Potential probs in Eastern Europe - advice needed please

[barrykirkham]

Planning a trip to the old "Eastern Bloc" in a couple of months' time (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia).
Have heard tell that Police/Customs in these countries can be very suspicious of these units and may even refuse to allow them to be imported or even confiscate them.

But that's all I have..."friend of a friend of a friend 3rd hand Travellers' Tales". Anyone actually visited any of these places with a Garmin in plain view and care to tell me of their experiences?

And while I'm here could I ask exactly the same Q about bike-2-bike radios?

TIA for your help, Barry

 

[Mick_rw]

Planning a trip to the old "Eastern Bloc" in a couple of months' time (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia).
Have heard tell that Police/Customs in these countries can be very suspicious of these units and may even refuse to allow them to be imported or even confiscate them.

But that's all I have..."friend of a friend of a friend 3rd hand Travellers' Tales". Anyone actually visited any of these places with a Garmin in plain view and care to tell me of their experiences?

And while I'm here could I ask exactly the same Q about bike-2-bike radios?

TIA for your help, Barry

Have never taken my GPS to those places but Garmin have dealers in all those countires so I shouldnt see that as a problem

Garmin Dealers

Mick

 

[PanEuropean]

I have been to all of the countries you mention (excepting Russia) with a GPSR mounted on the handlebar of my moto, and turned on when I crossed the border, and no-one ever paid any attention to it.

I have also been through Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary as well, again, no-one at the border had even the slightest interest in the GPSR.

So far as the GPSR goes, don't worry about it at the border crossing. However, be aware that in some of these countries, having a fancy electronic goodie like a GPSR on your handlebars pretty much screams out "I've got lots of money", which is not really the image you want to project, for personal security reasons. By example, I am in Angola this week, I might consider using the GPSR on the dash of the LandRover during the day within the big cities, but I sure would not have it in a visible location if I was driving at night, or in rural areas. It just attracts the wrong kind of attention.

PanEuropean

 

[barrykirkham]

Re: Re: Potential probs in Eastern Europe - advice needed please

Have never taken my GPS to those places but Garmin have dealers in all those countires so I shouldnt see that as a problem

Garmin Dealers

Mick

That's a really good pointer...many thanks, B

 

[barrykirkham]

I have been to all of the countries you mention (excepting Russia) with a GPSR mounted on the handlebar of my moto, and turned on when I crossed the border, and no-one ever paid any attention to it.

I have also been through Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary as well, again, no-one at the border had even the slightest interest in the GPSR.

PanEuropean

Many thanks...that's exactly the sort of experience I wanted to hear about, B