Optimus Rent a Car: Being in Macedonia for the first time

April 20, 2011 - PRLog -- The Republic of Macedonia as a landlocked country borders with Albania, Serbia and Kosovo to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south and  to the west. Capital of the country and in the same time the biggest city with more than 600.000 inhabitants is Skopje. Other bigger cities that you can easily reach with your Rent a Car are Bitola, Kumanovo, Prilep, Tetovo, Ohrid, Veles, Stip, Kočani, Gostivar and Strumica. With its 50 lakes and sixteen mountains higher than 2,000 meters (6,550 ft) including other large abundance of natural and cultural attractions, Macedonia is an attractive tourist destination for visitors. Republic of Macedonia is a member of the UN and the Council of Europe and since December 2005 when becomes a candidate for joining the European Union, the country intensively strives for its EU and NATO integrations.
If you reach Macedonia by plane, you will land at Alexander the Great Airport which is located on a 20 km distance from the capital city of Skopje. There is no a bus or train connection to Skopje, so the only option is the still unregulated taxi transportation with unlicensed taxi companies which can cost you a fortune, or the better solution to pick up a rent a car from a well maintained car fleet of Optimus Rent a Car  http://optimusrentacar.com/ and be free and comfortable in your movement. The car can cost you around 30 eur a day depending of the number of days you are about to use it. You will easily reach E75 international motor road and will enter Skopje from its East side. If looking for an accommodation, very close to the east entrance, 2-3 km, there is a 4 star Continental hotel with average room prices around 50 EUR per night and good food. If you want to be closer to the downtown city, there is a Holiday Inn, Hotel Center, Best Western Hotel, Stone Bridge Hotel, Arka hotel, luxurious Alexeander Palace Hotel and many other smaller private hotels with very good service and cuisine.  

In Skopje, on the biggest “Macedonia Square” you will see different monuments from Macedonia’s ancient and younger history. In the very center of the city, there is Street Macedonia which is full of cafe bars and restaurants of various types and cuisines, crowded with people during the day and especially during the night. On its south end, there is the Macedonian Museum, telling the story of Skopje’s Earth quake back in 1963. Do not miss the Skopje’s Fortress and Skopje’s old bazaar (Skopska Carshija) which is a very old part of the city with characteristic architecture and abundance of cultural events being held over there.  
After you have seen Skopje and tried its cuisine specialties, it is time to go to the Macedonia’s most visited touristic place and so called the “Pearl of the Balkan”, Ohrid. The bus transport is terrible and there is no train connection to Ohrid, so stick to your good Rent a car and prepare for a 170 km journey. With our low consumption cars it will be enough around 15 liters of petrol, but because you will use the car for driving around beautiful Ohrid Lake, have some 25 liters for any case. During summer, the temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, but again, don’t worry every car is equipped with air conditioning, a bottle of fresh water with you will always be of an advantage.
Half of the trip will take place on a high ways with speed limits up to 120 km/h, but always watch for the traffic signs for speed limit, as there are high ways looking like the same but with speed restriction up to 80 km/h. Especially between towns of Tetovo and Gostivar, or to be more clear, after the Third pay toll up to the forth Pay toll, keep it save and drive no more than 90 km/h, because police is always present on that part of the road. Keep driving and enjoy the beautiful mountains of western Macedonia. Somewhere on the middle of the trip, you will reach the highest point of the road where you will find a big resting area called “Straza”, stop there. Local bakeries make very tasteful specialties called “mekici”, take one and enjoy and breath the fresh air of the 1200 m above the see mountain forest. After one more hour you will reach Ohrid. There are many hotels in Ohrid with average price of 40-50 eur per night, but also there is a possibility for more economic accommodation by taking only room with bathroom for modest 10 eur per night. That will allow you to eat where ever you want and try the ohrid specialties.
Ohrid is famous for its 365 churches and rich cultural events and places with historic importance. You must visit the “Car Samoil Fortress” and the “Plaoshnik” church.
The most famous endemic type of fish is the Ohrid Throat which can be prepared on traditional Ohrid way, on a grill, or you can try the famous fish soup as a specialty too. If you are a type of man you want to try different dishes than you must order the Ohrid “Gomleze” and combine it with garlic “Makalo” which will make you cry, but those will be tears of happiness.
Night life in Ohrid is spectacular. For any tastes there are many bars and restorants, night clubs and discotheques, and spectacular boat parties.
Alongside the lake there are many beaches that are best places for relaxation, sunbathing and swimming in the one of the cleanest lakes in the world.
After you have enjoyed Macedonia, there is a Ohrid Airport where you can opt to leave your Rent a Car and leave with beautiful impressions and positive experiences.

Optimus Rent a Car whishes you pleasant times and convenient movement in the Republic of Macedonia.

http://optimuscarhire.com

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