22 Sep
Travel Tips

ETIAS Guide to Visa-Free Travel in Europe

We’ve all dreamed of glorious European vacations, right? Whether it’s spending a week in Barcelona, visiting Sardinia in Italy or eating our way through Paris – there are many European travel dreams.

Citizens of roughly 60 countries, including the US, who can travel visa-free in Europe will soon need to make an ETIAS application electronically before entering any Schengen country.

It’s not as complicated as it sounds though and merely involves a few extra steps to add to your travel planning routine. We’ve covered everything that you need to know about applying for ETIAS for your upcoming trip to Europe below.

ETIAS application
ETIAS application process for visa-free travel in Europe

What is ETIAS?

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorization System and requires non-European Union citizens seeking visa-free travel to any of 26 nations in the Schengen area to register online and gain approval before being allowed to board planes to the region. It is an entirely electronic system that allows entry and keeps track of visitors from countries who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone.

It’s similar to ESTA (United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which many travelers need to complete to enter the US. ETIAS aims to lower crime and terrorism risks in Europe and to ease border procedures for visitors.

When will ETIAS take effect?

ETIAS was initially scheduled to take effect from January 2021 but is now expected to become operational by the end of 2022, with transitional measures planned for a smooth introduction.

A list of the ETIAS countries

Countries that require an ETIAS to enter include all countries within the Schengen zone.

The Schengen zone encompasses Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Who will need ETIAS?

ETIAS targets citizens of countries who can enter the EU zone visa-free. This includes 62 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Hong Kong, etc. You can check if you require an ETIAS here.

How does the ETIAS system work?

The ETIAS system will be efficient and straightforward to use, ultimately saving time for applicants and processing.

The ETIAS application can be made in three steps:

  1. Complete the online ETIAS application: It takes about 10 minutes to complete and includes biometric information, citizenship, address, contact details, EU country you’re visiting and background and eligibility questions.
  2. Pay the ETIAS fees and submit the form: When you complete the application, you will have to pay the fee and submit it. The system will process your information and approve your application.
  3. Receive the visa waiver by email: In addition to being sent via email, the approved ETIAS visa waiver is linked electronically to the applicant’s passport.

During your application, the system will automatically process your identity, travel documents and answers to background questions against databases (SIS, VIS, EUROPOL DATA, SLTD & TDAWN (Interpol), EURODAC, etc.) and its screening rules and watchlist.

ETIAS are valid for three years or until the end of validity of the passport registered during the application, whichever comes first.

An example: Venezuelans traveling to France

Since Venezuela is part of the European Visa-Exempt Program, travelers must complete an ETIAS application before traveling to Europe.

Once ETIAS becomes mandatory, Venezuelan passport holders will apply for an ETIAS for France (which is within the Schengen zone) before departure. With an approved ETIAS visa waiver, Venezuelan passport holders will be able to spend up to 90 days in France.

Here’s an example of getting an ETIAS for Venezuelans to travel to France:

  • In the online ETIAS for Venezuela to travel to France application, Venezuelans require the following documents:
    • Venezuela passport: this must be valid for at least three months from the date of entry
    • Debit or credit card: this is required to pay the ETIAS for France fees
    • Current email address: the approved visa waiver will be sent to the email inbox
  • While completing the ETIAS online form, you’ll need the below information on hand:
    • Full name as it appears on the passport
    • Contact details including current residential address and email address
    • Passport information such as the number and expiry date
ETIAS application process for visa-free travel in Europe
ETIAS application process for visa-free travel in Europe

How much does ETIAS cost?

It is planned for ETIAS to only cost €7 for each application for adults over 18 years. Travelers under 18 will not have to pay any fees.

Enjoy visa-free travel to Europe

For members of the 60+ countries that don’t require a visa to enter Europe, don’t let the ETIAS application process scare you away. It’s simply a 10-minute online application that is super simple and efficient!


09 Aug
Travel Tips

Top Reasons to Travel to Europe in Autumn

When it comes to finding an adventure vacation, it can be all about the timing! In Europe, each season brings with it a whole new experience. The summer months can be extremely hot and busy while the winter months are great for skiing and other snow sports, Europe in Autumn however, is one of our favorite times to visit.

For the Americans reading, we’re talking about traveling to Europe in the Fall. The season where the leaves start changing, the days get a bit shorter and the air a bit crispier.

