A Year in Europe

Do you have Belgian passports ?

You will either need a visa for an extended stay in the Schengen zone or you will need to fund some places outside of the Schengen zone for at least half of that year. The visa may not be that easy. So I would start with solving that puzzle.

Do you need Visas for various countries to stay past the 90 day limit?

If you hold a non-EU passport you need to be aware of the Schengen rules in your planning.

This is key:

HOW LONG CAN I REMAIN?

With a valid U.S. passport book, you can stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area for tourism or business during any 180-day period. You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area.
If you plan to stay in the Schengen area longer than three months, contact the embassy of the country where you plan to spend the majority of your time and apply for a visa

Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania join at the end of this month.

Thanks for your insight. We’ve been assuming that we will apply for a long stay visa through the Belgian Embassy in Washington DC which is not far from home. I think we could obtain that for family reunification purposes. Then, with that document we could venture elsewhere in Europe for shorter stays. I have no idea what to do about travel to Great Britain, though.

Good luck with the Belgians as you'll need it. About the only way most get the Visa is by being a college student. Some of the countries do issue visas, but at a very high price. I think the easiest visa is in Portugal, but it too will set you back some $$$$.

Nuts and bolts practicality thoughts and suggested reading would be appreciated.

Medical Insurance?

First don't listen to all the negativity. If you want to do it, there is always a way. The UK half is easy.... just go, but same limitations, just independent of Schengen.

When I posted I was thinking on moving to Europe the negativity went thru the roof. I am now living pleasantly in Europe.

Medical insurance is easy and fairly cheap by the way. A couple of ways to go on that, full care in Europe or limited with evacuation insurance to get you home.

Strongly advise using an immigration lawyer to get to the objective of spending a year in Europe. I did and while it’s challenging you can likely do it. Your travel arrangements are too important to rely on informal information or opinion masquerading as fact. Good luck!

We hold US passports.
Why would we need a lawyer?

Possibly the thorniest part of getting a long-stay visa for many Schengen countries is the common requirement that the applicant have proof of accommodations for the period of the visa--something like a one-year lease. The presumption appears to be that you are going to a specific place for the requested period of time. For the typical traveler on this forum, that is antithetical to the concept of traveling around (mostly) Schengen countries for a year. Who wants to pay to lease a property for the full term of the visa when he or she will mostly be elsewhere, paying for hotel rooms? This is precisely why I do the Schengen dance every year when I stay in Europe for 4 to 5 months.

I know nothing about Belgium's rules for long-stay visas, but it's possible that--if the country requires proof you have accommodations lined up--"We're staying with our son and his family" will be sufficient. You won't know until you dig into the Belgian rules.

I would urge you to research medical evacuation insurance. Medical evacuation back to the US in the event of an accident or a serious medical event can easily cost more than $100,000.

I got my visa not with a lawyer, but with a company that specializes in thr subject for the country I wanted to move to.

You can make it work. No issue other than creativity and elbow grease.

We hold US passports. Why would we need a lawyer?

Because U.S. passport holders don’t get any special treatment with regard to long-term stays in the EU; therefore, you might want to use a Belgian lawyer or specialist with expertise in Belgian long-term visas if you go that route. They would help you prepare the application and navigate the requirements. When I had a work assignment in the EU, my employer used a specialist to prepare the paperwork and this expedited the process as they made sure the rationale for the visa was properly documented and that all required supporting documents accompanied the application.

In the mean time, I’d suggest reading through the types of visas offered by Belgium and make sure the family reunification visa is applicable to your situation. In many countries, this type of visa only applies to spouses and dependents.

The bottom line is that there are two routes you can take:
1) Pursue the long stay visa in Belgium or another Schengen country.
OR
2) Make a plan to limit your time within Schengen countries to 90 days within 180 and spend time outside of the Schengen area.

Depending on what you choose, it will influence your plan.

Good luck.

Shelley, I did something similar (but longer) and there were a few unexpected hoops to deal with. Nothing impossible to solve. So if you want to know feel free to contact me.

You can apply for a one year visa. You could do this with no visa. 90 days EU then 90 dates on UK, Slovenia, Turkey, etc. then back to Schengen another 90 days.

