Introduction to the Balkan Tour Matters needing attention in the Balkan Tour

In fact, there are not many travel notes in the Balkans. Many people here don't know, and few people will choose to go to road trip. The following is a small series of strategies for Amway, mainly about the problems you will encounter in go road trip and some travel strategies.

Travel guide 1. About the time difference:

Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are all six hours behind China.

2。 About currency and exchange rate: (2065438+April 2008 exchange rate)

Currency of Montenegro: Euro. 1 euro =7.8 yuan RMB.

Currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina: convertible marks. 1BAM=3.95RSD

Serbian currency: Serbian dinar. 1RSD=0.07 yuan.

3。 About changing money and withdrawing cash at ATM

Except Montenegro, these three countries use the euro, and the other two countries use their own currencies, but general accommodation, small shop shopping and larger restaurants can all be settled in euros. VISA and MASTER credit cards can be used in most areas of these three countries, but ATMs in these three countries can't use China UnionPay to withdraw cash for the time being, so you should prepare cash before traveling to these three countries. I have half dollars and half euros in cash. In Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, US dollars or euros can be exchanged for local currencies.

There are several exchange shops on the first and second floors of the arrival hall of Serbia airport, but after I entered the country at 10, I thought about changing some local currency just in case, only to find that these exchange shops were closed. In Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are many money exchange shops in the cities I have been to, while the capital cities such as Belgrade and Sarajevo have higher densities.

4. Voltage and socket:

Voltage: 220 volts

Socket: European standard double-foot round-headed socket

5。 About visas

As I said before, these three countries were chosen because Serbia is exempt from visas for China passports, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is also exempt from visas for valid US visas. When I left the country, I prepared a return ticket. The border inspection staff only looked at the boarding pass and didn't ask me for a ticket.

I have seen people write before that they even entered Montenegro without American or multiple Schengen visas. This self-driving experience feels that it is difficult to enter Montenegro without a valid visa from a designated country. When I entered Montenegro from Bosnia and Herzegovina, my companion's passport was full of visas, so the staff did not find an American visa, and specially asked my companion to go into the studio to find out. My American visa is on my old passport, but I forgot to give it to the staff together with my new passport. The staff also asked me to help them find a valid American visa before releasing it.

6。 On the transit of the three countries

This time, I drove through three countries and wrote about the process of driving through these three countries.

Driving to the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can see a building similar to China's expressway Toll Station in 1990s, which is the entry and exit port of Serbia. All the people in the car are crossing the border in the car, so there is no need to get off. At the Serbian border, a staff member first came to collect the fare of 100 Serbian currency, and then drove a few meters to the Serbian border, which was a bit like a high-speed toll station in China. Check everyone's passport and car license, ask where to go, and then let us pass. More than ten meters ahead is the entry and exit port of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and passengers on the bus don't have to get off. Give their passports and car licenses to the staff and fly first class. We entered Bosnia and Herzegovina with an American visa (if the American visa is not a valid passport, we must hand in both the old and new passports), and we were allowed to enter Bosnia without asking any questions. Remember to check whether the passport has an entry cover after customs clearance.

From Bosnia and Herzegovina to Montenegro, the procedure is basically the same as Serbia's entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina, except that there is no need to pay for a car. They will read the American visa on the passport carefully and then let us pass. After entering the country, you should also check whether there is an entry and exit stamp on your passport.

The procedures for entering Serbia from Montenegro are similar to the above, but I don't know why the entry and exit ports of Montenegro and Serbia are not connected, which may be 10 km away. I left Montenegro for a long time and didn't see the entry port of Serbia. I was a little confused at the time. I saw a policeman stop by the side of the road to find out the situation. The police told me to go straight along the highway and reach the port of entry in Serbia. At that time, I was in the middle of two countries and didn't pay attention to which country these policemen came from. I don't know which country I should thank for writing here. Hahaha!

7。 About insurance:

This self-driving trip in the Balkans, Panshan Highway is nearly 2000 kilometers, and there are many unstable factors in the journey. So I bought an Allianz European Schengen visa before I left-global guarantee, which can be paid by WeChat. After payment, the insurance policy will be sent directly to the filled email address and printed. Its coverage and claim mode (online claim, direct payment, quick and convenient) are very suitable for me in go on road trip in the Balkans.

