Hi we are about to leave for Europe. Flying out 5/9 returning 11/15. The plan is to pick up a couple of G650GS in Switzerland (where I'm originally from) and head out to Eastern Europe and Turkey. Originally the plan included Iran but with an American boyfriend, that seems really difficult at the moment as it seems that he would need to be accompanied by an official guide at all times!

Our main question for those of you who have gone on long trips in countries where credit cards may not come in handy: how did you deal with money? did you take a lot of cash with you and hid some on the bike and some on your body? Any better ideas???

Thank you!

Grüezi:

Last time I rode through Turkey (about 3 years ago), there were ATMs all over the place that worked just fine with my Canadian ATM card. Same goes for Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, all the former Yugoslavian countries, etc.

I would go to an ATM and just suck out whatever local cash I needed for the amount of time I planned to spend in each country. I try not to carry more than a few days' worth of cash, not because of any worries about theft, but because it is such a PITA to get rid of the leftovers when leaving a country. The ATMs will give you the very best exchange rate, much better than any bank or currency exchange shop.

Just be sure to contact your bank before you leave, and let them know that you intend to use your ATM card (and, if applicable, your credit cards) in the various countries that you plan to visit. Many banks will, by default, limit use of an ATM card to the home country only, in order to reduce the risk of fraud. Hence it is necessary to contact the bank and advise them of your travel plans and ask them to make sure that your card(s) will work outside of your home country.

My Canadian credit card (a MasterCard) was accepted everywhere I went. Turkey is pretty much a first-world country so far as banking, technology, etc. is concerned.

Do be aware that the insurance on the CH based moto will probably not be valid in Turkey, simply because Turkey is not part of the EC. So, check the policy paper (green sheet) before you leave CH to see if Turkey is included. If it is not, you can buy insurance at the border crossing into Turkey. Be aware that the process is kind of complex and takes about an hour or so to complete. The Turkish customs people will document you bringing the moto into Turkey, and you have to show that documentation when you leave (this is to prevent illegal imports, most especially imports of stolen bikes). So be sure that you have all the appropriate documents for the moto before you leave CH, because you will have to prove that you legitimately possess the bike when you enter TR.

If you have the opportunity, you might want to consider riding through Romania on the way to TR, I did that (I also keep a bike in ZRH), and Romania is a delightful country to travel through. Cheap, too. Turkey is not that inexpensive, it's about on par with Germany if you are in the larger cities.

If you are flying into ZRH, and need to spend a night or two in Zürich before you set out on your trip, I highly recommend the Welcome Inn in Kloten. It is a very friendly hotel, very clean and proper, reasonably priced, and free underground parking for the motos. Also a free shuttle to and from the airport, and 150 meters from the S7 regional train station. I've been staying there for over 30 years.

Enjoy your trip.

Michael

One postscript:

It has become increasingly common in the last 2 or 3 years for credit card terminals at hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. to offer to do the currency conversion to your home currency 'right at the terminal', so that the charge appears on your statement as a home currency charge, rather than appearing in the currency of the country you are visiting and then being converted by your credit card company.

Never, ever, accept the offer of these credit card terminals to do the conversion for you. The mark-up is obscene, in the range of about a 6% conversion fee, which the local credit card terminal operator then splits with the merchant. Always insist that the transaction is processed in local currency units. Your credit card issuer back home needs to keep you happy, which means that they will usually only ding you about 2% over the interbank rate on the currency exchange when they convert it for you. The credit card terminal operators, on the other hand, don't give a s**t about you, you are not their customer, the merchant is.

Be especially careful that the employee processing your credit card payment for you does not elect the 'convert to my home currency' option for you before they hand you the terminal so that you can enter your PIN. I have, on numerous occasions, encountered employees who have been told to do this (to elect to have the terminal do the conversion) without even asking the customer. Again, this is because the merchant gets to split the commission with the terminal operator.

Michael

Fuel, although expensive in Turkey, can be paid for by credit card. Even quite modest "hard" accommodation can be paid for in the same manner.

Third Party insurance can be bought at the border. To reiterate what Pan European has already stated, ensure you have all the paperwork for your machines, if anything is missing you will not be allowed entry.