[Edit by forum moderator: Please note that Slovenia is in the Schengen zone, so not an option for staying outside the Schengen zone.]

You've received a couple of misconceptions, assumptions, and incorrect advice already because you are getting answers from people who have traveled extensively but have not done what you are proposing themselves.
Go to the Belgian consulate near you or thoroughly read their pages. Also, find the relevant Facebook private groups, starting with a search for something like "American retirees in Belgium" or something like that. Other groups include "Applying for a visa in..."
That's where you'll get information from people who have done what you are planning. I have belonged to a few different groups like this at one time or another. It's rare the word lawyer ever comes up for a first-year visa, or even permanent ir citizenship. You are just in the wrong place for this info.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. This will be a challenge, and perhaps a bit more complicated than we initially anticipated but we can make it happen.

Sheĺley. The same group told me I couldn't do it. Worked out just fine. Enjoy.

But Bets is correct. For instance Slovenia is in Schengen. I suspect you will have no trouble finding a company in Belgium that specializes in the subject and will handle the process for you. I suspect you will end up with a Residency visa which has its own set of traps. If you are interested, because I did this a little more than a year ago (and still here in Europe), let me know.

Spending a year in Europe could be administratively painful. You have to file your income tax returns. Also, check out the tax requirements for the country in which you live for a year in Europe.

A year away from children and grandchildren!

Belgium is a great country to visit, but it rains a lot there. I had a friend that lived there and he said it rained over 300 days a year!

If you don't have a car, stay where rail travel is easy to access.

For budget, Mediterranean countries are cheaper than those north of the Alps. Hungary would be a great choice for budget.

Considering that I know several people who have long-term stay visas in Europe I always find it interesting that posts claim you have to spend lots of money or it’s impossible. I know none of these people spent lots of money. And they have visas so it must not be impossible. at least one of them has absolutely no family connections or anything to Europe. Having done some research , It may take some patience and some effort but it’s not impossible.

As for administratively difficult, it was administratively difficult 10 years ago. In this day and age of remote work it’s not administratively difficult to be anywhere in the world. I owe the IRS money, I will be out of the country on tax day. Guess where I’ll be paying the money from. It won’t be Atlanta. (I never pay them more than 24 hours in advance.).

And your grandchildren and children can come see you -planes go both ways.

A lot of you spend a lot of time, trying to think of reasons why people can’t do things which seems to be the antithesis of Rick Steves.

Please let us know how this goes for you. It may help others who have similar ideas and correct any wrong information/advice on this post. And to satisfy our curiosity!

@Shelley

I am sure that you and your children have read all the info on the official websites of the Government of Belgium.

This info is provided free by a legal chamber in Brussels https://immigration-belgium.com/obtain-residency-in-belgium/ .

Scroll down just over halfway to the heading: What are the residence conditions for non-EU citizens? Usually D visa, issued in USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqwH_VoMwCg . A nice little you tube presentation, @ circa 40 seconds is info about families.

I am not advocating this business, but the general info is good.

This unique area requires skill and breadth of experience, though is not at the top level of the billing scale.

In applying you will be dealing with the pinnacle of bureaucracy. Legalese wise I mean. 99% is not good enough. 100% is required. A solicitor may be prudent use of time and monetary resources.

From where I sit in my bed, a straightforward process requiring time, care, and commitment.

Best wishes
Ron

Tassie Devil, that is excellent and helpful.

I will throw in a few things that have been important since I did what Shelley is talking about doing.

1 If you dont have relatives to read you into the culture and to share tiime with, then make the move a slow burn. I spent 10 years with serious intent getting ready for the day when I would make the decision to stay here or not.

2 Hire an agency in Belgium to do the visa application work. I hired the best in Budapet and it cost me a wooping $1000 plus the government filing and application fees so a total of less than $1500. My company told me a 1 year visa was almost guaranteed, possibly even a two year visat but the 3 year visa just doesnt happen unless you have special circumstances. I reviewed their application before it was submitted then spent the weekend upgrading it. They were a bit taken back, but they submitted it. I got the 3 year visa.

3 Leave your wealth in the US. Dont talk to your bank or your brokerage house about your plans. They just need a US address. Credit cards might need a verified US residential address (friend or relative). Doing this you just eliminated all of your US Federal reporting nonsense.

