Comments on: Roma to Ciudad Miguel Alemán http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/ Callum on life Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:09:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew Chant http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41536 Andrew Chant Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:31:26 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41536 Indeed, as I said for S. America you've gone with the right option. The whacking deposit in Thailand was beyond belief - they set it at double the new value of the bike - about GBP15k. Do you think I'd have got that back if I'd ridden out through Aranyapratet or Sungai Golok? Maybe I would but I'm sure it wold have been like blood out of a stone. Never ship a bike into Thailand - overland it's completely different. Indeed, as I said for S. America you’ve gone with the right option. The whacking deposit in Thailand was beyond belief – they set it at double the new value of the bike – about GBP15k. Do you think I’d have got that back if I’d ridden out through Aranyapratet or Sungai Golok? Maybe I would but I’m sure it wold have been like blood out of a stone. Never ship a bike into Thailand – overland it’s completely different.

]]> By: Callum http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41534 Callum Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:18:44 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41534 My thoughts about it being phased out are based on Wikipedia comments about countries loosening their requirement of a Carnet. Honestly, I've no idea, I haven't done any research, it's just a feeling I get. Most of the stuff I've read says a Carnet is not required and not worth getting. Perhaps that's times changing, perhaps it's purely my perception. Paying $30 per country plus a great whacking deposit that I get back, in total, seems a lot better than $100 a month in money I never get back, or $50 a month in money I never get back plus a great whopping deposit. As you rightly said, horses for courses... :-) My thoughts about it being phased out are based on Wikipedia comments about countries loosening their requirement of a Carnet. Honestly, I’ve no idea, I haven’t done any research, it’s just a feeling I get. Most of the stuff I’ve read says a Carnet is not required and not worth getting. Perhaps that’s times changing, perhaps it’s purely my perception.

Paying $30 per country plus a great whacking deposit that I get back, in total, seems a lot better than $100 a month in money I never get back, or $50 a month in money I never get back plus a great whopping deposit. As you rightly said, horses for courses… :-)

]]> By: Andrew Chant http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41533 Andrew Chant Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:13:38 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41533 "If I was going to ride through a few countries where it was obligatory, I’d probably get it" You'd have to get it, doh! I don't get the feeling it's being phased out at all. The list of countries where it's accepted / obligatory is almost identical to when this 'living in the past' fossilised old fart used one back in 1990. Bolivia and Thailand were and still are two of the few countries that haven't signed on. Bolivia was funny, they happily tore the half page out of the carnet and then brazenly demanded a 30 buck bribe anyway (no other paperwork). Thailand demanded a gigantic deposit so I 'donated' them my precious bike! “If I was going to ride through a few countries where it was obligatory, I’d probably get it”
You’d have to get it, doh!
I don’t get the feeling it’s being phased out at all. The list of countries where it’s accepted / obligatory is almost identical to when this ‘living in the past’ fossilised old fart used one back in 1990. Bolivia and Thailand were and still are two of the few countries that haven’t signed on. Bolivia was funny, they happily tore the half page out of the carnet and then brazenly demanded a 30 buck bribe anyway (no other paperwork). Thailand demanded a gigantic deposit so I ‘donated’ them my precious bike!

]]> By: Callum http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41532 Callum Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:51:05 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41532 I count 23 countries where it's required (excluding Senegal and Egypt). Some of those would surely be fun to visit on a bike, India, some of the middle eastern countries, some African countries for example. But even the base cost of $650 is a lot of cash for a permit that's good for a year. If I was going to ride through a few countries where it was obligatory, I'd probably get it, but it seems like most places are phasing it out. I'd guess it'll disappear entirely as each country starts their own system. I count 23 countries where it’s required (excluding Senegal and Egypt). Some of those would surely be fun to visit on a bike, India, some of the middle eastern countries, some African countries for example. But even the base cost of $650 is a lot of cash for a permit that’s good for a year. If I was going to ride through a few countries where it was obligatory, I’d probably get it, but it seems like most places are phasing it out. I’d guess it’ll disappear entirely as each country starts their own system.

]]> By: Andrew Chant http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41531 Andrew Chant Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:31:11 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41531 Horses for courses amigo. It worked well for us and we had the cash, although I do think it's got significantly more expensive. I think we also had some sort of bank bond so didn't have to pay insurance. I guess if you're sticking to S.America then no carnet is probably the way to go - in a lot of countries elsewhere it's obligatory. Horses for courses amigo. It worked well for us and we had the cash, although I do think it’s got significantly more expensive. I think we also had some sort of bank bond so didn’t have to pay insurance. I guess if you’re sticking to S.America then no carnet is probably the way to go – in a lot of countries elsewhere it’s obligatory.