Autumn is a great option when looking for a adventure vacation in Europe. Here’s why:

Europe in autumn
Europe in autumn

Here are the top 10 reasons to travel to Europe in autumn

1.  The summer crowds are nowhere to be seen

Can you imagine just walking into the museum of your choice… with no lines!  How about getting into the famed restaurants you have read all about?  (August in Europe is known for closing places down so the employees can have some time off.) Traveling in the off-season means less crowds and more opportunities for experiencing the destination like a local.

2. The weather is great

The autumn temperatures, are much more conducive to active vacations.  With temperatures leaving the 90’s for the more comfortable 70’s and 80’s, fall is the perfect time to get outside! The cooler temperatures make an Italy bike tour the best time to go. Be prepared for a few rainy days though!

3.  Changing of the seasons

You always hear about it for the U.S. midwest and northeast and the same goes for many European destinations.  Imagine the hills of Tuscany golden, to match the light! As the leaves start changing their golden shades of auburn, orange, and brown, the streets and hillsides take on a whole new vibe. It’s beautiful and so picturesque!

4.  Your photos won’t look like everyone else’s

Fewer strangers in the backgrounds, the fall colors highlighting the city and landscapes, moodier lighting from earlier evenings, and more beautiful sunsets falling behind that amazing cathedral you just saw for the first time.

5.  Getting Time off

You can get time off work more easily because everyone else is fighting over the summer holidays. Or, you could always work remotely and take an extended stay.

6.  Wine lovers

Wine grape harvests fall in the autumn months: August for Italy, and September and October in France.  Amazing festivals often coincide with harvest time – meaning even more wine tasting!

7.  Restaurants change

Seasonal mushroom and truffle dishes are a real treat during fall. Who wants to eat schnitzel in the summer anyway? Traveling to Europe in autumn means that some days can be spent enjoying a fresh meal outside in the sun while other days are spent inside a cozy restaurant tucking into a hearty meal while the rain falls outside.

8. It’s more affordable

Off-season means you can typically find cheaper price tags on airfare and hotels.

9. Shorter days

Shorter days means there are more opportunities for moonlit strolls.  Imagine the romance!

10. Best season for visiting museums

As rainy season approaches, you won’t feel like you are missing a beautiful, sunny, day if you spend your time inside. Musee D’Orsay anyone?


23 May
Travel Tips

Hidden Gems in Europe – Travel Dudes

You could travel and explore the typical highlights of Europe… But why don’t you visit these hidden gems in Europe as well?

When thinking about a trip in Europe, your first thoughts are probably the big cities of Europe like visiting Paris, Barcelona, Prague or going sailing Croatia. But, there’s a lot more to Europe to discover than these hot spots.

If you’re looking for somewhere quieter, check out these hidden gems in Europe.

The best hidden gems in Europe

Skip the crowds and check out these secret spots in Europe.

Cinigiano, Italy

100 kilometers south of Florence, this small corner of Tuscan wine country has managed to its keep old-world charms while producing some of the most striking new-school Super Tuscan wines.

Breathtaking views of endless fields and vineyards, even better at sunset, are around practically every corner. Yet somehow, the crush of crowds isn’t.

Tour organic family-run vineyards like Cantina Basile or live royally while staying at the Castello di Vicarello. It’s all truly divine.

Another lovely place to visit nearby is the vineyards of Chianti.

Hidden gem in Italy, Cinigiano
Cinigiano, Italy

Roanne, France

Foodies will find eating their way across the French countryside is a breeze, no matter where they go. But those serious about top-notch gastronomy cannot miss Roanne, home of the Troisgros family and of Maison Troisgos, a restaurant that foodie bible Gault Millau referred to as the best in the entire world.

Those who prefer to sharpen their own skills in the kitchen can attend The Ecole des Trois Ponts, a famous nearby cooking school.

Take a stroll by the Loire river to walk off the calories, and enjoy some of the historical architecture.

Here are a few other trips in France that aren’t Paris.

Lappeenranta, Finland

Closer to Saint Petersburg than to Helsinki, Lappeenranta draws a fair share of visitors from nearby during the summer months. A short drive from Saimaa, the fourth largest lake in all of Europe, travelers come for boat cruises and sunbathing during the warmer months.

But there are plenty of great ways to spend the day that don’t involve fishing or swimming. A bustling central market, ancient fortress, and plenty of museums and other cultural attractions mean there’s never a dull moment in this curious Scandinavian city.

Winter brings low temperatures and plentiful skiing, snowmobiling, and sledding.

Another hidden gem in Finland is Hossa National Park.

