Carnets required for Slovakia/Ukraine

[AllanW]

I'm planning a trip over to the Ukraine in September - we'll be passing through Czech Republic and Slovakia on the way. Does anyone know if we are going to need a Carnet? Thanks for your help!

[whele]

No, Czech Republic nor Slovakia require a a Carnet if your just traveling with a car /bike which is register in UK. If you are taking lot of very expensive equipment such as cameras or computers (over £5000 worth) it would be in your best interest to have this itemised and stamped at the border.

Enjoy Slovakia if your going by bike, I was there last year and its fantastic, great roads and not much traffic.

[AllanW]

Thanks for that Whele! But does anyone know about Carnets for getting into the Ukraine. I'm hoping to organise a group to go and visit the Chernobyl site around September, but if it's going to require carnets it may not be worth it.

[Belgiantrip]

no carnets needed for ukraina, but you have to buy seperate insurance at the border, and expect to pay roadtax when leaving (10-15$),depending where you leave, and hourlong borderques, like 10 to 12 hours

[AllanW]

Thanks for the info Belgiantrip - do you know if the worst of the queuing can be avoided if we cross during the week or early in the morning?

Regards, Allan

[moggy 1968]

early morning can be better, avoid monday morning or friday evening though. I did end up paying a guard 20E on my way back, a practice I loathe but the queue was massive, I was already late and it saved me a wad of time (only took me 6 hours!). I do tend to discourage this though as I think it just encourages the guards to be slow and inefficient so they can make more money! it as worse getting back into europe than out, which only took a couple of hours, same when I went to belarus a couple of months ago(12 hours to get back).

none of the eastern european countries need a carnet by the way.

A really nice way to get to czech republic is to head a little south and travel through the alps.

[colebatch]

Or skip the Czech Republic all together ... Go through the Swiss, Italian and Austrian alps then through to Slovakia.

Take your time in Ukraine ... its the sort of place where you slip away from every day life and soak up a different world. Dont rush through there.