Click for the Middle East

An Overview for Travelers of Europe

These are our views based on our experience in Europe in 2006/2007. We are on a limited monthly income based on South African Rands and found Europe to be very expensive. The UK was the biggest drain with Spain, Greece and Eastern Europe the most affordable. We could not afford many campsites and only used hotels when absolutely necessary.

Having lived in South Africa we found Europe to be cold and wet. Nice warm days were few and far between. But the traveling is easy.

Vehicle

Type of vehicle

We started with a Land Rover Defender 110 with a rooftop tent. This was not at all suitable for the rain in Europe.

We purchased a UK registered Renault Master that had been converted into a camper. This is not a bad option but brings with it the expense of annual licensing. We overcame this by staying in Europe once the license ran out. The Renault was ideal for perfect European roads.

We could not sell the Land Rover for a decent price and the Renault has a low clearance making it unsuitable for further travel east. Therefore we purchased a demountable (afzetunit or truck camper) for the Land Rover. This is rather like a caravan but it fits onto the chassis of the bakkie (pick-up, utility). There are several companies making these type of units but not many selling them second hand.

Tyres

Perfect roads do not require special tyres

Spares and Maintenance

Everything is available anywhere - for a price.

Servicing

Everything takes at least a day. This the same all over the world when you are away from home as you need to find out which garage can do the service, find the garage, then hope they can attend to you immediately. Service centres are easy to find though.

Fuel

Petrol and diesel are always available

Road conditions

Perfect in most places. There are side roads which may be bumpy but you do not need to go on these. Roads can be steep in the mountains.

There are toll road in many places. French toll roads are the most expensive. To drive from Genoa to Calais cost 133 Euro.

Insurance

Third Party is apparently available in the form of a 'Green Card'. We were waived through the border when we entered Europe and were unaware of this. Queries to an insurance company did not elicit any information so we ignored insurance all together. We only heard about the Green Card when we entered Turkey.

We do not have comprehensive insurance as this is far too expensive being based on European and US prices.

Carnet

A carnet is issued by the Automobile Association in your home country. It is a guarantee that you will either not sell the vehicle or will pay the import duty if you do sell. For this reason a deposit is required by the AA.

This is not required in Europe.

Camping

We spent 18 months in Europe, 4 of these waiting out the first winter in Spain in a camp ground. The rain forced us into hotels occasionally. Once we had the Renault Camper we stayed away from camp grounds. If we exclude the Spanish winter we only spent 35% of our nights in camp grounds. We spent the nights in Service Areas on highways, Shopping centre car parks (our favorite is Lidl), and off the road in rural areas. England is a problem for this kind of stay but Scotland, Norway and Bulgaria are perfect for it.

Camp grounds provided electricity, dumping place for the contents of the Porta Potti, water, hot showers, washing facilities for clothes and a place where Pieter could maintain the car. We also used laundromats in major cities. Electricity is supplied by the standard SA / European 3 pin blue camping plug, or European 2 pin. The exception is Italy which requires the Italian 3 pin.

A porta potti is essential. There are no bushes to pop behind and it is not always easy to get to a public toilet when needed. This especially applies in the early morning!

Food

Supermarkets, small shops, shopping malls are in abundance. Restaurant meals are expensive.

The Germans, French, Belgiums and Dutch know how to make the most fabulous cakes. The Norwegians and Finnish do not have a sweet tooth.

Health

The water is drinkable everywhere. It is not necessarily easy to obtain though. We mainly used Service Areas to fill up and occasionally purchased water. Strange after always having water available in Africa.

Medical attention is expensive. Medication is highly regulated. I did manage to obtain chronic medication in Spain and Czech Republic without a doctors prescription though. I expect this to change as the general European standards are imposed.

Other

Borders

What borders? Entry into Europe and UK required a stamp in my Australian passport. End of entry requirements. They were totally uninterested in the Land Rover and its contents. Eastern Europe has drive through border control where you do not leave the car, merely hand your passport over for checking and a possible stamp.

Money

The Euro is king and is readily available from ATMs.

