Also, If I provide bookings for my trip at the time of application of Schengen Visa and UK Visa - will they help in expediting the visa process?

I think you need to provide all your booking information to apply for schengen. How long it takes probably depends on the embassy you are applying at in India. I would start looking into that to get your info as that will be accurate, rather than us guessing.

This is a good place to start

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/in...en_visa_en.htm

If PalQ thinks we ought to, perhaps he might tell us what he personally has done (after all, the USA purports to be a democracy) to make it easier for citizens of the country just a couple of miles away from his house to enter his country without being interrogated by immigration officers.>

ask those 52,000 children now illegally in the U.S. about how easy it is to cross the border!

I have developed the following itinerary... do you guys think is it fine or not

03-Oct-14 Arrive Florence
04-Oct-14 Florence
05-Oct-14 Florence
06-Oct-14 Florence to Barcelona by evening flight(1 hr 40 mins)
07-Oct-14 Barcelona
08-Oct-14 Barcelona
09-Oct-14 Barcelona
10-Oct-14 Barcelona to Valencia by train(3hrs)
11-Oct-14 Valencia
12-Oct-14 Valencia to Granada by train(overnight)(8 hrs)
13-Oct-14 Granada
14-Oct-14 Granada to Seville by train(3hrs 20mins)
15-Oct-14 Seville
16-Oct-14 Seville to Amsterdam by afternoon flight(3 hrs)
17-Oct-14 Amsterdam
18-Oct-14 Amsterdam
19-Oct-14 Amsterdam
20-Oct-14 Depart Amsterdam

I have steered clear of UK this time as it won't make any sense to apply for a special visa if I'm visiting UK for just 3 days.

I have rather included more of Spain and Italy.

the trip is costing me around €1200 excluding International Airfare and Visa,Lunch and Dinner, Local City taxes, Any personal expenses like entrance fees, laundry, tips and any other such services

The trip is being done backpacking style

Guptamayank14 ... You need to apply for a Schengen visa at the Embassy of the country where you will be staying most (as per your itinerary, it should be Italy). To get a schengen visa, you need to provide bank statement for 6 months, medical insurance cover, letter from your employer stating your salary (or source of funds), copies of airtickets and hotel bookings along with 2 photographs. You can get all details from the Embassy's website. Visa process may take 1 to 3 weeks. Do a proper research before embarking on your trip. And, enjoy your trip !

None of us (that I know of) are in India - or have the details of getting a visa for an Indian national at our fingertips. You're the one that's there and needs to figure it out.

It seems you are taking a very cavalier attitude - assuming this will all come through - and when you say you have 1200 euros excluding air fare, visa, lunch and dinner I wonder if you are taking some sort of tour. How else would lunch and dinner be included? So where does lodging fall into this budget - and local travel between cities?

Local travel, lunch and dinner are not a part of 1200€... it only includes lodging and inter city transfers.

I think your itinerary looks fine, much better. If it were me I would take a day from Barcelona and add it to Seville. I'm glad you've added some detail about transport. I think 3000 euro plus airfare to/from should be okay - I've travelled for similar amounts.

Good luck with getting your visa and have a wonderful holiday.

>>the trip is costing me around €1200 excluding International Airfare and Visa,Lunch and Dinner, Local City taxes, Any personal expenses like entrance fees, laundry, tips and any other such services<<

then you post >>Local travel, lunch and dinner are not a part of 1200€... it only includes lodging and inter city transfers.<<

Something doesn't make sense. What sort of tour covers lunches, dinners, personal expenses, local taxes entrance fees, laundry, and tips . . . but does not cover lodging and inter city travel? And if it isn't a tour - how on earth have you calculated that your lodging/inter city travel will cost €1200 and all the other miscellaneous 'stuff' plus airfare and visa will cost something else (it looks like you figured €1800 for those things)?

In any case €3000 is a very low budget if that includes your airfare.

janisj, I think he is saying that 1200 euro is for accommodation and internal transport within Europe - on top of that would be his airfare to/from India (he's already said that's not included), food and sightseeing, etc. And he is not taking a tour. 1200 sounds a bit light but if he's couchsurfing, airbnb, private rooms, cheap hotels, staying with friends could be right. I think he has been quite clear about his expenses/budget.

I have had a a couple of recent trips to Europe of around 4 weeks each and for each trip we spent about 6000euro for two people, plus airfares to/from Europe. I know that two people can travel more cheaply than one but we were there longer and we stayed in nice accommodation and ate well. We didn't stay at the Hilton but who would want to do that anyway?