Well I couldn't do it - since as an American I can only stay in Schengen 90 days and don;t know where I would spend the other two months. Also - I can't get the time off, not could the DH.

If I could get that much time off - and could somehow manage the Schengen thing we would probably do apartments for a couple of weeks at a time in favorite cities. In between do train or take road trips covering countryside and smaller towns.

If you're going soon, I think you should start south and move north as the weather heats up.

I think first you have to decide where you want to go and then you can choose means of transportation depending on your itinerary.

Make sure you have the whole Schengen country stays figured out. No more than 90 days in Schengen countries for your entire trip.

We spent three months on our last trip: England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. Had a lease car for two months. Really liked it.

Rented apts for one weeks stays in many locations. REALLY enjoyed that. Have picnics and do most of your own cooking to save money.

You will need to have longer stays in places to keep your sanity. Picking up and moving every few days will get old real quick.

I'm American...so I need to consider the Schengen Agreement as well...I am leaving on July 11th...so pretty soon. I know I would like to go to England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Czech Rep, Netherlands, and Ireland. Others I would like to visit...but may be too much-Spain, Greece, Turkey, Isreal, and Egypt. I do have some friends to visit in Ireland...and they prefer me to come in September if possible...but other than that..I'm open to where the wind blows.

Wow what a dream Id fly by the seat of my pants, find out of the way places, 'live' in cities and towns for longer than the usual 'Its Tuesday so this must be London' tour itinerary.... I'd use trains between big cities but hire cars to see the back roads and the small places. Enjoy!

For starters you can only be a total of 90 days in the majority of your list. So you'd need to spend a lot of time in the UK/Ireland/Middle East. Start from that given and use it to design your itinerary

Janisj...can you come in and out of Schengen zone? Ex..July in England...August in France and Italy, September in Ireland, October in Netherlands, Germany, Czech Rep, November in Hungary, Austria and Switzerland.....

yes - you can enter/exit Schengen. But the total days spent inside Schengen must be no more than 90. The clock doesn't reset when you exit the zone.

You could always apply for an extended holiday Visa...I'm not sure if they exist, but it's worth a shot..!

Ok...thanks so much for your information. Going up to my last post of a general route...Does that plan look doable? What about the weather in those countries during those months? What is the best way to travel? I am guessing mostly rail. I'll check into an extended holiday visa and see if it's an option.

"You could always apply for an extended holiday Visa...I'm not sure if they exist, " . . . the short answer is . . . they don't.

You need no visa for up to 90 days. For longer you'd need to apply for an extended stay visa from one of the countries. They don't give those out for vacationing.

"Going up to my last post of a general route...Does that plan look doable?"

I don't see a plan really - it is a list of 15 countries. Each of those have several/many major cities, scenic regions, tourist areas, so what specific places (or types of places) interest you?

90 days in Schengen every 180 days.

There are a couple of maps on this link so. You can arrange your schedule to spend two of your months non-Schengen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area

Are you sure you'll be granted entry to the U.K. without documentation (return or onward ticket) evidencing your intent to leave the country within 6 months?

And evidence of sufficient finance?

Be careful. UK, though not part of Schengen, often police people's stay in Schengen, and if they exceed 90-in-180 days allowed, they are refused entry into UK. Their rationale seems to be, if they flout one set of immigration rules, they can't be trusted not to do the same in UK.

You may have trouble entering the UK with a one way ticket and no set plans to leave. We are really clamping down on immigration here and it would look like you could be planning to stay indefinitely. Be sure that you have the address and details of your hotel and a plan of when you are going to leave. It old be best to plan that part and be able to advise how you are leaving...

How can I thank you all enough for your input? I didn't buy a return ticket because I wasn't sure where I would end up...but I definitely plan on leaving at the end of November/early December....So I guess I can't just "play it by ear" as much as I would like. So here is what I have planned...but not sure if or how it would work and would love to see what ya'll think:

July 11-31 UK-London, 3 days: London, Bath, Cotswolds, York,
Edinburgh,Stratford, Warwick, Blenheim,North Wales, Wells/Glastonbury/Avebury

Aug 1-31-France-Paris, Versailes, Normandy, Lorire
Spain-Madrid, Barcelona
Italy-Milan, Venice, Florence, Cirque Terre,Siena, Sorrento, Rome, Tuscany

September1-30-Ireland

October 1-31-Netherlands-Amsterdam
Germany-Munich, Black Forest, Bavaria, Berlin


November 1-

Sorry didn't mean to send: Continued:

Add to October 1-31-Czech Rep-Praque
Hungary-Budapest
November 1-28-Austria-Innsbruck, Salzberg, Vienna
Switzerland, Lucerne, Bern, Interlaken

That won't work. You are only spending 50 days out of Schengen and 121 in Schengen. You can only stay in Schengen 90 days in a six month period. Scroll down on the link I gave to the second map. You have to pick non-Schengen countries for 81 days of your stay (your total stay seems to be 171 days). 90 days Schengen, 81 days out of Schengen.

