Traveling for months in Europe

I think after a few weeks you will gradually become "low maintenance" and you will still "be you", so focus on the important things, like your personal safety, etc. By the way, when you refer to "make-up, high hills, etc.", do you mean the kind of make-up for climbing high hills?

You will have trouble traveling in Europe for 6-8 months. The Schengen Law limits your stay to 90 days then you have to leave all Schengen countries for 90 days before you are allowed back in. If you stay over the 90 days you could have to pay a big fine and be band from all of the countries for years.

Elida, could you confirm your home location - is it Portsmouth, ENGLAND? If so are you travelling on a U.K. Passport. If that's the case, you shouldn't have any problems with the Schengen Visa (but I'd have to check to confirm it). Cheers!

Ken, she has another post wanting to know if she needs anything besides her American passport.

Pare down to the max! remember there are many cobble streets, steep stairs, narrow train doors w/ tiny steps that you must navaigate by yourself. Few porters if any are in bus/train station/airports. many hotel/B&B use only stairs. You do not want to hurt your shoulder , pull a muscle or worse fall off a train step. Why not practice at home first load your luggage and carry/walk it around a cple days a week. See how it goes. I am in my 50's and only take a wheelie that weighs less than 30 lbs. And after a while lifting it to a train becomes alot to do after 3 wks travel. All the best.

I was wondering how many posts would get on the board before someone had to make a snarky comment about Schengen.

And just where is this snarky comment?

Allyn-Elaine, I have to agree with Frank on this one. I don't perceive any "snarky" comments here. I think it's prudent to let the OP know that she needs to take the Schengen Visa limits seriously, as the consequences could be severe. If she's travelling on a U.S. Passport, these will be applicable. Cheers!

I agree, I see no snark. I was completely ignorant of these Schengen regulations and I overstayed my time in France (spent six months there just hanging out in Paris). Didn't get caught and was blissfully unaware of my "faux-pas" :) But I could have potentially had a problem and I'm glad to be informed.

'snarky' - sharply critical; irascible; sarcastic.........I guess the 'snarky' comment must have been deleted...;-)

I doubt if we will see A-E on this thread again.

I think we do a favor when we, politely, remind fellow travelers about Schengen Area provisions. Most Americans know the idea of living abroad from expats (with working visas they barely mention), military families stationed abroad or... Canada. The fact it since the mid-90's it's been no longer possible to just "hang out" for 6 months in Europe, unless it is in UK. Back then you had overlooked (if done by Americans) visa runs where someone would just go from PAris, get a stamp in Basel and return for 3 more months. That is no longer the case. Schengen provisions allow a 90-day stay IN ANY CONSECUTIVE 180-DAYS PERIOD, which means, also, you can't stay 2 months, travel back to US for one, then go for another 2 (it would be 120 days in the last 150, illegal). UK admits people for up to 6 months, but time spent in any EU country, even if not Schengen, counts toward time the 90-day limit and vice-versa, so the only possibility would be staying 90 days in Schengen area, than another 90 days in UK.

You would think that someone who is, by their own admission, "very stylish" would know that they wear high HEELS (called that because the heels are, well, high).

Elida, you may have to make a decision about whether you want to travel light or be high maitenance. They don't match very well. You may also find that walking around cities all day in heels is going to kill your feet, so you may want to try a different shoe. I have watched tons of women trying to walk across cobblestones with heels on, sometimes with funny and not so funny results. Falling down, stuck shoes, broken heels, take your pick. If you are traveling alone, you may find the need to impress with your "stylishness" will take a back seat and you can then be a more natural you. After all, the real "you" is what is inside of you, not your hair, make-up or clothes. Also, it is possible to have style without being high-maitenance.

When the ground freezes in a few months, take your suitcase and your high heels and walk around a plowed field for a few minutes. That will give you an idea about cobblestones. Back in my early 20's when I practically lived in heels, I wore them one time in Scotland and then they stayed in my bag. As for clothing, you can always buy new things and ditch the old.

Allyn-Elaine..there was no "snarky" remarks made, I just want to let her know about the Schengen laws......Eileen..nothing was deleted.

Allyn-Elaine, What exactly is snarky? Is there a reason you are particularly sensitive about the visa situation? Is there a reason you think we should not assist Elida so that she avoids getting into trouble? I don't want to go after you saying you're wrong - * - what I would like to do is understand what's behind your statement..... please let us know .... thanks ... ¶ Elida, I hope you get some inspiration here, there are a few ladies on this board who have lots of European travel experience....

I agree, what is so snarky about pointing out the Schengen visa time limits to someone who may not have even thought about it? It is a useful comment/question, and there's no need to dress it up in rainbows and unicorns.........(seriously, when will paragraph breaks be allowed again?).........To the OP, it all depends on how much goes into your "maintenance" routine, and how much you will be walking around. If you feel confident about walking around in your heels a lot, wear them - just make sure to bring or buy a pair of cute flat (or at least flatter) shoes in case you find it's not a good idea. There have been many posts on this board about hair straighteners/curlers for travel so SOMEONE must be bringing them over. I'm also the kind of person who will not leave the house without make-up on, so I'll be bringing it with me just like you. You might not be able to carry on all of your luggage, but unless you're bringing the contents of your ENTIRE closet, you shouldn't have too much luggage.

We were in Germany in 2006 and they were very fussy about Shengen (sp) issues

Ally-Elaine, if you do not have anything helpful to contribute to post.....bet to keep your "Snarkyness" to your self. This is a "Travelers Helpline" not a forum to for people put others down. Robin's comments relating to the Schengen rules is pertinent and relevant to Elida traveling in Europe for 8 months. I can see you are a newbie to the board, therefore, in the future know your facts before you stick your foot in you mouth again.

