Travelers Digest: Travel Advice

Archive for November, 2011

Questions about visas and borders in Europe

Question: I’m planning on traveling throughout some countries in Europe for three months (I understand 90 days are the limit unfortunately), mainly doing stuff through helpx.net and workaway.info (helping out in places for accommodation and meals). What I want to do is arrive in one country, stay there for two or three weeks, then go on to another country, and so on, until my 90 days are done and I go home.

So I have a few questions:

1) I understand that the UK/Ireland aren’t a part of the Schengen Agreement. Does that mean that if I start my travels in France, and after 90 days of staying in the Schengen Agreement countries, I go to the UK - can I stay there for an additional two/three weeks? Or must my time in England be included in the 90 days even though they’re not strictly in the agreement?

2) I understand that some countries have strict border rules. Doing a trip like this means I can’t simply order a two-way ticket to the first country I’m visiting, because I can’t be sure exactly when I want to leave. I may decide to continue to another country after two weeks, or after three weeks - depending on where I am and how much fun it is over there, etc. So what I thought I’d do was buy a one-way ticket for my first country, and then go on depending on how things go. But I read in several places that some countries may make trouble about the whole one-way ticket thing (especially the UK from what I’ve read) - and they want proof that you’re leaving their country in some specific date.. if that’s true then must I buy some second plain/train ticket even though I don’t want to be restricted by a specific date? I understand these tickets are many times difficult to cancel and get a refund. What would you guys suggest?

3) Referring to my last question, after I already enter the first country in Europe - how are movements between countries? I guess the cheap options are train rides or EasyJet flights. Is there a big difference between the two (for example - if I take a train into another country I guess there are no border checkups on my way, but if I go by plane - I must show the visa I got from the first country I entered right?)? Is it different for instance if I’m travelling from Italy to France, or if I’m going from France to the UK (which isn’t in the Schengen Agreement)?
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Best time of the year to travel to South Africa?

Question: Can anyone recommend which time frame they’d choose based on the climate in Africa at that time of year?

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Alternative areas in San Francisco

Question: Is anyone able to tell me the ‘alternative’ areas of San Fran? I.e. quirky shops, cafes, pubs, live music. I heard Mission District in San Fran is alternative???

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A hurried trip to Southeast Asia

Question: I’m planning a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, flying in and out of Saigon. I don’t think I’ll have time to visit northern Vietnam, but I was hoping to be able to get out to Siem Reap and see Angkor Wat. However the flights are $200 USD and it’s quite a distance, should I just skip it altogether?

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Philppines Dec 2011 - Feb 2012

Question: Hello! I am off to the Philippines dec - feb & very excited!! I’d love recommendations of where to visit/cheapest forms of travel/accomodation. I’ll be spending christmas & new years there alone so suggestions of where to spend the holiday season would be great too!!

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