Unbelong to Belong

Before I start writing the multi piece blog post on my Balkan trip, I wanted to put out the effort that went into preparing, apps and websites used and general warning

Planning for the Balkans is complicated to say the least and needs the most effort, simply because there is not much information out there on trains, buses etc for people who travel using public transport. For people with cars, well, except for bad and rash drivers, not much of a concern.

Flight tickets: I usually check flight tickets from Google Flights which gives me a reasonable understanding on cost and time etc thereby allowing continuous refinement of itinerary

Train schedules for Slovenia can be found quite easily but the tickets cannot be booked online. Tickets have to be bought in person and usually can be bought a few minutes in advance. Be forewarned about holidays as it can be an issue. Also, the legend is not the same. Sometimes, buses can be booked from railway station but it will be confusing as it might not be mentioned as bus.

Buses can be booked by using Flixbus for Slovenia and Croatia. For Bosnia, use GetbyBus which gives all possible options. Buses from both is reasonably on time with a +/- 30 minute arrival time. Print tickets and copies always because different bus companies have different practices and not consistent. Luggage in bus hold will be charged most of the time at a rate of 1 eur per bag

Luggage storage can be found at Railway and Bus stations and charge a nominal price

Read on travel websites and blogs to find more about the places and countries. Lots to discover and may cause travelers regret if research is not adequate

Confirmation from Embassies etc is good to have and Bosnian embassy officials promptly replied to queries

People from Balkans speak passable English and are very helpful but still chances are high you will be ripped off for a few euros in some places

Food: if you are a non vegetarian, lots to try but for vegetarians, there will be a lot of struggle as these countries are not known for vegetarian cuisine.

Guided tours are convenient and cost effective in Bosnia. I recommend Ihouse Travel in Mostar, Bosnia and Slovenia Explorer in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Always better to check with places such as Skocjan caves and Vogel ski resort regarding timings and trips as during off peak season, tours may not be available and will be a nasty surprise

Have Here WeGo for offline navigation and Google Translate handy and loaded with the requisite information

When striking a conversation, be aware and mindful of the topic. Tito, Milosevic, Serb-Croat war can be a touchy topic and unless indicated as willing to talk, do not approach the topic. Different people hold different opinions and can get ugly real fast.

Smoking inside a restaurant is quite prevalent and people light up a lot

All said, Balkans are a joy to visit and have so much to offer that some of the bloggers I follow have made it their home and continue exploring.

All said, Balkans has lots to offer through out the year and enjoy exploring

Nik