travel from Bordeaux, France to Spain
 

Hi,

I'm going to spend just over three months near Bordeaux, France. To avoid a visa I plan to go to Spain and then back to France (the same day if possible).

I've located on a rail map the route from Bordeaux to Irun (in Spain). However, I can't find a point-to-point ticket price on eurorail.com from Biarrtz (France) to Irun (Spain).

Is there a rail going between Biarrtz and Irun? A bus? How do I find fare/schedule?

Any alternative route?

Thank you very much.

-- Dan

Going to Spain might not help with visa requirements since the border guards no longer stamp passports within the EU.

Hi chang,

It is 26E from Bordeaux to Irun. Takes 3 hr.

See http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

The days of skipping across the border for a day trip to "reset" your 90 days are long over.

From what I've read if you have a US passport requirements are:

1. You're passport must be valid 3 months past the length of your planned stay.

2. You must have tickets or documents showing return or onward travel.

3. No visa is required for stays up to three months with a maximum of three months cumulative stay during any six months period in the combined Schengen States.

The 15 Schengen States are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries except Norway and Iceland are European Union members

It's point number 3 that prevents the border-crossing reset. Even if you go to Switzerland or closer Andorra (non-Schengen) for a day it doesn't get you out of the "3 months cumulative stay during any six months period."

That being said, there are people who go to Europe for more than 3 months without a visa. The chances are slim to none you would ever encounter a problem as a law abiding visitor.

Thanks. Where did you find this information? I didn't see it on the web site of consulate general of France in Washington (http://www.consulfrance-washington.org/).

-- Dan

I prefer an explanation like this from a commercial site because it's stated more plainly:

www.traveldocs.com/fr/vr.htm

However on the Washington, DC French Consulate site the requirements are shown:

http://www.consulfrance-washington.o...isa%20schengen

About a quarter of the way down the page is a heading "Requirements: Schengen Visa" Under here is point "1 - General Information"

This discusses the maximum 90 days in a 6 month period requirement. It states the 15 Schengen states that are included in the agreement. It states if a US citizen stays for 90 days or less no visa is required.

Of course, it's easy to be wrong. If I've not read the rules correctly or someone has more current info I'd like to know.