Searching Tools
Below are some tools, available on websites as well as smart phone Apps, but as per Trip Advisor, Balkan Viator is not updated.BusTicket4.me can be used for actually purchasing the ticket as I did to buy the ticket from Kotor to Tirana. It is based in Montenegro, therefore for tickets in Montenegro, it is quite reliable.
https://www.rome2rio.com/
https://busticket4.me/EN
https://www.balkanviator.com/en/
Rental Cars
RentalCars.com
For the first time, I used RentalCars.com, a major booking website under Price Line, a major US online booking with products like Booking.com.
They are quite easy to use and in my experience, it is always cheap to book online in advance.
This trip, I used twice, in Slovenia and Bulgaria.
In Slovenia I used Avant Car and in Bulgaria I used Yes Rent A Car, as the result of the search at RentalCars.com.
As the lesson learnt, don't by the Full Protection from the web booking agent, but buy directly at the local rental car companies.
The benefits are, the local companies will bear all the liability and no need to put a big deposit.
If we use the Full Protection from the online booking agent, they said, in case of incidents, I need to pay first myself, then after submitting police reports etc., my money will be reimbursed.
The good thing from RentalCars.com was they were willing to accept the cancellation when I said I bought the Full Protection from the local companies.
Avant Car in Ljubljana (Slovenia)
They had office between the train station and the old town.
They recommended to purchase their Full Protection.
If we don't buy the Protection, we need to deposit EUR 1500.
So I bought the Full Protection from them and cancelled the Full Protection from RentalCars.com.
I returned the car at the airport, they have office in the airport.
Since I returned earlier, they returned some money to me.
GPS Navigator rental cost EUR 10 per day, so I didn't rent it.
Yes Rent A Car in Sofia (Bulgaria)
Relatively small company, I think.
They have office near the main train station, but it is not always attended, we need to call them.
I returned the car at the airport. Their office is in Terminal 1, but I could return in Terminal 2, the staff came to the rental car parking in Terminal 2.
Driving in Slovenia
Used Google Map to drive from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, then to Bohinj, via Vrsic Pass to Soca Valley, then to the caves and Pirana, and finally to the airport.
The road condition in Slovenia was quite good, enjoyed the driving there. The driver manner was good.
Petrol Station was self service.
To enter the old town in Pirana, special direction was required, since Google Map leaded to a blocked street.
Driving in Bulgaria
The road condition was not as good as in Slovenia.
Some potholes at smaller streets. Driving manner was good.
Used Google Map to drive from Sofia to Buzludzha monument, then to Plovdiv and back to Sofia Airport.
Petrol Station was manned and had free window cleaning service.
Many has cafe and ATM, some has restaurants.
Filled at a station on the way to airport (1 litre = BGN 2.02).
To enter the old town in Plovdiv, special direction from the hotel was required, since the direction by Google Map leaded to a blocked street.
Adria Airways
Slovenian airline company.Used this time between Vienna-Ljubljana and Ljubljana-Sarajevo.
Quite small company, and there is no entertainment on the plane for short flight.
Only water was provided.
I booked myself for Ljubljana-Sarajevo at their website.
The baggage was not included, so I added during the booking.
I paid EUR 85 in total.
Vienna International Airport
Quite good with fast Wi-Fi and some restaurants (one with Vegan Japanese Curry) and shops.I passed the immigration to enter Schengen Area (since I flied from Qatar), then transfer to flight inside the Schengen Area (to Slovenia). I didn't have my boarding pass yet, but I could enter the security showing the booking only, while my boarding pass was issued on the departure gate.
Sarajevo International Airport
The free wifi was only 15 minutes.There were only taxi to the city, so I booked the transportation from my hotel for EUR 10.
Some ATMs.
Sarajevo Bus Terminal
15 minutes by Tram 1 (KM 1.60) from the old town.Google Map showed the correct tram time and direction.
The bus terminal was in the back of train station.
Since I had time, I went to nearby Twisted Building to the top to see the view of the city (paid KM 1 coin).
The post office was also nearby.
Consolidated ticket sale for all bus companies.
Bus Sarajevo - Mostar
About 3 hours bus drive.KM 20.
Departure time from Sarajevo: 06:00, 06:50, 08:15, 09:00, 09:55, 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:00, 16:45, 17:00, 18:00, 19:55
Mostar Bus Terminal
Located not far from the old town.Credit card is accepted for buying tickets.
Bus Mostar - Kotor
Departed at 07:00 in the morning.Arriving about 15:00 at Kotor Bus Terminal.