We spent an average of Euro 73.55 per day. However, we were selective about which museums and other historical sites we visited.

People

People everywhere are friendly even though they are obviously busy, stressed and not overly forthcoming.

Internet

Internet connection was not as easy as expected. We were told there would be wifi everywhere. In practice we rarely found it. Libraries and Post Offices are a good source of free internet. There are Internet Cafes around but as in SA people have their home or office computer.

GPS

A GPS with European data is absolutely marvelous for navigating through busy, large cities. We used it over and over to route to shops we needed to go to or to find a shopping centre for the night.

NB: Currency is Euros

*Does not include the the 4 months spent wintering in Spain. Because of the length of our stay we paid 8.15 Euro per night in Roquetas.

** We also stayed 3 nights in different cheap hotels at an average cost of Euro 52.33. If you must a Formula 1 is the cheapest but often full.

MIDDLE EAST

These are our views based on our experience in the Middle East in 2007. Syria was the most expensive country, on a par with Europe. Turkey was not far behind. Iran was the cheapest but then we stayed for free most of the time and diesel costs virtually nothing..

Vehicle

Type of vehicle

Land Rover Defender 110 TD5 with a Bimobil demountable on the back.

Tyres

Same as for Europe. .

Spares and Maintenance

We had no problems in Turkey. Amman has a Land Rover importer of spares.

Servicing

Everything takes at least a day. This the same all over the world when you are away from home as you need to find out which garage can do the service, find the garage, then hope they can attend to you immediately. Service centres are easy to find in Turkey. Do not know about other countries..

Fuel

Petrol and diesel are always available except Iran. In Iran the service stations can be far apart and there may be long queues for diesel. We always went to the head of the truck queue and were allowed in as we only tanked 70 litres max. Tourists can purchase petrol cards whenever needed. Iranians are restricted to 90 litres a month.

NB: In Iran the first diesel station is about 40 kilometers from the border at Maku. The last diesel station is at Zahedan, 100k from the border. It is best to fill any jerry cans away from these places as they may not give you all the diesel you need.

Road conditions

Good in most places, although the camber on the Turkish roads is all wrong.

Be prepared, if you take a wrong urn it can be kilometers before there is an opportunity to turn around - very frustrating. There are also very nasty speed humps in some areas like the south of Syria and parts of Iran.

Insurance

Third Party is required in Turkey and Syria. It is available at the border.

Carnet

A carnet is issued by the Automobile Association in your home country.  It is a guarantee that you will either not sell the vehicle or will pay the import duty if you do sell. For this reason a deposit is required by the AA. But do check with other countries. We have heard but not confirmed that the UK does not require a deposit.

It is required for Syria and Iran.

Camping

We spent 5.5 months in the Middle East and 79% of nights were spent free camping. We parked in shopping centres in Turkey, in quiet roads and beside main roads.

 In Iran we generally parked near 'parks'. Each town has a park where Iranians come for relaxation, they have water, toilets and often shaded parking but it can be very noisy. The Tourist Inn in Esphahan apparently will allow people to camp in their cars. There is a Tourist Complex in Shiraz with a campground..

We ran out of chemicals for the porta potti and are now using bleach.

Food

There are supermarkets in Jordan and Turkey. Other countries have small grocery stores. Pork is not available. The main meat is chicken

Health

The water is drinkable everywhere except in the south of Iran. It is readily available from public taps.

Medication is not regulated in Jordan, Syria and Iran but not always available especially in Iran.

Other

Borders

Borders were easy to cross, just a matter of procedures. Both Syria and Iran required visas up front.

Money

Both dollars and euros are accepted with a slight preference for euros.

We spent an average of Euro 42 per day.

People

People everywhere are friendly and helpful. In Iran especially they invite you into their homes for a meal.

Internet

Internet Cafes are readily found. Many allow you to bring your own Laptop.

GPS

A GPS is handy, although there are enough roman script directions to get by with.

NB: Currency is Euros

*Includes diesel tax

** hotels not camp sites

Home