first trip to europe
Oct 7th, 2013, 06:58 PM
#1
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first trip to europe
Thanks in advance for talking with me. I am new to this. Our first trip to Europe. We are in our early 60's. We are very adventurous and healthy. We are selling our RV and going to Europe for four months in 2014 June, July, August and September. I would like to go to Switzerland, France, Italy, Rome, and Greece. Am I up against the 90 day visa? I would like to lease a car. We toured Scotland a few years ago for a month so I figure if you can drive in Scotland you can drive most anywhere. I love the Mountains and I love Greece, especially Paxos. Oh guess it is not my first trip to Europe, just my hubbies. Am I biting too much off trying to do Switzerland too? Can I drive all of this. Do I have time? I figured we would start up North in June and work our way down to Italy. Turn our car in there and fly over to Corfu. Any suggestions? Would love to hear from you all. Thanks! Ps. I also want to take a repositioning transatlantic cruise over and fly home.
Oct 7th, 2013, 07:27 PM
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Wow! It sounds like you have a great adventure ahead of you. With four months, I would think you can drive it. Peugeot used to have a lease option for 17+ days; you may want to google leases in Europe for more information. I don't think Switzerland is too much, but first you have to see where the repositioning cruise will take you, and then plan accordingly. You can probably fly/train to your first destination city if the cruise doesn't take you there directly.
Oct 7th, 2013, 07:30 PM
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I have no idea what a "repositioning cruise" is, but you come across as really giddy about this whole deal, and yes, if you're American, you can spend only 90 days in the Schengen Zone. You can't do four months without a special visa, and you won't get one just for wanting to do it. If you rent a car in one country and drop it off in another, you'll pay dearly for that.
Oct 7th, 2013, 07:41 PM
#4
>>Am I up against the 90 day visa? <<
You can't really do what you want - it will have to be 90 days or less. But you could go back to the UK for 30 days to fill out your 4 months.
A repositioning cruise would be great -- but have you located one that meets your timeframe? Most are between seasons, not during high season when the ship would want to be fully in place in the new market.
You can't really do what you want - it will have to be 90 days or less. But you could go back to the UK for 30 days to fill out your 4 months.
A repositioning cruise would be great -- but have you located one that meets your timeframe? Most are between seasons, not during high season when the ship would want to be fully in place in the new market.
Oct 7th, 2013, 07:46 PM
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St Cirq...a repositioning cruise is when a cruise ship heads to a new region in the world to begin the cruise season there. You can save a bit on these cruises although I do not know if they have ports of call along the way.
analaurin...We did a thirteen week trip a few years ago and did a Peugeot buy back car. It worked out great for us. We began our lease in Paris (after visiting there) and returned it in Rome (before out tie there). The additional cost was around $300 for returning in another country but it was money well spent for our situation.
I agree with traveling north to south. You will need to spend time in non-Schengen countries in order to stay under the 90 day limit. Not biting off too much trying to do Switzerland also. The Berner Oberland is gorgeous. You will not need a car there or in major cities so plan accordingly.
Happy plannning!
analaurin...We did a thirteen week trip a few years ago and did a Peugeot buy back car. It worked out great for us. We began our lease in Paris (after visiting there) and returned it in Rome (before out tie there). The additional cost was around $300 for returning in another country but it was money well spent for our situation.
I agree with traveling north to south. You will need to spend time in non-Schengen countries in order to stay under the 90 day limit. Not biting off too much trying to do Switzerland also. The Berner Oberland is gorgeous. You will not need a car there or in major cities so plan accordingly.
Happy plannning!
Oct 7th, 2013, 08:26 PM
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Michele said "You will need to spend time in non-Schengen countries in order to stay under the 90 day limit."
That's true, but the "under..." could be misunderstood. Just so you fully understand what you're "up against" with the Schengen rules:
You can be there for - at most - 90 days during any 90-day period. It isn't cumulative. If, for example, you fly in, stay a month, leave for a month, and come back, you can only stay for another month until the 90 days since your first entry run out.
I hope I made sense with this explanation- since you have allocated 120 days to this trip, take heed of an earlier poster who suggested tacking on a month in the UK (or Ireland - neither is a Schengen signatory) AFTER the 90 days in the Schengen countries have run out, to round out your 120-day vacation. Or spend a month there before moving on to the continent.
