I'd like to take an extended tour of Europe. I have some initial questions as I begin to plan.
Hi,
I'm looking for some advice. I'm at a great point in my career where I'm young enough to have nothing tying me down, and I'm old enough to have been successful and enabled myself to follow my dreams. I am originally from the United States. My greatest desire is to travel and my top location is Europe. I'm very interested in extended travel and I'd like to be pointed in the right direction as I plan.
I'd really like to travel for 6 months to a year. I'm assuming this means I require a visa. Is this difficult to get? Does it allow me to roam the continent freely?
I'd like to travel light (whatever I can fit in a backpack), but I'd like to bring a few amenities, namely a small laptop and my camera. These things aren't cheap, and I'd want them to remain safe; so I'm assuming this means staying in hotels. Is it feasible to find decent hotels around $100 to $150 USD? I wouldn't be opposed to staying in hostels, assuming they have lockers that usually keep goods safe. I would very much look forward to traveling rural areas. I would find it nice if I could do small amounts of work in exchange for a place to stay. Is this feasible?
Traveling by rail is the most reasonable option, but I've had this fantasy of traveling the continent by motorcycle. It would allow me to travel rural areas, and it would allow me to stop, enjoy landscapes and take photographs as I please. How intelligent is this idea? Is it difficult to procure a small motorcycle for travel (lease would be nice, but purchasing is acceptable)? What would I need to do to legally obtain a bike and drive around Europe?
I speak English and Spanish, and I am learning French now. I'm assuming this is good for traveling Western Europe. What about Eastern Europe?
Money is not a huge worry. Even so, I'd like to remain as efficient as possible. I still have my life ahead of me and I'd like to have as much as I can once I return home. What am I looking at for 6 months of travel, usually staying in hotels?
Lastly, could someone suggest some good reading material?
Thank you for your time and help
Reply to this Hi, if you need a visa or not depends on your passport. If you have a US passport I don't you think a visa anywhere in Europe of the European Union, but it is good to check if out for Eastern European countries. As a tourist with money you should have no problem to travel.
Re. hotels, it all depend on where you go. I guess you mean midrange, like 3 star hotel. I think you will be OK in that in most places. London is the most expensive in my experience. Greece and Eastern Europe is much cheaper than Western/Northern Europe. Check out a hotel booking site for the places you want to go, to get an idea of the prices in each place you want to visit. Season is of course important, if you go off season it will be much cheaper than in August when all of Europe is on holiday.
I don't think you will have a language problem in major cities, countryside may be more tricky, but you can get by with sign language.
For reading start with checking out the websites of the official tourist office of the countries/cities that interest you - that will give you an overview of what there is to do/see. Lonely Planet or Rough Guide are probably the most detailed guide books.
I don't think there is any problem of renting a motorbike if you have a license. You may need to get an international drivers license, check out with AAA. Don't know about buying but people buy cars to travel in Europe.
Reply to this Thank you for your response.
From what I've read, people really encourage travelers to plan ahead; especially to make reservations for hotels. I'm very interested in a more spontaneous approach, with no real idea of where I'll be the next week. I'd kind of like to get lost and explore. I'm sure this approach will be more expensive, but how much more expensive? Would it become really difficult to find a hotel each night?
Reply to this Yes, of course you can do this. If you go off season that is certainly possible. In high season it may not be possible to find a room on the spot (check out when the local holidays are). Depends also on where you are going. Venice is always difficult I think, Greek islands in August may be hopeless. Many airports and railway stations have a hotel desk, and sometimes they offer great deals on last minute bookings. Also, if you go to big cities you probably want to know before where to go not to drag your backpack for hours!
Reply to this Hey
With regard to visas, you need to check out the rules for the Schengen zone. You will most likely be restricted to staying 3 months within this area, which includes most of Western Europe. You can visit non- Schengen zone countries after the 3 months but not re-enter the Schengen zone.
To get into Europe you will probably need a return ticket as well as proof of funds too.
I'm sure you are aware that it will be illegal for you to work in Europe. However, you can do bits in exchange for food/board. You could look at
Helpx to find people who are prepared to offer this. You could also consider couchsurfing which would allow you perhaps explore more rural areas with local people to guide you.
If you don't travel at peak periods (summer, Christmas, Easter) you should be ok finding accommodation as you go. There are lots of places throughout Europe where local people rent rooms in their houses to tourists. You don't need to stay in hotels the whole time.
Hope this helps
Reply to this If you're learning French right now, maybe consider enrolling in a language course at a French university. Depending on the course and proof of funds, this may entitle you to a French student visa, which is good for a year, easy to renew, and includes the right to work legally up to 20 hours per week (in France). You can use your university town as a home base and travel all over Europe. Just make sure you're in town enough to pass the course!
Reply to this Hi there!!
Our situation sounds VERY similar. I am also "untied" from responsibilities like a spouse or children to answer to. I also have established myself as a young professional and plan to work and also look for a career while in Europe. I am mostly going to teach English at local schools to pay my way for the majority of the trip, but I also to plan to teach private lessons, which can earn more money.
Rat on the Road is right... You will be fine on your passport for 3 months, but after that, you are expected to go home unless you've found work that will allow you to get a Visa. You cannot apply for a Visa, in my experience, unless you have a job, in which case, your employer should assist you.
Travel by Rail is how intend to do majority of my traipsing, but it is not always the CHEAPEST way to travel. Sometimes flights are just as cheap, if not cheaper and since you are only leaving with roughly a backpack, you shouldn't anticipate baggage fees on most airlines =)
For cheap stay, consider hostels where you can. They can be inexpensive and most importantly, a GREAT way to share travel tips and tales with fellow explorers. People gather around bunk-beds like it's junior high school camp and talk about their experiences and things worth seeing.
Good luck on your journey!
~Peace~
Reply to this Thanks for all the responses
Isn't it true that you can switch back and forth, in and out of the Schengen Area? Three months in, three months out. If I remember correctly, U.S. citizens can stay in the U.K. without a visa for 6 months. If I'm not mistaken, I could theoretically switch back and forth between the Schengen Area and the U.K. indefinitely, right?
Reply to this That's a good question...I did find this website after reading further into it. Maybe it will help...
http://www.schengenvisa.cc/index.html
Reply to this I thought there was a specified amount of time that you had to stay out of the Schengen zone, once you had done your 3 months.
It's VERY difficult to find work if you are not an EU citizen because your employer has to prove that there isn't someone from within the EU who can do the job. Unless you have specific, necessary skills, employers are unlikely to go through the hassle of getting you a work visa.
Reply to this There is a specified amount -- which is 3 months. Three months inside the Schengen Area, three months in the U.K. and so on.
The kind of work I was referring to was simply odd jobs -- chores really -- for a place to stay for the night, and it sounds like your idea of using couch surfing is perfect!
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