4 Bring a good laptop and get good internet service. Also create a photo with a clear background of your signature. You will use that a lot for signing documents like the form that gives your accountant in the US the authority to electrionically file your US tax return.

5 Get PayPal and at least one other pyament app. Get WhatsApp and Telegram.

6 Hang on to your US phone for at least the first year.

7 Buy as large a wine rack as you can afford

8 Enjoy the H out of it.

Shelley, how exciting! Have fun with the planning; to me its always been part of the fun & excitement of the trip. A few things to consider:

Tassie Devil & Mr E had good advice on the visa process. It is well worth your time & money to have someone assist in this. One less thing to worry about; any mistakes will cost you time & possible delays in travel.

Depending on where you are in the tax cycle, you can always have your accountant file an extension. They can draw up a POA specific to filing.

Designate a primary POA & a secondary for anything that may arise that needs attention. Something always does.

Go travel & explore. You will find that wonderful small town or village that seems just right to put down roots for a while...or longer.

Flo, I was also correct on the wine rack!

Mr E, but of course! My most humble apology for this omission.

We hold US passports.
Why would we need a lawyer?

To start with you can't just come and spend a year in Europe with an American passport, you are restricted to 90 days within the Schengen Area. Various member states have their own individual visa programs which will grant you residence within their borders and some of those visas allow you make short trips to other parts of the Europe - at least the Schengen Area.

The important thing to understand is that you will a resident of a European state and will not be US resident for that year. That means you may have local insurance, tax and social insurance obligations in that state and being non resident may impact your situation in the US as well depending on your circumstances. So it is advisable to discuss this with someone who can make you aware of all the consequences before you sign up to anything.

I don't believe it's necessarily true that being full-time in Europe means you aren't a US resident. And you may be a US resident for some purposes and not for others. These are legal questions that an attorney would need to address.

I don't believe it's necessarily true that being full-time in Europe
means you aren't a US resident. And you may be a US resident for some
purposes and not for others. These are legal questions that an
attorney would need to address.

We are kinda beating a dead horse here. But, I lll bite one more time.

It isnt if you ARE A US Resident necessarily. It is that you become a Resident of your host country. That is pretty certain in most instances. Actually other than students and refugees, I am not yet familiar with an exception to this, but there may be. So, as a Resident of another country what are the ramifications?

• Taxes in that country
• Your Will being probated in that country
• Your borkerage house in the US telling you to take a walk (if they become aware).
• Your bank in the US telling you to take a walk (if they become aware)
• No longer having to pay New York State Income Tax

You can consider yourself what ever you want, but in most instances whats above will be what you have to manage. And to be honest, there are ways where it isnt a big deal.

I don't think anyone mentioned, but there are forums specifically for ex-pats. Which is what you will be, not a tourist.

Based on Shelley's posts, the plan is not (at this point) to be ex-pats. It's to spend a year in Europe--no more than 4 months of it in Belgium where her son and his family live, the rest of it based in two or three other places to see more of the continent. That plan, to me, is what makes the situation challenging. Spending a year in one place in Europe would most likely make it easier to obtain a long-stay visa. From all that I've read, long-stay visas are not intended for people who want to travel around Europe without worrying about the Schengen rules. This is a subject in which I've very interested, because I'd like the freedom to spend more than 90 days in the Schengen countries, but I am not willing to sign a one-year lease in order to satisfy a consular official.

I was surprised to hear someone mention that our plan is to become expats. I think of expat status as more permanent than what we have taken to calling « our little scheme » but I also don’t know if there’s a cutoff date after which one progresses from traveler to expat status. I feel we are fortunate to have a « fixed address «  in Belgium and close family there and expect that this factor will help us. If we fail, we shall probably proceed to plan B, aka the Schengen dance.

EXPAT, or expatriate, is a state of mind or an intent and i don't think that is your intent. It just gets used in place of "Resident" which after you accept a Residency Visa is what you become.

The Schengen Dance seems much more palatable if you can afford it. Just avoid staying in the Schengen zone for more than 180 days in a 12 month period and you avoid any question of Residency.

As to if you get a long term visa in country "A" does it mean you can ignore Schengen in general? In my case, no. But, who is checking at the Schengen borders?, so, yes.