]]> By: Callum http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41527 Callum Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:15:58 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41527 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnet_de_Passage#Americas_2" rel="nofollow">Countries requiring a Carnet in the Americas</a>, none. <a href="http://www.caa.ca/travel/travel-carnet-e.cfm" rel="nofollow">Cost of Canadian CAA issued Carnet</a> $650 plus <a href="http://www.caa.ca/travel/travel-carnet-insurers-indemnity-table-e.cfm" title="Cost of CAA Carnet insurance" rel="nofollow">insurance</a>. According to <a href="http://www.caa.ca/travel/travel-carnet-cost-calculator-e.cfm" title="Calculate the cost of a Carent de Passages de Douane" rel="nofollow">CAA's cost calculator</a>, total to pay, $1'622, net cost after all refunds, $1'203.50. Contrast that with the $30 I paid to import the bike into Mexico and the $100 I paid for 6 months insurance. The Carnet works out at $100 a month, after the refund. Plus all the hassle of renewing or returning it at the end of the year, how do I return it if I'm currently in a country, etc, etc. Thanks for pursuing it, now I'm more convinced than ever that it's not for me. :-) Countries requiring a Carnet in the Americas, none. Cost of Canadian CAA issued Carnet $650 plus insurance. According to CAA’s cost calculator, total to pay, $1’622, net cost after all refunds, $1’203.50.

Contrast that with the $30 I paid to import the bike into Mexico and the $100 I paid for 6 months insurance. The Carnet works out at $100 a month, after the refund. Plus all the hassle of renewing or returning it at the end of the year, how do I return it if I’m currently in a country, etc, etc.

Thanks for pursuing it, now I’m more convinced than ever that it’s not for me. :-)

]]> By: Andrew Chant http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41499 Andrew Chant Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:09:44 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41499 Carnet's are still going strong - http://www.go-overland.com/indy/articles/carnet.php All the countries in N., S. and C. America accept them. It doesn't remove the need for insurance but I can guarentee you it simplifies the documentation drastically compared to what you went through. Carnet’s are still going strong –
http://www.go-overland.com/indy/articles/carnet.php
All the countries in N., S. and C. America accept them. It doesn’t remove the need for insurance but I can guarentee you it simplifies the documentation drastically compared to what you went through.

]]> By: Callum http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41480 Callum Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:05:46 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41480 The carnet de passage wouldn't remove the requirement for insurance in Mexico, nor simplify any of the border paperwork. I'm not sure they'd even accept it. You seem to be stuck in the past mate, the world has moved on from the days of Carnet de Passages... ;-) The insurance requirement is only in Mexico and one or two other countries. In Mexico, it's a felony not to have insurance on a vehicle used on the road. I didn't need it at the border, but if I got into an accident I'd probably be taken to jail until they could figure out blame if I didn't have Mexican insurance. For $100 seemed better safe than sorry. :-) The carnet de passage wouldn’t remove the requirement for insurance in Mexico, nor simplify any of the border paperwork. I’m not sure they’d even accept it. You seem to be stuck in the past mate, the world has moved on from the days of Carnet de Passages… ;-)

The insurance requirement is only in Mexico and one or two other countries. In Mexico, it’s a felony not to have insurance on a vehicle used on the road. I didn’t need it at the border, but if I got into an accident I’d probably be taken to jail until they could figure out blame if I didn’t have Mexican insurance. For $100 seemed better safe than sorry. :-)

]]> By: Andrew Chant http://www.callum-macdonald.com/2009/12/10/roma-to-ciudad-miguel-aleman/comment-page-1/#comment-41387 Andrew Chant Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:41:39 +0000 http://www.callum-macdonald.com/?p=1861#comment-41387 I can't help thinking a Carnet de Passage would be easier. Especially if you've got to go through all that at every border. With the carnet there's no fee, someone tears one side out on entry and the corresponding side out on exit. Simple, free and possibly takes you out of paying insurance? We never had insurance anywhere except the USA and even that was eventually declined we found out as we were leaving LA! I can’t help thinking a Carnet de Passage would be easier. Especially if you’ve got to go through all that at every border. With the carnet there’s no fee, someone tears one side out on entry and the corresponding side out on exit. Simple, free and possibly takes you out of paying insurance? We never had insurance anywhere except the USA and even that was eventually declined we found out as we were leaving LA!

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