Bike cover in Albania
 

Hi

I am taking a trip out from the Uk to Eastern Europe then down through Romania and Bulgaria before heading back up through Albania and Croatia. My insurance company will issue an extended Green card as the trip is over 90 days and will cover me in all countries except Albania.

Can anybody out there recommend a company who would cover this, or have any other hints on the above based on their experiences. They also had a problem with Croatia which I though a bit strange, however they have come back and said they will do third party only.

Cheers
Kev

Hi,

I have been to Albania last year, if you are not covered from your insurance, you can pay for a local insurance directly at the custom(compulsory) the price should be € 10 per week.

Cheers

Hello Kev

Out of interest, which insurance company offered you the extended green card?

Cheers

--Mike

I went through Albania last year, don't remember there being any great drama, fantastic country! It has one of the best places in Europe for sure, from Tirana head up towards Macedonia, a great climbing set of switchbacks brings you to a col with th ebest view of a massive alpine lake (lake Orchis). I reccommend the Qoran (fish native to the lake) - several little lakesdie building will sell you one. Then head to Greece and revel in the riding as the tarmac promptly vanishes...

p.s
 

my insurance didn't include Albania, at the border you can buy tax+insurance for not much - but they did say that if I had green card this would suffice (my insurance wouldn't issue one!)

Thanks for Info
 

Hi

Thanks for the info.

I had read about the lake on the Macedonian border and was hoping to pay that area a visit. From your reply Henry it looks like you had a great time down there!! Were the roads as bad as they say?

With regards to my green card Mike, the company I am currently with is Equity Red star. It did state on my policy that it would only cover me for a trip of 60 days abroard however on contacting them through the broker (CIS Insurance) they will issue a green card for the rest of the six month trip at no extra cost. With the exception of Albania and only 3rd party in Croatia.



:thumbup1:
Kev

Caley

The roads are interesting, here is a very brief overview going from Bosnia (??) to Greece:
enter Albania (I came in at a TINY border, not sure if it is the main one), reasonable tarmac single lane road to wooden bridge (single lane, no sides and a transit that decided to cross from the other direction when I was halfway over), then a few miles of so so tarmac to a new road to Tirana.
Friendly cheap roadside b&bs everywhere.... seem to be mafia owned ('Joe' had the only brand new merc I had seen and said he was 'in construction'...)
Into Tirana - abandon all hope ye who enter here!! Seriously bad traffic, esp at rush hour, 5 lanes weaving constantly, no markings, no tarmac just hardpack with huge craters, homicidal trucks you name it. It was actually just desperation to leave the place that made me head for the sun until I was in the country and then ask directions for Greece - got very lost and ended up at lake Orchis - RESULT!!
Good roads most of the way, lots of roadbuilding activity, but not always signposted. I managed to ride off the end of a perfect condition piece of tarmac because it just stopped - the road had another few miles of building before it connected with the road it was supposed to be!

If you head towards Greece (south along lakeside) you get to some awesome winding stuff, bad or no tarmac in places, a few villages full of mud to go through. Fantastic stuff!

You will be sharing the roads mainly with old mercs and donkeys