[Note: For clarity/accuracy, the forum moderator edited this line: "Just avoid staying in the Schengen zone for more than 180 days in a 12 month period." And as many have already mentioned, please note that with a US passport, your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days.]

Expat also just gets used in place of immigrant.

My point was, when you start living somewhere your needs/wants are different from a tourist and that is addressed in an expat forum.

I was watching a vlog where some longtermers in Italy needed to deal with the Schengen timing so they went to England for a few days, it can't really be that simple can it?

Without a visa, an American can stay in the Schengen region 90 out of every 180 days. Not one day more. If you cleverly decide to "jump over to England," to escape the watchful Schengen eye, sure, the Schengen clock stops while you're there, but it doesn't rewind. You've still accrued however many days you accrued, up to the day you went to England. The clock resets 180 days after you entered first entered Schengen and marches forth in 180 day increments. There are apps that will help keep track because it's important not to exceed 90 days, and if you're traveling extensively, it's not difficult to lose track of the running total. By the way, if you happen to go on a cruise during your long stay, every day you are on the ship going from one Schengen port to another also counts against your 90 day maximum, even if you don't get off the ship. The clock only stops when you leave the Schengen region.
Another thing to think about is, if/when you leave Schengen (for example if you decide to stay in Cyprus or Turkiye for 14 days) you need to check on whether you need a visa to enter the non-Schengen country. I have no idea which non- countries require visas just to enter, but plan to check all that out as part of my planning.

Final thought. Sometimes you get a stamp on your passport when you enter a country and sometimes you don't. But your passport gets scanned at the airport. When you are leaving Schengen at the end of your stay, presumably by plane, if you've exceeded your 180 days, there could be consequences that I would prefer not to learn about. So, an important lesson, if you're playing it close and want a long stay wherein the 180 day clock restarts, be sure you have documentation for every day you spent outside Schengen during that 180 day period. What if you went by bus from a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country and you didn't get stamped at the border? The authorities would take reliable, dated documentation that you were in a non-Schengen country for x number of days and subtract that from your total. I think a hotel receipt or a train/plane ticket would count as proof. Some say, the authorities really don't check with that degree of scrutiny. I think, probably, some people get lucky and stay longer than 180 days without negative consequences. That would not be me. I just know I would get thrown into Schengen prison.

A couple of people have mentioned medical insurance. It's definitely something that needs to be considered. The cost can be prohibitively high, and if you left your youth a few decades ago, the rates are nothing to sneeze (lol) at. I just got some really good news, though, which I intend to verify before getting too excited. When I retire, I am planning to sign up for a Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plan. I live in Maryland. Kaiser insures its policy holders overseas, at least per the plan I am going with. If the Belgian authorities are okay with the coverage, I may have just saved my husband and I a couple thousand dollars.

Shelley,
As a Kaiser Medicare Advantage client for some time now, I would double check the info you have regarding overseas medical coverage.

To Judy - I sent you a link to the information separately and of course I have a healthy skepticism and intend to triple check the exact extent and breadth of the coverage, as I would for any plan before signing on any dotted lines. I am a healthcare professional with too much experience, which is why I need to retire :-)

We first learned about this benefit at a pre-retirement event hosted by Kaiser.

Sounds like fun and totally do-able!! I wonder if Mr E could help you design a 90/180 trip so you could just do this on a Schengen 90 days in & out to non-Schengen countries (I misspoke before.) You can spend a lot of time in the UK, then go back to Schengen, as well as some Eastern European spots that aren't part of Schengen.

Yep, Shelley Kaiser does have medicare coverage overseas, double check you have whatever is the exact plan, I seem to recall it's 'Part C' but I would definitely call them! And it's limited to $50,000 lifetime. Personally, I would get a supplemental policy, I have GeoBlue Trekker Choice insurance, others on the Forum like Alliance. https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/content/dam/kporg/final/documents/health-plan-documents/coverage-information/emergency-urgent-care-away-from-home-ca-en.pdf.
(Sorry, just saw you're an insurance specialist, hahaha, no need to warn you to check the fine print!)

