Hi all,

thank you OGR for composing this, very interesting to read.

I knew that the RAC is expensive, but this is madness.

I rode an old Tenere around the world from 1999 to 2005 and I used three carnets over the ADAC in Germany (bike had a German numberplate and I have a German passport). I found them expensive (because I am not a member) and sometimes complicated to deal with (which my sister did). I needed three carnets because of Egypt, India, Japan (at that time), Australia and South Africa.

In 2009 I started another trip - mainly to the Middle East, Central Asia, China and South America. Swiss numberplate and German passport.

I did not buy a carnet, because I would not go to India, Australia, South Africa or Egypt (as far as I know the only countries you can not enter without a carnet)

The bike was stolen in Syria and lucky me, I did not have a carnet. So I did not continue thru Saudi, Iran ...

The carnet makes things easier at the borders and also cheaper. But look at the madness that OGR describes, you only support it if you buy the carnet.

And we are still adventure traveller and not all inclusive package tourists on two wheels, or is adventure only written on your petrol tank? As I learned on the road there is always a way. Sometimes it is very hard and sometimes it is easy. I entered Cuba, after at least fifty people said it is not possible, included Cuban embassy staff.

So, dont buy the carnet and just go .... if more an more travellers do this, the carnet system will go away, inschallah. Think outside the box.


My 2p worth

Greetings from Brazil

Mika