I know that many people who travel for a long periods of time tend to try to stay on a tight budget and only take public transport or other cheap alternatives. This is especially possible when trains are included in the public transport. At the time of this writing, the domestic trains to most cities within #Serbia were not running due to maintenance on the tracks.

Buses or Rental Car? Now obviously, public buses will be the cheaper option, but they’re bound to be crowded, warm and only going from point A to point B. I’m a point X, Y and Z person, so having a rental car gives me that freedom. In addition, I can rent a car for $20-30/day. This is expensive compared to the public bus, but in my mind, well worth the benefits of having my own car.

How hard is it to drive in Serbia? First for all the Americans out there, you’ll be happy to know that they drive on the same side of the road and same side of the car as us. For all the prisoners of her majesty 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, you’ll have to adjust. 😉

What makes driving here difficult? As mentioned in a prior blog post, Serbians do not stay in their lanes. Many of the roads are very narrow two lane roads and it’s hard to tell which lane the oncoming traffic will stay in. 😱 I asked one #Serbian guy about this and he replied that most likely they’re trying to save $$ on gas. I don’t know if this is a metaphor for Serbians not “staying in the lines”, but regardless, it’s a road hazard.

In my blog on Travel Tips, I mention using offline maps in #GoogleMaps. I stand behind this, but be advised that #Google has taken me on some crazy rides. I’m tempted to call #Avis and let them know that their #Ford Fiesta does in fact have 4×4 😂. Even the locals get lost with Google Maps. That all being said, I still highly recommend downloading offline maps. This has saved my ass more than once. For my friends in #costarica, the roads will remind you of home.

Gas Stations – Gas (Petrol) stations are pretty easy to find on sides of the freeways and in most towns. Typically, I just drive up and hand the worker the amount I want put in (2,000 dinars fills up a quarter tank). I understand that you can also have them fill it up and then pay with card, but I haven’t tried that yet. Be advised that most gas station attendants won’t speak English.

How to pay tolls. Often when driving across the country, you’ll encounter toll booths. The first toll booth you encounter is where you push a button to get a toll ticket. At the next toll booth, you’ll hand it to the attendant and they’ll calculate how much you owe. It will show up on a small screen in front of you. You can pay with cash or card (including #ApplePay).

#CarPlay – I love CarPlay in my car back home, so imagine my surprise when my Ford Fiesta had it! What a Godsend! The best feature is the GPS navigation with Google Maps, but it’s also nice to play offline #Spotify music.

Final Thoughts on SUV vs Car – I survived driving here for a month with a car, but if I had to do it again, I would rent an SUV. The price is about the same and you’ll thank me when you get lost on that side road. 😅

I hope this article has been helpful. Leave a comment or question if you have one and I’ll try to answer ASAP.