KM 70 (about EUR 35). Considered expensive since 20 hours bus to Belgrade cost about EUR 25.
The bus took the longer route, passing Podgorica and Niksic (Montenegro).
Kotor Bus Terminal
Located about 10 minutes walk from the Old Town wall.Toilet was EUR 0.5.
Bus Kotor - Tirana
Twice a day by different travel companies.I took the one by Old Town Travel for EUR 28.50, departed at 08:30.
Bought through internet at busticket4.me, then asked hostel staff to print out.
Luggage fee EUR 2.
Bus Ulcinj - Skoder
There is no direct bus from Ulcinj to Tirana, so we need to transfer in Skoder.From Ulcinj to Skoder was about 1.5 hours. EUR 6
Bus Skoder - Tirana
There is bus station in Albania, the hostel lady in Ulcinj informed me.Getting off the bus from Ulcinj, I asked the driver where to get into the bus to Tirana, and he pointed out the location across the roundabout.
The bus was small like a van, and it waited more people to get in. I think it is called "furgon".
I borrowed toilet from a nearby small restaurant.
I remember I paid Lek 300 for the bus.
I took about 3 hours. The car got flat tire in the middle.
We got off in a place about 15 minutes walk from the main square.
The route was quite scenic, with the view of mountains, river and lake, sit on right side for better view.
One toilet/coffee stop at a cafe with nice view of the lake.
Bus Tirana - Podgorica (Prizren)
It seemed true that bus terminal is non-existence in Albania.The bus going to Kosovo early morning, departing from a small street behind Tirana International Hotel at the main square.
The hostel guy informed me that the bus going to Podgorica was not going to Prizren, and he adviced me to get off at a place near the highway then hitchhike to Prizren. However, when I paid the ticket and got into the bus, they accepted me going to Prizren.
In actual, they put me in transfer to smaller bus to Prizren at a location not far from the border, and it was included in the price (EUR 10).
Bus Terminal in Prizren
There is bus terminal, but in actual I got off and in outside the terminal.It is located about 15 minutes walk from the main bridge/square.
I asked help from a local travel agent, located not far from the bus terminal, to keep my backpack while sightseeing the city.
Bus Prizren - Podgorica
About 3 hours driving.I got off at the street, not at the bus terminal, then walked along the big road to the pedestrian street Mother Theresa Boulevard.
Bus Podgorica - Skopje
About 3 hours driving.Since it passes Turkish Old Town, you can get off here if you stay in the Old Town, rather than going to the bus terminal.
Skopje Bus Terminal
ATM is available.Taxi to Unity Hostel cost EUR 3 by negotiation (the hostel staff informed EUR 2).
From the hostel back to the terminal, the taxi used meter and it was around EUR 3.
Bus Skopje - Ohrid
MKD 450. About 3 hours.I got off at Tamara market in Ohrid, as advised in hostel website, but then I took a taxi to Sunny Lake Hostel for about EUR 2. Actually it was walkable distance.
Bus to Sveti Naum
Public bus, only 3 buses a day, from Ohrid to Sveti Naum, 08:30, 11:30, 13:30, from Sveti Naum to Ohrid, 12:10, 14:10, 16:10, cost MKD 110.Departed from bus stop, just off the old town main pedestrian street.
Some taxi drivers offered same price to Sveti Naum for shared ride, maybe less comfortable if they push in more passengers in the car.
The public bus stops in the water museum on the way.
Bus Terminal in Ohrid
There are 2 bus companies, but the location of their terminal is close to each other.Ticket is sold individually by each company, no credit card, and only local cash.
Toilet only at the cafe.
Bus Ohrid - Sofia
I took the direct bus from Ohrid to Sofia by Delfina Tour, for MKD 1,550.The direct bus available only every other day, my hostel confirmed it for me.
The bus was small, like a van, not as comfortable as big bus.
Departed from Ohrid at 19:00 and arrived in Sofia Bus Terminal at 03:30 (one hour time difference with Sofia is later one hour than Ohrid).
I remember we stopped 3 times, with one stop at Skopje bus terminal.
Sofia Bus Terminal
There are 3 as per my Arukikata guidebook, I arrived at the one in the Train Station.Arrived at 03:30 in the morning, all was closed, except I saw one cafe downstairs open.
Even the train station was closed.
Taxi in Sofia
It has bad reputation and recommended to request your accommodation to call one.The taxi is using meter, but as per guide book, many of the meters have been modified.
The staff in the Mall of Sofia told me only to take taxi with these phone numbers:
9732121
91119
91280
91263
Sofia International Airport
Quite small and few shops.The business lounge is quite simple too.
