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Old 13 Mar 2011
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Transiting Kaliningrad? Advice requested.

Hello All:

I'm planning on visiting the Baltic states this summer, riding in from Germany and Poland.

I'm unsure about whether or not I should visit Kaliningrad (the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania) or if it would be better (more trouble-free) to just ride a bit further east in Poland and then enter Lithuania directly from Poland.

I'm going to guess that I will need some additional insurance coverage (Kaliningrad, being Russia, isn't on the basic EU green card), but what other considerations are there?

Has anyone here in the HUBB passed through Kaliningrad? Was it worthwhile? Would you do it again?

Michael
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Old 13 Mar 2011
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I would imagine your biggest problem would be that you will need a visa to enter what is essentially part of the Russian Federation.
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Old 13 Mar 2011
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Most travellers go from Poland to Lithuania and v.v., as it´s easier. But sure you could probably do Kaliningrad if you really want.

Last summer I thought I´d leave Finland via St.Petersburg, then go to Latvia or Lithuania... turns out I´d need to pay in the region of 70 euros to get the visa (must use a travel agent, therefore upping the cost). So for me, wasnt worth the hassle, because I was only planning to stay in Russia for a very short time.

Russia, BTW, should be in the Green Card system these days. But there are often several restrictions, for example my insurance, I would not get the same cover, that I get in my home country, or other ETA countries. But what´s changed, I wouldn´t need to get insurance at the border.
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Old 13 Mar 2011
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I've been to Kalingrad, and I would definitely skip it, otherwise that's just two more PITA border crossings to deal with. Skip in and spend the time somewhere else.
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Old 19 Mar 2011
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while I,m sure it would be another border hassle,its a shorter route and i,ve only ever heard good things about the people there,even from from the russians themselves.
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Old 19 Mar 2011
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Thanks very much to everyone for the advice.

I think I'll skip Kalingrad on the motorcycle, and plan to make a more lengthy (and more leisurely) visit to Russia at some other time, perhaps not on the motorcycle.

Michael
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