Driving from Turkey to Ireland

Einhard

Hey all,
I'm living in the Middle East, and have a vague notion of driving home to Ireland in the summer of 2014. As driving from where I live would involve traversing Iraq and Syria, I was thinking of flying into Turkey, renting a car, and driving across the continent. I probably wouldn't drive all the way to Ireland because ferries would be too expensive, but I'd definitely like to make it to Amsterdam, maybe even the UK.

I'm only beginning to think of this now, but would appreciate if anyone hs any tips or ideas, or could point me towards information on such a trip. I'd especially like to hear about those who have already done it.

I don't want to zip home in 3 days. I want to take my time and have a look about the places I'm travelling through.

Thanks in advance.
EDIT: OR any advice on how to do it by train? I've done interrailing, but am 31 now so doubt I'll get the student deal!!

mimihops

Seat61 is worth a look for planning the train journey from Turkey - http://www.seat61.com/Turkey.htm

Sounds like a great trip!

davidlynchis

Im planning a trip this year but the other way; driving from Dublin to Sydney so it is possible!

I have interrailed around the area a good few years ago which was great but nothing beats a car. The one way fees for a car rental from Turkey to Amsterdam/UK must be extortionate though?

Would you consider buying a cheap car in Turkey or as soon as you get into the EU? So train a bit and then a car?

There's a lot of research required (e.g. insurance, driving licence, customs.....) but you seem to be starting early so you should be fine just keep reading!

Loads of people will say your mad to do this, its too expensive and all that. Don't listen to them, everyone I have talked to or read about say that it is completely worth it. Its a great trip you're planning. Definitely spend a bit of time in Bosnia, it is a brilliant spot.

schemingbohemia

Don't think renting a car to do it would be a runner, you'd pay a huge amount for a one-way rental from Hertz/Avis - they'd have to pay someone to bring the car back.

Either buy a car or perhaps even better might be a motorbike, and then sell it in France/Holland.

zagmund

Einhard wrote: »

I probably wouldn't drive all the way to Ireland because ferries would be too expensive

In the context of a trip like that, ferry prices will be very low. Think of how much you will spend on fuel, food & tolls, let alone accommodation on a drive of that distance. Then take a teeny tiny fraction of that and you have the ferry cost from France to Ireland.

z

davidlynchis

zagmund wrote: »

In the context of a trip like that, ferry prices will be very low. Think of how much you will spend on fuel, food & tolls, let alone accommodation on a drive of that distance. Then take a teeny tiny fraction of that and you have the ferry cost from France to Ireland.

z

+1

munchkin_utd

landbridge from France to Ireland via UK is cheap enough even in mid summer.
You'd be looking at about 140 each way incl the driver.

Einhard

Good points all. Lot to think about. The thing about buying a car is I'd have to make the return trip and wouldn't be able to drive all the way, so would have to abandon it in Ireland. But then, if it were cheaper than renting, it wouldn't really matter. Hmmm, good thing I'm starting this early!

tatli_lokma

I know a few people who have done the trip Ireland to Turkey. None of them particularly enjoyed it - it was mostly done out of necessity!

As for buying a car in Turkey that would be a non-runner. You would need to register it to a Turkish address. The way licensing and taxing works you would have to pay tax even if you leave the car in Ireland. You would also have to import a left hand drive car into Ireland and incur the cost of that. Bureaucracy in Turkey is quite hard to navigate even when you are familiar with the system and language.

I speak Turkish, am married to a Turk, have travelled in many parts of Turkey (even outside the tourist areas), have experience of driving in the country and even then I would not in a million years drive across Turkey!

And as I say friends who have driven across Europe into Turkey said it was pretty hard going, very tiring and at times very stressful.

Also trains are not great in Turkey. But the buses are very good, reliable and cheap. Internal flights are also very cheap. As are flights from Bodrum or Izmir to Germany and Holland.

hfallada

I have seen saudi and kuwait cars in Dublin ( you can tell by the licence plates). So I guess a ferry goes somewhere in the middle east to Europe.

But I know euro lines do bus from the far parts of Europe to the centre fairly cheaply. Plus they look pretty nice and have wifi.

munchkin_utd

these lads do a ferry connection from Saudi to Turkey with a little driving in Egypt required.
http://www.sisashipping.com/new/rotamiz.html

Havent a clue of times or anything as its in Turkish only and wont translate for me.

tatli_lokma

munchkin_utd wrote: »

these lads do a ferry connection from Saudi to Turkey with a little driving in Egypt required.
http://www.sisashipping.com/new/rotamiz.html

Havent a clue of times or anything as its in Turkish only and wont translate for me.

Go into rezervasyon link (fairly self explanatory I think!) and choose yeni rezervasyon (new reservation).

Tek Yön - one way
Gidiş Dönüş - return
KALKIŞ LİMANI - departure port
VARIŞ LİMANI - arrival port

on the next page the available crossings come up - if it is greyed out and followed by the word 'DOLU' that means it's full

they actually have a UK contact -
LONDRA: 30 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 7PL UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 2072410551

Einhard

Thanks for that, but getting a visa for Saudi is a b!tch.