywhere - except in Serbia :-( But even there the inevitable political discussions were always civil, even though we disagreed on some points (EU membership, ethnic problems, NATO-bombings of Belgrade, etc.). Try to avoid this if you are not very firm in recent Yugoslav history. If you can't avoid it just listen and agree. They take offense easily. Generally, all people were extremely friendly, even border police.

I don't know about camping. I stayed in hotels and payed an average of 22 Euros per night.

If you need to hitchhike on Autobahns try to make it to a busy rest area/petrol station. Just approach people there and ask them for a ride. That usually works.
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