That's true, but the "under..." could be misunderstood. Just so you fully understand what you're "up against" with the Schengen rules:
You can be there for - at most - 90 days during any 90-day period. It isn't cumulative. If, for example, you fly in, stay a month, leave for a month, and come back, you can only stay for another month until the 90 days since your first entry run out.
I hope I made sense with this explanation- since you have allocated 120 days to this trip, take heed of an earlier poster who suggested tacking on a month in the UK (or Ireland - neither is a Schengen signatory) AFTER the 90 days in the Schengen countries have run out, to round out your 120-day vacation. Or spend a month there before moving on to the continent.
Oct 7th, 2013, 09:25 PM
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How exciting for you analaurin.
And how interesting, I don't have a hamster in this fight and didn't know anything about the Schengen agreement but just out of curiosity.
The OP could go to Croatia and then fly into the UK to round out her 4 month trip, right? As long as it's not in a Schengen area.
And how interesting, I don't have a hamster in this fight and didn't know anything about the Schengen agreement but just out of curiosity.
The OP could go to Croatia and then fly into the UK to round out her 4 month trip, right? As long as it's not in a Schengen area.
Oct 7th, 2013, 09:33 PM
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<i>The OP could go to Croatia and then fly into the UK to round out her 4 month trip, right? As long as it's not in a Schengen area.</i>
Yes as long as they aren't in the Schengen area more than 90 days.
Yes as long as they aren't in the Schengen area more than 90 days.
Oct 7th, 2013, 09:53 PM
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I may be wrong, but I believe Michelhuebeli may be incorrect. The rule is 90 days out of 180 and it is often interpreted as 90 in/90 out, but it is cumulative in that you can go in and out of Schengen countries as many times as you like, just no more than 90 in the 180 day period. When you have 90 days, cumulative, you must leave and can not return for at least 90 days.
Most of the repositioning cruises that you can get bargains on do go earlier than your suggested time. Some do stop in several ports, either in the Caribbean at the start of the cruise or at the end in Europe. We did it once, departing from Florida with stops in Spain and France and ending in Rome.
If you do wait until June to begin the trip, I would try to do an itinerary to visit one of the hot countries like Greece or Italy, then the Northern countries and return to another hot country in September.
Most of the repositioning cruises that you can get bargains on do go earlier than your suggested time. Some do stop in several ports, either in the Caribbean at the start of the cruise or at the end in Europe. We did it once, departing from Florida with stops in Spain and France and ending in Rome.
If you do wait until June to begin the trip, I would try to do an itinerary to visit one of the hot countries like Greece or Italy, then the Northern countries and return to another hot country in September.
Oct 7th, 2013, 10:04 PM
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<i>I may be wrong, but I believe Michelhuebeli may be incorrect. The rule is 90 days out of 180 and it is often interpreted as 90 in/90 out, but it is cumulative in that you can go in and out of Schengen countries as many times as you like, just no more than 90 in the 180 day period. When you have 90 days, cumulative, you must leave and can not return for at least 90 days.</>
You are correct. It is 90 days within a 180 day period. You can spend 30 in Schengen, go to Morocco for 30, go back to Schengen for 30, go to the UK for 30, go to Schengen for 30 then leave.
You are correct. It is 90 days within a 180 day period. You can spend 30 in Schengen, go to Morocco for 30, go back to Schengen for 30, go to the UK for 30, go to Schengen for 30 then leave.
Oct 7th, 2013, 11:03 PM
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Wow! Thanks everyone for all your info. So I get it, I can only stay 90 days.....bummer. So if you were me and had 90 days, could lease a car, or fly about, how would you see my time best used. I am really not one who likes big cities. I prefer the country sides, small villages,. Switzerland seems to be the most expensive area yet I know I would love the MTN's. So there is Switzerland, Venice, Rome, Italy and Paxos Greece. I don't have to do it all. I would prefer quality over quanity. I can always come back next year. Hope I sell my RV tomorrow....ha Maybe best to start with Greece and work my way up, seeing if there is time for Switzerland, but do I not have to book my pensions by January. I think I would like to book each area for a few weeks and use that as base and use my car to sight see around that. I have about four months to figure this out. Hope I don't bore you all with this. Best to all and thanks again.
