Nikatkins23

Well this is my first time on any forum. I have done all the beginning steps like get a passport, I'm buying a ticket to london in July, but other than packing and such I don't really know what to expect or what to plan. This is my first time out the country, my first time traveling alone, and my first time camping out for so long. I wanted to visit for about 3 months depending on what happens. I just want to know how everyone else's camping experience was, what I should bring, and just some general information about my first big trip. I'm a 21 year old male and I'm not really nervous about my adventure. More excited really. But any and all information would be grateful.

Also I don't really know anyone in Europe.

nukesafe

Sounds a wonderful adventure, Nick. You don't say where you are from, but you should know that if you are not a citizen of a Schengen country your stay will be limited to 90 days.

Also, I might suggest that you also post on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa as that Forum tends to be populated by a much younger crown than the elderly old farts that inhabit this Forum. We will certainly be willing to help answer any of your questions, but few of us are into backpacking/camping. It would also help to know a bit about you, i.e., your interests, budget, etc. so we can give you more focused advice.

nytraveler

Many of the people on this forum are of more mature years and not very many of us are camping across europe.

So while we can provide info on itineraries, sights, etc to get info on details I would look at the site mentioned above and also google camping sites.

But you need to be aware of a couple of things:

Camping sights are typically outside of the larger cities and you may spend a significant amount of time and money getting from where you camp to the places where the sights are (obviously not true in the countryside)

Wherever you enter europe if you are young and look like you will be camping you may receive extra attention from the Immigration officers. They will probably ask you where you will be staying your first night (you need to know and have a reservation), if you have enough money to support yourself (cash, CC, proof of how much you have in the bank) and that you have a health insurance policy (they don't want you to be a charge on their free medical care)

Also to note; Switzerland and Scandinavia are VERY expensive - expect everything from food on up to cost at least twice what it does in the US (a big Mac meal can be the equivalent from $18 to $20).

Nikatkins23

Thank you very much for the tip! I'm flying into London in early July and then just visiting the various countries. How would I be able to make my trip longer than 3 months if I wanted? Also my budget is going to be around $2,000. I plan on buying at local groceries stores and finding the cheapest accommodation when it comes to campsites. I'm always willing to meet to people and just hoping for the best cultural experience.

nukesafe

The rules for the Schengen countries says you can stay 90 days in any 180 days on as a tourist. That means you can stay for 90 days, and then go to a non Schengen country for 90 days and then you can come back for another 90 days. To stay for longer requires a special visa and all sorts of stuff, which makes it quite difficult. Suggest you use the search function on this Forum for more information; it is discussed often.

thursdaysd

$2,000 for three months???

janisj

Even camping I don't see how you could do 3 months on $2000. You will have higher transport costs since you'd be camping outside the city centers.

That is only £630/€500 per month. Even a bare bones budget would need to be nearly twice that.

indy_dad

<i>That is only £630/€500 per month. Even a bare bones budget would need to be nearly twice that.</i>

I'm too lazy to do the actual math, but I think the GBP number is supposed to less than the Euro number.

Perhaps &pound;430/&euro;500. Not much at any rate.

thursdaysd

I suppose it could be done with couchsurfing or squatting - remember the scruffman threads? But he stayed put a lot, and slept for free. The OP will be paying to camp (or risk getting picked up as a vagrant) and moving around. He also may have trouble getting IN to any European countries if he can't show means of support - don't remember how the scruffman handled that.

PatrickLondon

The Schengen countries have a common travel area and entrance permit. Countries outside that agreement have their own requirements.

You'll need to work out which countries you want to visit, and check their immigration requirements accordingly to make sure you don't inadvertently fall foul of the rules. In addition to the advice above about having evidence of financial support (and a return ticket), don't carry anything on you that might suggest to a suspicious official that you might be thinking of trying to work in their country or staying on for a longer term.

Nikatkins23

So I have to have a return flight in order to even stay in countries. I am fine with bare bones that doesn't bother me. I am a Massage Therapist and was hoping to somehow look/find a job while I was over there. I plan on biking, walking, and busing for most of the trip. Anything I can do to make this trip easier and less expensive I will. I don't consider myself to be like a bum because I have a trade that can be used all over the world. I really appreciate all the help you given me. I now see that I have a lot of planning to do still. Any information on what areas I should avoid for expenses and and how I could extend my trip? Again Thank you for the help, I really want to do this.

thursdaysd

You will be admitted as a tourist. It will be ILLEGAL for you to work while you are there, taking work away from legal residents.

Nikatkins23

How might I become a legal resident say in Spain or Italy? I have these 3 months and then the 3 months while I'm over there.

thursdaysd

You can't (short of getting married). You can't support yourself without working, which means a work visa. To get that you need an employer to offer you a job - BEFORE you travel - and they would probably need to demonstrate they couldn't employ a local instead, which for massage services would be virtually impossible. Go to SE Asia. It's cheaper.

Nikatkins23

I don't understand. How can people spend their lives traveling the world if you can only spend a few months at a time in each country. I see of people all the time who just pick up and leave and stay on the road for years. I'm not saying your information is bad in any way but I'm saying there has to be other ways to gain citizenship or stay longer than 90 days. I don't mean to sound trite but this is so confusing to me. I'm getting mixed signals from sight to sight saying I can work and become a citizen then others saying I have no chance.

thursdaysd

I suggest you ask the people you are "seeing". A lot of people freelance over the net on the road, which is probably technically illegal in Europe but not prosecuted. However, it would be a bit difficult to give a massage over the net.

I have spent up to 10 months on the road at a time, but I am retired and living on my pension. Plus I have dual US and UK citizenship, so don't have to worry about the Schengen 90 day limit - which is relatively new.

"sight to sight [sic] saying I can work and become a citizen" - links, please.

Nikatkins23

Would it be easier for me to get a dual citizenship in the UK?

jamikins

Are you eligible to get UK citizenship?

You cant just move wherever you want in the world and 'get' citizenship. You have to meet immigration requirements.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/br...p/eligibility/

If you are eligible then yes, that would allow you to travel and work in the EU.

Nikatkins23

I appreciate the help. But how can you become a citizen if you are not aloud to stay for a certain amount of time? Would it be easier for me to become a citizen if I acquire a working visa and how hard are those to obtain? Again, thanks to all of you for the help. I have 3 months till my trip and after all this information I feel a little more at ease. I now realize that you can't just go and live wherever but I do want to try to live in Europe if there was any way to do that.

StCirq

There are a few countries that enable you to get a second citizenship (Ireland is one of them, and I have Irish citizenship as well as US, so I can stay in Europe for as long as I like), but you have to meet the eligibility requirements, and pay for it. Otherwise, if you overstay the requirement (in your case, 90 days), you become an illegal alien and risk arrest, deportation, banishment from further travel in the country, etc. It's not as though people can just go anywhere in the world and stay there - that's what immigration law is all about. Surely you're aware of all the controversy right here in the USA regarding illegal immigration.

Having a skill (in your case massage therapy) that is useful all over the world does not make you legally employable anywhere but in your country of citizenship. If you accept money for services in any country but your own you are violating the law. You need a work permit, sponsorship by an American company, or long-term visa, none of which I can imagine you're eligible for. And with your stated budget, you may well just be turned away at the point of entry at whatever airport you turn up in. Authorities there will want to know how you intend to support yourself while visiting and how you plan to return home (ticket).

With current technology, you are pretty much traceable anywhere in the world these days, and subject to significantly more scrutiny than in the past, so I'd take these matters seriously. What you WANT to to and what is POSSIBLE for you to do legally and without repercussions may be two different things entirely.