It's not exactly recent (4 years ago), but travels to Moldova were included in a book I wrote (that is now out of print). You can download it for free if you're interested here.

Hi, travelled through a couple of years ago with no problems, border crossings were about 40 minutes each. Andy

Thanks folks ,,,, for great wealth of info ,,
I started from S.Korea on a Harley Road King,, over Siberia.
Sitting in Odessa ,, Tomorrow 5AM I start for Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Durres, Albania then to Bari, Italy by Ferry,, Final destination is Milano,,, which will give me the RTW.
Any more input here on latter mentioned countries,,would be much appreciated.
PS.. Hate Fxxxing ,, pot holes ,, Harley's worst enemy. Many unpleasant memories of Russia!!!!!!!!!!

Joe, see PM.
I'll be leaving home again in a day or two for the Balkans, and your doing it in the opposite direction... would be nice to meet if that's possible... I'm planning to come to SKorea next year (or at latest 2014)!
The putholes are from Odessa on how you are driving ok. As long as you stay on the big road, you will almost not encounter any. The road is not as smooth as in W-EU but for your bike ok!

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Thanks Seb ,, EM sent ,,, noted your tel no.
You will be welcome in Korea ,, also I plan to list all the biker places, where HUBBers can stay free and fix their bikes.

Left Odessa at 7AM..150 km to kiev,, great road then turned west to Moldovan border for 80km..of pot holes...no kafe.. Then greasy Moldovan...immigration and customs...soon Transnistria ... Went thru four borders..while my immigraton card disappeared..Moldovan cop took 30 bucks for not havig Moldovan insurance when there is nowhere to buy them...
In Chisinau.. Found a nice hotel for 90 euro...pool...bike in the closed garden gate...Vis Pas...very friendly ..Feel like I am in Palm Springs this hotel. Pics at my site. Shower ,, din din and to bed for Bucaresti manana ,

Lol... ;-)

I was able to buy the Moldovan insurance in Ukraine, but I also did pay 55€ for two bikes, so it's almost the same...

See you in a week or two!

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Thanks, much appreciated.
Cheers
Chris

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To danielsprague, I think bad experiences can be found everywhere we go on this earth. But how is it someone would set out on an adventure without a bit of research on such things as exchange rates? What did you pay for at the border? All airports and border crossings have outrageous prices, for the dumbasses that wait until the last minute to get something they need. It's the same in the US, UK, Western Europe. Restaurants have menus with prices, if they don't that is a sign to leave.

I am an American living in Romania and although my Romanian is pretty good now I can't think of any instance of a situation that would have led to me getting ripped off. I foresee the worst and expect that from people, scum, con artists and murderers are everywhere. So your opinion is completely misguided about Romania. Bucharest can be a bit crazy sometimes, but it's fun.

I don't appreciate being called a dumbass by someone I've never met.

The thing in question was a motorway vignette, which I do not believe is available in advance. Maybe you too should consider thinking a bit before posting.

I agree, people can have bad experiences everywhere. But my opinion is based on experience. Maybe my experiences mis-guide me about the country. Maybe it was coincidence. But that is my impression, whether you agree or not.

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Hardly the statement of an intrepid traveller, if one deliberately expects the worst of people travel is unlikely to be a rewarding experience.

Perhaps being an American and coming from the sickening home of capitalism, with the worlds highest crime rate, litigation rate (and perhaps irrelevantly obesity rate) makes you more immune to thinking the best of people.

Everyone gets caught out once in a while, the man who thinks he has never been is probably such a 'dumbass' he doesn't even realise its happened. . . .

Back to Moldova a good idea?

Danielsprauge, I wasn't calling you a dumbass, but if you took it as that then so be it. Just so you know, romvignete is not required for motorcycles in Romania. My point was, even in western countries there are traps at the point of no return for those that haven't thought things out. Rompetrol gas stations just inside border crossing offer the vignette, if it's for a car I pay I think 120 RON (26 euro) for an entire year. They do offer it 1 week, 1 month and 1 year, maybe other durations as well. It's required anytime the vehicle leaves it's registered area. I only pay for my car as my motorcycle is exempt.

liammons, quite the contrary, I didn't claim that I had never been taken advantage of, but the last person that tried found out the hard way. I grew up poor, so I know what a dollar means. America isn't the only place in the world with high crime, high rates of obesity and capitalistic views, so you can get off that high horse of yours. You don't know my experience or what it is that I do, but I have seen the worst of mankind and I know that at the drop of a dime all humans are capable of terrible things to fulfill their own greed. This doesn't stop me from traveling or inhibit my joy of meeting new people. I love traveling, learning new languages and seeing the kindness of strangers.

On to Moldova, it's a wonderful country. Things may be a little uneasy with what is going on in Ukraine but for the most part those younger then 30 or so relate with Romania more than Russia. Research prices ahead of time and everything is open to negotiation in Moldova. Avoid fancy nightclubs or the guys that look like Russian gangsters, because they are. Other than that, you will have a great time.

Please put a picture as an example so we can recognise them :confused1:

GRTZ

JP