TR AVEL ADVIC E Trav elling in B o snia and H erzego v ina W h en plan n in g a trip abroad it is good to be aw are of an y requ irem en ts th at th e cou n try you are visitin g h as in place, su ch as drivin g regu lation s an d w h at type of passport or visas you m igh t n eed in order to en ter. O n th ese pages you w ill fin d u sefu l in form ation abou t travellin g to B osn ia an d H erzegovin a to h elp you prepare for you r trip. C U L T U R E B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina is a n ide a l pla ce to vis it fo r the a dve nture s e e ke r. It is the true cro s s ro a ds be tw e e n Ea s t a nd W e s t a nd m a ny w ill be e ncha nte d by the co ntra s ting culture s. W hile yo u m a y no t find to p o f the ra nge w e s te rn s tyle s e rvice s a nd fa cilitie s, yo u w ill find pe o ple to be w a rm a nd frie ndly w ith to uris ts. B o s nia ns w ill a ctua lly go o ut o f he ir w a y to he lp yo u a nd it is no t unus ua l to be invite d in fo r a co ffe e o r te n. The o fficia l La ngua ge s o f B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina a re B o s nia n, Cro a tia n a nd Se rbia n but w hile lo ca l pe o ple a tta ch gre a t im po rta nce to the na m e o f the s e la ngua ge s, in pra ctica l te rm s, the y a re a s clo s e to e a ch o the r a s B ritis h a nd A m e rica n Englis h a ltho ugh s igns m a y be in Cyrillic a lpha be t in Se rbia n s pe a king a re a s o f the co untry. So m e o f the m o s t co m m o n B o s nia n phra s e s yo u m a y find us e ful to kno w w he n vis iting a re : Doba r da n H e llo / Go o d Da y Z dra vo H i Do viđe nja / ća o / Z dra vo Go o d B ye Da /Ja Y e s N e ne h N o Molim P le a s e H va la Tha nk yo u Da li go vo rite e ngle s ki? Do yo u s pe a k Englis h? O tvo re no / Z a tvo re no O pe n / Clo s e d Muš ka rci / Ž e ne - Ge nts / La die s Ka m p / Ca m ps ite Y o u ca n a ls o re fe r to o ur Cro a tia a nd Se rbia pa ge s fo r co m m o n phra s e s if vis iting Cro a tia n o r Se rbia n s pe a king a re a s o f B o s nia. Many pe o ple, e s pe cia lly yo ung pe o ple, s pe a k Englis h; tho ugh a tte m pting ba s ic gre e tings in the lo ca l la ngua ge w ill be co ns ide re d a s po lite a nd a ppre cia te d. W e the re fo re re co m m e nd inve s ting in a phra s e bo o k to he lp yo u during yo ur s ta y. C U R R E N C Y The curre ncy o f B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina is the co nve rtible m a rk (Konve rtibilna Mara ka o r KM). The KM is pe gge d to the Euro (1.95 KM fo r 1 Euro ). Most s ho ps w ill a cce pt pa ym e nt in Euro bills, us ing a 1 to 2 ra tio, but e xpe ct yo ur cha nge to be in KM.
B a nking H o urs B a nk a re ge ne ra lly o pe n Monda y to Frida y, 0800 hrs to 1900 hrs. So m e ba nks a re o pe n o n Sa turda y (no rm a lly fro m 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs ). Cre dit Ca rds & A TM The re a re m a ny A TMs in a ll m a jo r to w ns a nd citie s a nd B ritis h po unds a nd o the r m a jo r curre ncie s ca n be e xcha nge d a t ba nks a nd bure a ux de cha nge. The y a ls o s w a p yo ur le fto ve r KMs ba ck into a ny o f the s e m a in curre ncie s. A ltho ugh cre dit ca rds (V is a a nd Maste rca rd) a re incre a s ingly a cce pte d in m a jo r to w ns, yo u s ho uld no t re ly o n the m. Make s ure yo u ha ve a ll the ca s h yo u ne e d be fo re le a ving m a jo r to w ns, a s it is ne xt to im po s s ible to find A TMs o r a nybo dy w ho a cce pts cre dit ca rd pa ym e nts in s m a lle r to w ns a nd villa ge s. Tra ve lle r's che que s a re no t w ide ly a cce pte d a nd it ca n pro ve difficult to e xcha nge the m. D R IV IN G IN B O S N IA A N D H E R Z E G O V IN A Driving re gula tio ns in B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina a re diffe re nt fro m tho s e in the U K. A lw a ys re m e m be r tha t the no rm a l rule is to give w a y to the right e a ch tim e yo u re a ch a n unco ntro lle d inte rs e ctio n. Tra m w a ys a lw a ys ha ve prio