8。 Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro's self-driving strategy

I don't know if there are not many expressway in these three countries because of their geographical location. Belgrade, the Serbian capital, has a free expressway leading to nearby cities, but it has never sailed to expressway, which is far away from the capital. Bosnia and Herzegovina left Sarajevo for Mostar and only opened about 20 expressway, but other cities did not see expressway. Montenegro didn't see expressway directly, but it was a winding mountain road. The road conditions of the main roads in the three countries are good, but the roads to the scenic spots in the mountains are some ordinary, and some are gravel roads and mud roads. When you drive to these three countries in rainy season, you must know the road conditions of the scenic spots before you can move forward.

Although there are many Panshan highways in these three countries, the highway design is very reasonable. Just follow the signs on expressway and overtake in the area where you can overtake. When you need to slow down, you can drive safely if you want to slow down. Especially in Montenegro, a country that has never driven a straight road, it is necessary to follow the signs on expressway to ensure safety.

I bought a round-trip ticket in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. In the design process, I started from Belgrade, entered Bosnia and Herzegovina to the southwest, then entered Montenegro to the southeast, and returned to Belgrade from Montenegro to the north. Full ride 12 days. Except for Novi Sad, Serbia's second largest tourist city, other routes will not go back.

As always, choose China's largest overseas car rental platform for Chinese. Before going abroad by car, I had an unpleasant experience with the local car rental company and had a little accident. After you come back, contact the car rental customer service to solve the problem smoothly, and praise the after-sales service of car rental. Excellent service and smooth communication are the reasons why I always choose to rent a car when driving abroad.

When I booked a car on the car rental platform before departure, I confirmed to the customer service that the car I chose can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina by car as long as I pay a transit insurance premium. When I picked up the car, I told the car rental company that I was going to these two countries, and then the credit card was pre-authorized as a guarantee, so I could pick up the car smoothly. Yes, once again, when renting a car, you must buy super all risks on the car rental platform. Super total insurance on car rental is cheaper than the insurance of car rental company. If there is an accident, you can communicate directly in Chinese when you come back, which is simply the gospel of my English.

Travel strategy on the road These three countries, like China, drive on the left and on the right, and the traffic rules are basically the same as those in China. As European countries, all three countries require low beam driving lights when driving during the day. Expressway in these countries generally has two lanes, the right lane is the conventional lane and the left lane is the overtaking lane. The local people have good driving habits. After overtaking on the left, they will consciously return to the right lane immediately until the next overtaking, so when driving in these three countries, we should try not to occupy the left lane. Write down some things you need to know when driving in these countries:

1。 About driver's license

China driver's license is recognized in all three countries. As long as you bring the English translation of China driver's license and driver's license or the international translation of driver's license, you can rent a car and drive in these three countries.

About speed limit

The speed limits in these three countries are basically 20-40KM in cities, 40-80KM in ordinary highways and 80- 130KM in expressway. The actual speed limit is subject to the site signs.

On this trip to the Balkans, I saw police from three countries checking cars and measuring speed on the roadside, so we drove very well. Although there are also speeding, we all follow the local cars, which is not too much. Not long after we left Serbia and entered Bosnia and Herzegovina, we turned a corner and were stopped by the police on the downhill road. The police's English is not good. While speaking Bosnian, they wrote some figures in the book, saying that I was driving at 80km/h in expressway with a speed limit of 50km. On the Panshan Highway with a speed limit of 50 kilometers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I dare to drive 60KM kilometers at most. At that time, my speed was estimated to be 55KM. So we argue in English, perhaps because the language is unreasonable, or because the police feel wronged. After a few words, they returned my certificate and let us continue our journey.

In these three countries, go on road trip, remember not to drive too hard. I really don't know when a policeman will wave to you.

About traffic rules and signs:

A. fasten the safety belt for the whole vehicle.

When driving in Europe, both the driver's seat and other accompanying personnel must wear seat belts. If there are children, they must be equipped with child seats. If someone in the car is seen by the police not wearing a seat belt, they will be given a ticket.

B. Manners of pedestrians

Courtesy to pedestrians is the expression of a country's civilization. Pedestrians have the highest right of way under normal road conditions, and motor vehicles should take the initiative to give way to pedestrians. At intersections or zebra crossings without traffic lights, you must stop to make way for pedestrians. If there are traffic lights, follow them.