Oct 7th, 2013, 11:21 PM
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90 days is still a lot of time.
You listed Switzerland, Venice, Rome, Italy, and Paxos Greece.
In theory:
14 days in Switzerland
7 days in Rome
7 days in Venice
28 days exploring the rest of Italy
7 days in Paxos
And guess what? That's 63 days. You still have 27 to play around with and in your OP you said you wanted to see France as well. Add in 21 days for France and you have 6 days left for someplace else.
The above itinerary is complaint to Improvisor's Travel Rules of Three and I think few Fodorites would say that you're trying to see too much in too little time.
You listed Switzerland, Venice, Rome, Italy, and Paxos Greece.
In theory:
14 days in Switzerland
7 days in Rome
7 days in Venice
28 days exploring the rest of Italy
7 days in Paxos
And guess what? That's 63 days. You still have 27 to play around with and in your OP you said you wanted to see France as well. Add in 21 days for France and you have 6 days left for someplace else.
The above itinerary is complaint to Improvisor's Travel Rules of Three and I think few Fodorites would say that you're trying to see too much in too little time.
Oct 8th, 2013, 07:57 AM
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The car lease buyback program is the key to this plan, and there are limited places for pick-up and drop off.
I would start in Rome and end in France---perhaps Nice. I do not see how Greece fits at all.
I would be happy to suggest a viable itineray once you define the parameters---dates and start/end locations. Based on months and weather, I would start south and end north.
I would start in Rome and end in France---perhaps Nice. I do not see how Greece fits at all.
I would be happy to suggest a viable itineray once you define the parameters---dates and start/end locations. Based on months and weather, I would start south and end north.
Oct 8th, 2013, 09:33 AM
#16
>>>>Wow! Thanks everyone for all your info. So I get it, I can only stay 90 days.....bummer.<<<<
Yes, for the countries you mentioned, but it's different for the UK. You can stay 6 months there so if you wanted to stay 90 days in the countries you listed, yo could spend the rest of the time there (or other countries without the 90 restriction).
Yes, for the countries you mentioned, but it's different for the UK. You can stay 6 months there so if you wanted to stay 90 days in the countries you listed, yo could spend the rest of the time there (or other countries without the 90 restriction).
Oct 8th, 2013, 09:41 AM
#17
<So there is Switzerland, Venice, Rome, Italy and Paxos Greece>
OK sounds like you understand the 90 day rule now. As kybourbon mentioned just aboev, add the UK baci in to the mix if you want that extra month after your 90-days Schengen runs out.
Personally I perfer to travel by train and am not comfortable renting a car in a foreign country, but that's just me. It would be incredibly easy to see several stops in Switzerland (I love the Lac Leman area around Vevey and Montruex myself) and Venice and Rome, moving around only by train.
Sorry no experience with Greece.
OK sounds like you understand the 90 day rule now. As kybourbon mentioned just aboev, add the UK baci in to the mix if you want that extra month after your 90-days Schengen runs out.
Personally I perfer to travel by train and am not comfortable renting a car in a foreign country, but that's just me. It would be incredibly easy to see several stops in Switzerland (I love the Lac Leman area around Vevey and Montruex myself) and Venice and Rome, moving around only by train.
Sorry no experience with Greece.
Oct 8th, 2013, 10:09 AM
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A minor technicality, and it is the pedant in me doing this I know, but this is your second visit to Europe if you spent a month in Scotland. Scotland, like the rest of the UK and Ireland, is part of Europe, both politically and geographically.
If you are planning to spend the extra month in the UK then consider doing that first, then getting the train to France to pick up your lease car there.
Why those months? You do realise most of Europe will be on holiday for a large chunk of your time there, which will mean crowds, possibly traffic jams, and make accommodation much more expensive. The heat in southern Europe could also be pretty fierce during that time period.
If you are planning to spend the extra month in the UK then consider doing that first, then getting the train to France to pick up your lease car there.
Why those months? You do realise most of Europe will be on holiday for a large chunk of your time there, which will mean crowds, possibly traffic jams, and make accommodation much more expensive. The heat in southern Europe could also be pretty fierce during that time period.