I would switch France/Italy from August (too hot) with the Oct. itinerary (Germany too expensive for Octoberfest if you are on a budget).

Maybe because my email got cut in two...but I am spending July and Sept in UK and Ireland-that's the 50 days out of Schengen. I am spending August, October and November in Schengen....up to the 90 day limit. That works...right?
I could do the switch...no problem for weather and budget. Thanks for the thought.

Not if you are spending all of August - 31 days, all of October - 31 days and all of November - 30 days .

Hi Tamara-first of all, I'm jealous. I spent nearly 4 months in Europe in 1996-from early September until mid December. I started In London, then went to Scotland, Ireland, Paris, Germany, Sweden, back to Germany and then the S. of France, Italy, Switzerland and then back to Paris to fly home. I learned very quickly that I didn't need to see every museum or historical site in every place I visited, it just gets too overwhelming and exhausting. I recommend taking your time-which you have, thankfully-and going at whatever pace feels comfortable to you. You will be back so if you miss a major site or attraction, you'll see it next time. I traveled around with a Eurorail pass and stayed in hostels. If I were doing it now at my age I would probably pick some major home bases and try and stay a week or so in each spot and do day trips from there, maybe renting a car in some areas if your budget allows. Traveling as a single woman is fun and you'll be amazed at how many other solo travelers you meet-I ended up traveling with 2 different American women on my trip and 15 years later (gulp) we are still friends.
Figure out what your major interests are (food? Art? History? Nature? etc) and plan your itinerary with a focus on that. Trying to see/do everything is not fun. You may even want to save some time at the end of your trip to go back to a place you felt you didn't see enough of.

Trains are great - tremendous - often two an hour going everywhere - also overnight trains between many cities - save on a hotel cost and cover long distances whilst you snooze. Great sites for info on European trains and railpasses which anyone traveling so extensively should consider - check out www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and superb IMO European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of suggested rail itineraries in many countries (http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/rg011210.pdf)

You'll have to fine tune you Schengen/non-Shengen days.

But a red flag I see is your time in the UK. You have 5 full months, yet you are dashing around the UK like a chicken sans head.

3 days in London? W/ jetlag and such that is almost a 'why bother?' stopover. Then in 2.5 weeks you want to cover everything from Glastonbury to Edinburgh / York to Wales. That pace will be exhausting, you won't see too awful much except in transit.

You have FIVE months. Sloooooow down and come back alive.

And do sort out your return ticket - just to make UK, Irish, and Schengen border agents happy . . .

No - you're still overstaying in Schengen - granted only for a few days - but I would spend more time in the UK (you;re giving in short shrift so add a week) and take a couple of days from your Auf, Oct and Noc plans.

As for getting into the UK - if you have no ongoing tickets I wold defiitely have paperwork proving your hotel in London, informatin showing when you will leave the country and proof of your financial stabiity (besides credit cards it might help to have a bank balance showing a nice large balance - realistic for hotels and trael for 5 months. Whatever you do, don't talk abut staying with friends or relatvies - this is a sure sign of a potential illegal immigrant - and like a red flag to a bull.

Changed my schedule based on input mostly about weather for certain areas....This is a heavy schedule...most likely will settle more in one area per country and travel where I can if time allows. Input appreciated....

July 11-Aug 2 UK- London, Bath, Cotswolds, York,
Edinburgh,Stratford, Warwick, Blenheim,North Wales, Wells/Glastonbury/Avebury

Aug 2-30-Hungary-Budapest-Austria-Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbrook-Switzerland, Lucerne, Interlaken, Bern

September 1-30-Ireland-Dublin, Kilkenny and Belfast

October 1-31-France-Paris, Versailes, Normandy, Lorire
Italy-Milan, Venice, Florence, Cirque Terre,Siena, Sorrento, Rome, Tuscany

November 1-28--Netherlands-Amsterdam
Germany-Munich, Black Forest, Bavaria, Berlin
Czech Rep-Praque

Thanks for advice on travel....hostels...apartments...etc...