C. Vehicles at the roundabout have priority.

There are many circular roads in Europe. Vehicles in and out of the roundabout have the right to drive. When entering the roundabout, you must stop to let the cars on the island go first.

D. Don't overtake on the right, and don't occupy the overtaking lane for a long time.

Overtaking on the right side is strictly prohibited in Europe, which is illegal! Pay attention to the overtaking sign when overtaking. There are many sections where overtaking is prohibited. Once you overtake, you have to return to the right lane.

E. Get out of the way on the main road

Cars on the main road have absolute right of way. When driving into the main road from the auxiliary road, you must stop at the intersection to make way and avoid grabbing the road. 2。 About picking up the car

Belgrade's airport is not big, and car rental companies basically arrive at the lobby. When you find the company, you will usually freeze a sum of money in the credit card when you show your car ticket, driver's license+translator, passport and credit card. The frozen amount of different models is different, and it will be thawed after returning the car. Because I have to drive across the border, I rented a manual diesel version of Renault station wagon, and I need to pay 9 euros of transit insurance every day.

After completing the formalities, follow the car rental company to the parking lot to check the car. The staff will tell the car what oil it needs, whether it needs to be returned with full oil, and explain some precautions. If there is no problem, you can drive away from the airport and start driving!

3。 About the right of way

The straight lane has the right of way, and vehicles in the auxiliary lane must give way when entering the main lane; Cars in the roundabout have the right of way, and cars entering the roundabout must give way to cars in the roundabout; At unmarked intersections, cars coming from the right have the right of way; When the bus leaves the bus stop, the bus has the right of way and must give way; Some cities will have taxi and bus lanes, and other vehicles are prohibited from entering these lanes; When someone gets off at an electric station without a pedestrian refuge, the driver must stop until the passengers return to the sidewalk;

When emergency vehicles are dispatched, other vehicles need to make way for them.

4。 About parking

Parking is too important for self-driving travel! In some small towns, parking is generally free, while in small cities, parking is generally charged from 8 am to 5 pm, and parking is free at night, weekends and public holidays. In big cities, public parking lots and roadside parking lots are charged, except for the free parking lots inside the community.

If the sign of the parking place is "P", there are many words written below, which may be that special vehicles (such as taxis) have stopped; See a single "p"

It's free; If there is a mobile phone pattern under the "P", it is a paid parking space. If it is a paid parking space (no one charges), if you buy a local calling card, you can edit a short message and send the license plate number according to the number below the brand. After deducting the phone bill, you will get an hour of parking time, and you can send it again before the expiration of one hour. Deducting the phone bill will also extend the parking time by another hour. If you don't have a local mobile phone, you can buy parking tickets from a nearby newsstand for one hour at a time and buy as many as you want to stop for a few hours. Scrape off the corresponding date and time to show when you started to stop and put them in front of the window.

Don't worry too much if you receive a parking ticket in Serbia. If you pay the fine within the specified time on this ticket, the cost is similar to parking for one day. I forgot whether it was a week or ten days. If it is paid within the prescribed time, the fine will be doubled. So remember to pay at the post office within the specified time when you receive the ticket.

10。 About refueling

Refueling in these three countries is not cheap, close to 8 yuan a liter. The cities in these three countries are not far away, and there are gas stations along the way, so don't worry about refueling.

1 1。 About drone shooting

Before departure, I sent an email to apply for the legal use certificate of the drone, but I sent more than a dozen letters, and I haven't got a clear commitment from several departments. So I use drones on this trip, all on the mountains or in uninhabited scenic spots.

12。 Photographic equipment for this trip

Canon 6d+17-40mm /F4+24-105mm/F4

GOPRO6

Drone-Xiao

13。 About this stay

The accommodation in this trip is a hotel in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, and other cities have chosen B&B. People in the Balkans are very enthusiastic. Staying in B&B can have a lot of communication with local people and have a good experience. The homestay I stayed in this trip was very good except that the two cities were slightly dissatisfied.

If it is go on road trip, I strongly recommend my accommodation in Belgrade, Sarajevo, Kotto and New Pazar. The landlord is excellent and gives us excellent travel advice and help.