rity. The us e o f ha nd he ld m o bile pho ne s w hile driving is pro hibite d. Y o u m us t ha ve yo ur dippe d he a dlights o n e ve n in da ylight. The m a xim um s pe e d o n m o to rw a ys is 130kph (80m ph), 100kph if yo ur ve hicle is o ve r 3.5t, a nd 80kph if to w ing. Many drive rs unde re s tim a te dis ta nce s a nd jo urne y tim e s in B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina. P la n yo ur jo urne y ca re fully, ta king into a cco unt unkno w n ro a ds, w e a the r co nditio ns a nd fa tigue. Make s ure yo u ta ke re gula r bre a ks. To drive in B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina yo u m us t be 18 ye a rs o ld a nd ha ve a va lid U K driving lice nce, ins ura nce a nd ve hicle do cum e nts. If yo u do n t o w n the ve hicle yo u re driving, fo r ins ta nce if yo u ha ve a le a s e d ve hicle, yo u s ho uld ge t w ritte n pe rm is s io n fro m the re gis te re d o w ne r. A n inte rna tio na l driving pe rm it w ill be re quire d if yo u re nt a ve hicle in B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina. Y o u a re re quire d to ca rry ce rta in ite m s in yo ur ve hicle s uch a s a w a rning tria ngle a nd re fle ctive ja cke t. The re gula tio ns o n w ha t m us t be ca rrie d do cha nge fro m tim e to tim e, s o it is a dvis a ble to che ck the m o s t up to da te info rm a tio n be fo re yo u tra ve l. Fo r co m puls o ry a nd re co m m e nde d e quipm e nt a nd rule s o f the ro a d including blo o d a lco ho l lim it, click he re. A to ll cha rge is pa ya ble o n a s e ctio n o f the A 1 m o to rw a y to w a rds Sa ra je vo. Drive rs re ce ive a ticke t w he n e nte ring the m o to rw a y a nd ne e d to ha nd it to the o pe ra to r w he n e xiting the m o to rw a y. P a ym e nts ca n be m a de in B o s nia n Marks a s w e ll a s Euro s a nd de bit/cre dit ca rds. The cha rge w ill de pe nd o n the le ngth o f the jo urne y a nd the ca te go ry o f the ve hicle. More info rm a tio n is a va ila ble he re. P le a s e vis it o ur Tra ve l P la nning pa ge s fo r info rm a tio n o n w e ight lim its, e m is s io ns a nd m o re. Lo w Em is s io n Z o ne s (LEZ s ) a re pro life ra ting thro ugho ut Euro pe. W hile the num be r a nd va rie ty o f s che m e s m a y s e e m ba ffling, in fa ct m a ny a pply o nly to city ce ntre s a nd s o w ill no t a ffe ct the m a jo rity o f ca m pe rs. If yo u do w is h to vis it citie s w hile ca m ping, e ithe r cho o s e a city ce ntre s ite a nd us e the link be lo w to che ck fo r a ny a cce s s re gula tio ns, o r ca m p o uts ide the city s LEZ a nd us e public tra ns po rt to a cce s s the ce ntre. P le a s e click he re fo r m o re info rm a tio n.
H E A L T H / S A F E T Y The Fo re ign a nd Com m o nw e a lth O ffice m a y m a ke s pe cific tra ve l re la te d re co m m e nda tio ns fo r vis ito rs to B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina. Click he re fo r the m o s t up to da te info rm a tio n vis it. The De pa rtm e nt o f H e a lth do e s no t m a ke a ny s pe cific he a lth re co m m e nda tio ns fo r vis ito rs to B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina ; ho w e ve r yo u m a y like to che ck w ith yo ur do cto r be fo re de pa rture. H EA LTH The U K ha s re cipro ca l he a lthca re a gre e m e nts w ith B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina w hich e ntitle s yo u to fre e urge nt m e dica l o r de nta l tre a tm e nt. P re s criptio n m e dicine s, ho w e ve r, w ill ne e d to be pa id fo r. In pra ctice, ho w e ve r, the he a lthca re a utho ritie s m ight no t ha ve the im m e dia te re s o urce s to pro vide tre a tm e nt w itho ut cha rging. Me dica l a nd de nta l fa cilitie s a nd pha rm a cie s, pa rticula rly o uts ide Sa ra je vo a nd m a jo r to w ns a re a ls o lim ite d. The a gre e m e nt w o n t co ve r m e dica l re pa tria tio n, o ngo ing m e dica l tre a tm e nt o r no n-urge nt tre a tm e nt, s o yo u s ho uld m a ke s ure yo u ha ve a de qua te tra ve l