Yikes, people really did go negative, I'm glad I didn't ask the Forum for advice in the midst of the pandemic in late 2020 about Swedish residency to be able to freely enter & exit to visit my boyfriend. It took 6 months and I communicated ONLY with Swedish immigration authorities. I have permanent residency, and to all those who say you need to stay in that country, IT DEPENDS ON THE COUNTRY. I know Mr E has some limits, elsewhere nope. NONE. (We subsequently got married, but that was not part of the residency application, go figure.)

Since you're keeping your medicare insurance, thus you will have a permanent address in the US, NO PROBLEM losing residency! The US just doesn't care, especially if you're filing Federal and State income tax. Seriously, they don't care about anything except taxes. An address will cover it.

There are some other places that might be easier for a one-year tourist visa, have you checked out France? I've read it's workable. Good luck! Ignore all the naysayers and let us know what works out for you!! About the travel plans, once you've sorted it out, get back to us so we can be of assistance! Maybe a thread for each country like "2 months in France, where to go and stay off the beaten track" and then do another in each country??

I'm not aware of the existence of a "Schengen tourist visa" for citizens of countries like the US who already have the ability to stay for 90 days within 180. There are visas, for sure, but not specifically for "I want to travel around and stay in different hotels" tourism. Being able to stay with family, boyfriend, etc.--that must make things a lot simpler in many countries, maybe all of them.

It's my understanding the folks checking the passports of outbound passengers at airports now have electronic data allowing them to identify people who have overstayed. A Czech official furrowed his brow as he was looking at my passport back in 2018. It was Day 112 since I had entered a Schengen country. He relaxed when I pointed out I had spent 24 full days in Ukraine.

It is my understanding that a general Schengen tourist visa WAS/IS in the works but the rollout has been delayed a couple of times and now is on hold (I think) until 2025. It's apparently going to be a simple process and a very small fee (which is waived if you are over a certain age, which I can't remember, because - well - I'm old). It really doesn't change the amount of time we're allowed to remain in the Schengen region. Apparently, it's going to be a simple application process with a quick turnaround time., but who knows. When/if it actually gets rolled out, it will just be another small hoop travelers will and can jump through.

ETIAS isn't really a visa in the traditional sense, as far as I know. It's more of a permit, I think. But as you wrote, it won't change the 90-days-within-180 Schengen limit.

acraven - that's right. It's more of a travel authorization. I think the US has required this of travelers to the US for quite a while. Here is the link to sign up for updates on the status of the rollout: https://etias.com/etias-application#updates

I work in immigration and the shengen dance referred to in this tread is illegal and can result in a lot of trouble for you, go to as many consulates as you can and find out as much as you can about visas

Reunification visas because your son lives in Belgium are usually restricted to minors ( not 100% but 99%

You don’t need a lawyer just ask the consulates

Back to your original question about out of the way places with non-peak travel times - You will have lots of flexibility if you're here in Europe for a year! No car, unless you really want to get off the beaten track, perhaps in Italy or Germany? Otherwise I'm sticking with flying & trains, they're just less hassle. There are so many ways to shop cheap air fares, perhaps sign up for BA & TAP specials, as they seem to have frequent ones to Europe. Inside Europe there are so many discount airlines, that's easy.

Suggested reading - I'm not a fan of RS guide books as they don't cover the entire country, I use DK and gasp, I actually carry one (in bits) along for trips, ripping out sections as I go. If you watch the library for specials, you can score some cheap travel books. I watch a lot of European documentaries on YouTube, and got some good suggestions here when I asked - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/books-movies/suggestions-for-european-archeology-history-art-documentaries

We think we want to spend the remainder of our time exploring from 2-3 home bases.

Only 2-3 home bases including in the winter? Hmmmmmm. So much to choose from! Dec-Feb I would head to Sicily or Portugal, but it will still be chilly some days, look at high and low temps, not just averages. Consider national holidays before you travel, skip the 'high holidays' and school holidays in big cities. Hey how about Morocco? Warmer. It's outside of Schengen, should help with that 90 day rule.

I noticed RS says South of France is very crowded in May, so go in April or October? I was looking at a hotel in the Amsterdam Museum district, the week before Easter it was $125 for a 3-star, the following week $250 for the same room, so it was easy to see when shoulder season would be!

Just a few ideas - The Netherlands after tulips are harvested & before summer - mid May looks delightful based upon Forum friends who've been there. Leiden (I have not been recently) and Delft (LOVED IT) would be my favorite choices.

