In 6 months we'll be traveling and staying in Paris for 6 months and use it as a hub to visit other countries. With train travel and short flights, it's better use of our time than traveling from California to finish up Europe. This is my 7th time in Paris (maybe 8th?), so France is a slam dunk for us. If you were us, (and I wish you all were), what would be your top countries to visit easily (skip the UK as we've been there plenty too). We've been to Greece, and parts of Spain and Portugal. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Green Bay
23484 posts
You have a long stay visa to be in Paris for 6 months?
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
3231 posts
sue,
First, be aware of ther limit on stays in the Schengen are (180 days...not one minute over that, including arrival and departure days). So plan on maybe a bit less than 6 months to allow for any hiccups with transportation out.
Second, my choices to visit would be Italy (a month total...it has so much to offer); Austria (Vienna is a terrific city, maybe 10-12 days there and its surrounding area); Germany (at least 3 weeks, with one week for Munich and surrounding areas).
And if you haven't spent time in Brittany when in France before, give it about 5 days.
Lucky you! Have fun!
Posted by
Somewhere out there
209 posts
Ditto the first response. Do the paperwork for a Visa. Candidly, I’ve visited Paris off and on since 1973 and it’s magical but with limits on my time I wouldn’t stay there for 6 months.. Personal choice would be rural Normandie but your choices are without limits and the recommendations here are endless.
That being said we are staying in Normandie this summer and we’re estimating 2000 Euro in gas for a RT across France to our old home near Wiesbaden. The current situation isn’t stopping our 18th year in France but it’s necessitating change.
Pick a small city and radiate out across France and some of Europe. Don’t be tied to the Paris routine and maybe create a new adventure.
Posted by
OP
san ramon, ca, usa
320 posts
We'll be applying for a longterm visa soon.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
12257 posts
We lived in Rome for a time and used it as a base for exploring not only Italy but lots of time in Switzerland, some in Austria, France, and the UK. Wish we’d gone even more places. Like Rome, from Paris you can explore much of at least Western Europe by train and short flights. A week d here, a 2-week stint there using your “base camp” as home. I am envious and wish you well in getting the visa and permission to live in France. Be aware of tax laws that may require you to pay French taxes. In Italy one is liable for taxes if you live there more than 180 days in a year.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
11803 posts
Hi sue, If you are getting the one-year visitor's visa, you are allowed to be out of France only a certain amount of time within that one-year. I know one couple who sold up in the US and has been here in France for five years in order to travel. They go over the limit, but now the electronic gates for travel outside the Schengen will be implemented and length of stays inside and outside the Schengen will be immediately visible. Movements within the Schengen aren't tracked in most cases.
France has very strict rental laws: a furnished apartment has a one-year lease. Airbnb in Paris is restricted, so you would need to look for short-term rentals just over the border: Neuilly-sur-Seine, Montrouge, etc. An agent could help. Maybe a home exchange?
Third, you'll be paying for three places at the same time: your home in California, rental in France, and a hotel in the country you are visiting.
Fourth, pay attention to how long you stay to avoid having to file in France, as well as your US taxes. Look at the rules for primary residence and maintain California as your primary.
Finally, with only months, you can move from countries, changing every few weeks or so. You would move inside and outside the Schengen to be sure you don't go over the 90 days,; check "Schengen shuffle" for Facebook groups of people who do this. Even some Americans who own homes in France come over for 90 days and then go back to the States for 90.
Finally, you might want to add Egypt, Cyprus, Madera (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), Morocco to the mix of countries to visit to avoid some of that winter weather. And the south of Spain for warmth.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26355 posts
Sounds great, have fun. I am certain you can overcome all the challenges in the planning.
I am not going to suggest any place because I suspect my interests and yours are not the same. But a few observations.
Six months from now is November, so that is Christmas Market season. That can be interesting
Unless you are into skiing, January and February can be miserable, so hunker down with the Paris locals and survive it. Theater mostly, maybe do as many museums as possible.
Spring comes earlier in the south so think about that for March, April, May (southern Italy, Malta, Balkans, Med coast of Spain, Morrocco). Otherwise, you will still be wearing a coat up until the date you return home.
Coastal areas in the south, for my money, aren’t worth the time until June, but you are leaving by then.
Paris is a long way from anywhere warm by train. Think about a discount card from WizzAir.