Lappeenranta - Hidden gems in Europe
Lappeenranta, Finland

Cotas, Portugal

A couple years back, Portugal’s Duoro Valley was anointed the next Napa, and while the international market might not have reacted accordingly, wine lovers and fans of peaceful vistas overlooking rolling hills will fall in love once they visit.

The small town of Cotas is predominantly known for Quinta da Romaneira, where old-world decor is preserved but cutting-edge fermenting tanks and materials are used to help local vines step up their game.

It’s a perfect luxury retreat for travelers looking to be pampered somewhere other than the typical European haunts.

Abisko, Sweden

This secluded Lapland town might not immediately seem like a must-see spot, but that’s before travelers take into account its Arctic Circle location – definitely one of the hidden gems in Europe.

Photographers, nature-lovers, and anyone who wants a mind-blowing experience should make the pilgrimage to Abisko National Park, one of the best spots in the world to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights). Shimmering curtains of bright green and blue dance across the sky for hours during the winter months, and clear skies mean an even more stunning spectacle.

For those who are serious about their viewing experience, booking an overnight with the Aurora Sky Station is a must. Check out these accommodation options.

European hidden gem in Sweden
Abisko, Sweden


France to Greece
06 Aug
Travel Tips

From France to Greece. A Summer of House Sitting Through Europe.

 

Imagine this, your peering out over a gorgeous Greek beach from your own balcony. Next to you is a very cute border collie patiently waiting for breakfast. You have six weeks to explore this new little village, beaches and all its delicious local food (and to think the accommodation is costing you nothing).

We, The Travelling House Sitters recently spent that time in the Greek seaside village. With a month of 28°C days, it allowed for a lovely slow exploration of the Greek coastal village!

Over the last three years, we have cared for over 29 homes, in places such as Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Ireland, The UK, France, Italy, Montenegro & Greece and The Carribean.

Below are some of our favourite house sits (how you can get started too!)

Amongst the Vines

Our first house in Europe was 30 mins east of Bordeaux. We had travelled from India to Turkey then onto Manchester to pick up our new campervan. It was a long drive and we couldn’t wait to arrive and relax!

This home was set along a beautiful river that stretched to Bordeaux and was nestled within dozens of rows of vines. The homeowners informed us that as long as you stayed a set of vines away from the farmhouse you could walk though any vineyard in the area. This made walking the dog each morning a dream come true.

True to form the wine of the area was incredible. Our little town had a just a supermarket, boulangerie and a local wine association. The baguettes were known as the best in the region ( we couldn’t agree more).

From France to Rome

Following the home in the vines we looked after an apartment in Barcelona, and then back to France for a house sit in Provence. After Provence, it was on to Italy! We were booked too care for a lakeside villa in Lake Como and three cats. We then braved the heatwave and made our way down to Rome for a month-long housesit.

As we journeyed south, we ticked off bucket list locations such as the Tuscan Hills, Florence, the Parmigiano cheese factories & Bologna (one of the most surprisingly beautiful cities in Europe!)

The Unexpected Views of Montenegro

We didn’t know much about Montenegro but it absolutely blew us away. We cared for two cats who until just recently had spent their entire lives living on a sailboat in the Caribbean. We think they enjoyed the views of The Bay of Kotor almost as much as we did. However, one of them preferred the sights and sounds of his favourite YouTube videos, one was a 14-hour long video of an aquamarine and the other a 10-hour video of tropical birds (it’s a tough life for a cat).

Next, it was on to Greece for the final leg of our journey. However, between Montenegro & Greece our campervan broke down in the middle of the Albanian countryside (but that is a story for another time). We sadly left the camper behind and journeyed on by bus to our next sit.

In the Greek Kitchen

Our next sit was in a Greek seaside village. Here we learnt the true meaning of Greek hospitality. The homeowners insisted we stay for two nights when they returned. They wanted us to experience a Sunday feast with the whole family.

It was an incredible experience in which we spend the morning in the kitchen learning Greek recipes then the afternoon eating, drinking and chatting with the whole extended family.

Our final house sit of this journey is in Athens at the base of the Pantheon, we look forward to experiencing the city before we head off to the Caribbean! Our next house sit involves a catamaran and another sailing cat!

This house sitting lifestyle is very enriching and can be suited to anyone. Whether you’re an adventurous traveller or someone who just needs to save some money on rent. If you’re interested in experiencing this for yourself, we are here to help! Take our online course which takes you through how to become a housesitter!