ins ura nce a nd a cce s s ible funds to co ve r the co s t o f a ny m e dica l tre a tm e nt a nd re pa tria tio n. If yo u ne e d e m e rge ncy m e dica l a s s is ta nce during yo ur trip, dia l 124 to co nta ct the a m bula nce s e rvice dire ctly. Y o u s ho uld co nta ct yo ur ins ura nce /m e dica l a s s is ta nce co m pa ny pro m ptly if yo u a re re fe rre d to a m e dica l fa cility fo r tre a tm e nt. SA FETY A s w ith a nyw he re in the w o rld, it is go o d pra ctis e to be vigila nt a bo ut yo ur pro pe rty, bo th in te rm s o f yo ur m o to rho m e a nd pe rs o na l be lo ngings, ta ke s e ns ible pre ca utio ns to pro te ct yo urs e lf fro m pe tty crim e. Don t le a ve yo ur ha ndba g o r lugga ge una tte nde d. Le a ve co pie s o f im po rta nt do cum e nts w ith fa m ily a nd frie nds in the U K. Ca rry a pho to co py o f yo ur pa s s po rt fo r ID. The ris k o f la ndm ine s ha s de cre a s e d in the la s t fe w ye a rs, a s m o s t m ine s re m a ining fro m the w a r a re no w cle a rly m a rke d. H o w e ve r, yo u a re s till a dvis e d to e xe rcis e ca utio n w he n tra ve lling o uts ide m a in citie s a nd to w ns a nd, unle s s yo u ha ve a n e xpe rie nce d guide, a vo id the o pe n co untrys ide a nd a ba ndo ne d buildings a nd villa ge s. P A S S P O R T S / V IS A S P A SSP O RTS Y o ur pa ssport sho uld be in good co nditio n a nd va lid fo r a m inim um pe rio d o f 90 da ys fro m the da te o f yo ur e x it fro m B o snia a nd H e rz e govina. Sho uld yo u w is h to ta ke a pe t o n yo ur jo urne y, ple a s e s e e o ur Guide to Euro pe a n Ca m ping fo r furthe r info rm a tio n. If yo u inte nd to tra ve l o n o ne o f o ur Es co rte d Tours, ple a s e che ck o ur Tour P a ge s to find o ut w he the r pe ts a re pe rm itte d. V ISA S B ritis h na tio na ls do n t ne e d a vis a to vis it B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina fo r a to ta l pe rio d o f no lo nge r tha n 90 da ys w ithin a pe rio d o f 6 m o nths fo llo w ing yo ur firs t e ntry. Fo r a ll o the r type s o f tra ve l, co nta ct the Em ba s s y o f B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina in Lo ndo n. REGISTRATIO N A ll fo re ign na tio na ls m us t re gis te r w ith the po lice w ithin 72 ho urs o f a rriva l. Ca m ps ite s w ill us ua lly a rra nge this fo r the ir gue s ts.
B ritis h citiz e ns w ho w is h to re m a in in B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina fo r lo nge r tha n 90 da ys m us t a pply to the B o rde r P o lice fo r a Re s ide ncy P e rm it. A s w e ll a s a va lid pa s s po rt, the B o rde r P o lice re quire a B ritis h P o lice do cum e nt s ho w ing tha t yo u ha ve no crim ina l re co rd in the U nite d Kingdo m. The B ritis h Em ba s s y is n t a ble to is s ue s uch a do cum e nt. Conta ct yo ur lo ca l po lice a utho rity in the U nite d Kingdo m be fo re yo u tra ve l. S H O P P IN G Sho pping ho urs a re no rm a lly fro m 0800 to 2000 in m a jo r citie s a nd to w ns, w ith s upe rm a rke ts o pe n until 2200 (the y clo s e e a rlie r o n Sunda ys ), the da ys o f o pe ning va ry fro m a re a to a re a but e xpe ct m o s t s ho ps to clo s e by 1800 in s m a lle r to w ns a nd villa ge s. T IP P IN G It's no rm a l to ro und up the bill a nd po s s ibly a dd a bit e xtra. In s o m e pla ce s yo u m ight w a nt to be m o re ge ne ro us, pe rha ps 5% o r m o re, but the re 's no ha rd a nd fa s t rule. A 10% tip in ta xis is cus to m a ry. T IM E Z O N E S GMT + 1 ho ur, w ith Sum m e r tim e (fro m the e nd o f March to the e nd o f O cto be r) be ing GMT + 2 ho urs, s o tha t thro ugho ut the ye a r the co untry is a lw a ys o ne ho ur a he a d o f the U K. T O U R IN G B O S N IA A N D H E R Z E G O V IN A W e run a n Es co rte d Tour to B o s nia a nd H e rz e go vina w he re yo u ca n e xpe rie nce a ll the w o nde rs o f this fa s cina ting co untry in the co m fo rt o f yo ur o w n unit - Find o ut m o re a bo ut o ur Es co rte d Tour o f the B a lka ns.