Cameron has a blog about under-visited places in Europe here. I LOVED the 'charm to tourist ratio', which is why I will never go to Venice again. 25 million visitors who jam into 3 square miles. https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2023/09/charm-tourists-ratio/.

Our next trip to Italy will probably be to Bologna & environs (or Sicily but not in summer) - https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2022/01/italy-best-destination-anywhere/

Interesting, I've always wondered about the fascination with the Berner Overland here on the forum, I lived & worked in a hotel in the Engadine valley in Switzerland for a year after high school, it's gorgeous!! (I especially loved Ardez.) And Cameron also mentions Glasgow, which I enjoyed much more than Edinburgh, again it's the charm to tourist ratio, Edinburgh was very crowded.
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2022/12/euroepean-discoveries-2023/.

Once you sort out your dates & have either a visa to stay longer, or plans to enter & exit Schengen, insurance, etc., perhaps start a new thread specially asking for the advice you tried to ask this time....

Nick, I'm not talking about doing anything illegal, and I'm sure Shelley isn't, either. We're (separately) thinking of spending close to 90 days in the Schengen area, leaving for at least 90 entire days (going to the UK, Ireland, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, etc.), and then spending additional time in the Schengen area. Shelley may be able to come up with a different solution. My relatives stubbornly insist on residing in North Carolina, which doesn't help with my Schengen problem.

We're (separately) thinking of spending close to 90 days in the Schengen area, leaving for at least 90 entire days (going to the UK, Ireland, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, etc.), and then spending additional time in the Schengen area.

Romania and Bulgaria will be Schengen members as of 31 March.

Thanks so much for the suggestions about places and transportation etc. It’s so helpful and very much appreciated.
When I initially posted, I was hoping that would be the direction the discussion would take, but we sort of ended down a Schengen rabbit hole.
Anyway all of the comments were, at the very least, fun to read. I’m going to carefully sift through them and think about each one.
The appointment with the Belgian Embassy is set. I’m gathering the required documents. Only a small percentage of apps get rejected, so the numbers are in my favor. I’m confident we’ll get our year in the world.

Thanks, qq. I knew about Romania and Bulgaria but had forgotten. I'm glad I at least managed one rather lengthy visit to those two in 2015, though I would like to return.

Well, I haven’t compared weather, per your original question. But Albania and Montenegro are gorgeous (and not Schengen). Well worth an extended amount of time, as well as being relatively inexpensive. Montenegro in particular is an easy place to be.

Hey OP! If you'd like more suggestions along the lines of your original post, (minus the Schengen rabbit hole), perhaps wait until you have the extended visa, & then come back to us! You can ust start a new post. And who knows maybe you will get even more suggestions! I liked some of the Eastern European offerings, sounds fascinating!! I saw a travel book called 'Budget Europe' at the library, it was huge. Maybe check it out. Good luck, sounds wonderful!!!

I am asking this very savvy group for insights for your best practices from personal experience, favorite off the beaten path places, off season bargain gems, best (aka cheapest) ways to travel around the continent, whatever you think might be helpful and interesting. Car? No car? Nuts and bolts practicality thoughts and suggested reading would be appreciated. This will be our 10th or so trip to Europe, and we would , to an extent, like to steer clear of the MAJOR tourist spots. Of note, we are not penniless but we are penny pinchers and don’t require many luxuries. We are also older and my husband has decreased stamina. I am in excellent health and able to walk all day with a pack. So there will be times when he’ll stay behind and sip wine while I pursue more strenuous activities

Your out of Schengen time, if you avoid the UK, will save you money as its Eastern Europe. My favorites include Montenegro and Bosnia. Both fairly easy and beautiful in different ways. In Schengen it hard to beat Budapest for cost and you can reach Montenegro easily from Budspest, then Bosnia from Montenegro. I know a person that plans and manages tours in the region if you are interested.

Hey Shelley, I had to look for this or would have posted it sooner, but might be helpful planning your departure for extended trip, the mail, car, irrigation, etc! LOTS to think about!! (I start super early, drives everyone else crazy, but there's a lot you can do ahead of time.)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/how-do-you-do-a-longer-trip-to-europe

I would add time in Albania.