I thought maybe 'high hills' were something like Snookie's hair-do.........[[oh, and I knew that nothing had been deleted ;-)]]

Elida - follow the Schengen agreement and lose the highheels. You will be less high maintenance. If you are young, enjoy yourself. However, make your life less complicated. Pack light and have safe travels. Please check out the graffiti board on travel scams, etc. The main idea is to be safe.

Not long ago someone posted here whose daughter was caught and fined for staying three days past her visa. She was detained at the airport as she was leaving. With virtually all comings and goings recorded electronically now, it's stupid to risk the consequences - better just to arrange your itinerary to only stay within the Schengen zone for 90 days or less. And as a previous poster said, it's 90 days in any 180 day period, starting the day you arrive in the zone. If you use your 90 days, you must leave the zone for 90 days before you get more time.

Within the past year there was a father who posted a report that his daughter was caught just a few days over the 90 days and the fine was $500. The stamps on your passport are dated. So there is a record of when you entered. However, there is not always a record when you leave so therefore you need to maintain some record - hotel receipts, dated transportation tickets, etc., that will show that you were out of the area for a period of time. There are people who have over stayed and had no problem but that is not the issue. We are just tried to point out that there is a substantial risk if you over stay and you are caught. In this day of computers, internet links, greater emphasis on illegal aliens [INVALID] because that is what you when you over stay - an illegal alien [INVALID] the opportunity to get caught is greater so why risk it?........... I spend a lot of time on travel sites and I have never seen your statement......."I have read all over the web that you can stay for months and you can get extra time every time you have your passport stamped by one of the countries that do not belong to the Schengen" Where have you read that?

I can't comment on the Schengen rules, as I don't know any more than has already been posted here. But as far as being "high maintenance", women in Europe do indeed wear makeup and high heels. If you are confident and comfortable walking in high heels, then I would say - pack them. I would suggest just one pair of heels (perhaps black) that would go with most of what you would wear. And you don't have to bring enough makeup for your entire stay. Buy it over there when you run out.

With Schengen you get 90 days in any 180 day period. Going to another country outside of Schengen and getting your passport stamped has nothing to do with Schengen. As an example, if you enter Italy on January 1, you can stay in Schengen a total of 90 days between January 1 and June 30. Then it starts all over again. However, it can get complicated....Let's say you stay a month in January and then the month of May and June. Techincally now, you only have 30 days left until the end of October. (The 180 day period started in January is still in effect, but now a new 180 day session started in May as well.) So, if you plan to visit Schengen, leave and return, I suggest you do all 90 days of Schengen first, leave for 3 months, and then return. Don't go in and out.....Yes, you can be deported, yes they check electronically, yes you will pay a fine, yes you can be banned for up to ten years...and they can force you to buy an airline ticket home at the going rate which is not the cheapest.

Oops! sorry about the "hills" mistake, I meant heels - but most of understood what I meant. Thank you all for your great advice. To clarify some of the questions, I live in Postsmouth New Hampshire and I am an American citizen and obviously have an American passport. I have read all over the web that you can stay for months and you can get extra time every time you have your passport stamped by one of the countries that do not belong to the Schengen. Can someone tell me how do they find out that I am still "around" and what could happen? Meaning do they deport me right there and then? How much does the penalty cost? Another clarification, I am 28 years old. I enormously appreciate your feedback.

Yes, they could deport you, the fine could be 500.00 Euros or more and you could be band from Europe for 5-10 years or longer. No, it doesn't work that way, you don't get extra time you only get 90 days out of 180. You would be a fool to try to stay longer, we here on this board can only tell you the laws, it's up to you if you want to follow the laws.

Elida, what Frank II said! Your Passport will be stamped at your first point of entry to the E.U. (likely the arrival airport), so the officials absolutely know when you entered. If you depart from the E.U., a stern looking Police officer will check your Passport prior to stamping your departure date. ¶ As the others have pointed out, Passports these days are "machine readable" as well (they "swipe" them like a credit card), with the information presumably ending up in a computer somewhere. The penalties CAN BE severe for overstays, but that's not to say that the maximum penalty will be applied in every case. However, if you're the one that they want to use to "set an example", the fines can be expensive and you could be deported for up to 10 years from the E.U. ¶ There are legal ways of staying longer. I don't know if you're eligible for something like a "Working Holiday Visa", but that might be something to check into. That particular program seems to favour Commonwealth citizens mostly, so U.S. citizens are often excluded. However, there may be similar programs that you could take advantage of. Good luck!

Elida, You've already received much good advice. I'll only add that in many countries your hotel will briefly borrow your passport in order to register your stay with the local authorities. If you're not staying at a hotel (or inn or B&B), I believe you are responsible for registering with the authorities. My point is that there will be records of your stays and it will not be difficult to prove you've exceed your allowed stay. Don't take that risk.

I can't begin to thank all of you for the great advice you have provided. I will follow Frank II advice and stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days then leave and come back. The only countries that I have identified as not in the zone are: Ireland, UK, Cypres, Romania, Bulgaria can you verify that it is correct, or are there other "near-by" countries that are not in the Schengen zone.

Not sure whether you want to visit these places or not, but these countries in the greater European region are not part of Schengen: Croatia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedona, Albana, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey. I, too, agree with Frank's advice. Spend 90 days in Schengen, 90 days out (say, UK and Ireland), and then you have another 90 day in.

Elida: You asked specifically about this, go to this website to find a list of the 25 European countries that are members of the Schengen agreement: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_4361.html * * * European countries not on that list are not subject to the Schengen rules.