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Extended Stay / Living Abroad in Europe
Posted on 2/25/19 at 3:23 pm
Posted on 2/25/19 at 3:23 pm
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/30/19 at 5:24 pm
15
Posted on 2/25/19 at 3:35 pm to kfizzle85
Id start north and work my way down. My buddy did this last summer for 2 months. he never booked anything more than just a few days in advance.
Just went to these a few months ago. If I were you I wouldnt stay in lets say vienna for a few weeks. You only need a few days of vienna. Make Austria a week or two long and go to Vienna, graz, and salzburg.
Others to look into obviously London, but also Munich, Zagreb, I enjoyed bratislava
quote:
Vienna, Prague, Budapest
Just went to these a few months ago. If I were you I wouldnt stay in lets say vienna for a few weeks. You only need a few days of vienna. Make Austria a week or two long and go to Vienna, graz, and salzburg.
Others to look into obviously London, but also Munich, Zagreb, I enjoyed bratislava
This post was edited on 2/25/19 at 3:36 pm
Posted on 2/25/19 at 3:41 pm to kfizzle85
I have a friend who does this for a few months every summer. Go to cheaper cities. Budapest is great, Poland would be fun... anywhere Central or Eastern Europe. Look at house-sitting opportunities. October and November is starts to get cool... Portugal wouldn’t be a bad place. It sounds like fun. Do it as frugally as you can... stretch it out.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 3:45 pm to kfizzle85
With that much time, I'd be tempted to stay 2-3 weeks in multiple cities. I like the idea of starting with the most northerly/coldest and working south.
Regarding activities, I think you've got it backwards: many European cities are abandoned to the tourists during the summer, and "real" life kind of restarts in the fall. Esp in France & Italy, everyone goes on vacation/travels in July & August, so unless you're specifically looking at resort/beach towns, you'll probably find more to do as autumn sets in. Since you're not into outdoors stuff, weather isn't such a big deal.
How are your language skills? Longer term stays mean you need a bit more than the casual tourist's few words. You will want to have longer interactions with the people you encounter....
Regarding activities, I think you've got it backwards: many European cities are abandoned to the tourists during the summer, and "real" life kind of restarts in the fall. Esp in France & Italy, everyone goes on vacation/travels in July & August, so unless you're specifically looking at resort/beach towns, you'll probably find more to do as autumn sets in. Since you're not into outdoors stuff, weather isn't such a big deal.
How are your language skills? Longer term stays mean you need a bit more than the casual tourist's few words. You will want to have longer interactions with the people you encounter....
Posted on 2/25/19 at 3:52 pm to hungryone
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/30/19 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 2/25/19 at 3:59 pm to kfizzle85
In no particular order...since you've been to Portugal and Spain (one of my favorites)
Prague, Florence, and Reykjavik...
Prague, Florence, and Reykjavik...
Posted on 2/25/19 at 4:00 pm to kfizzle85
quote:
ETA I will be in London at some point as I have several clients there. Will probably be either beginning or end of trip.
I'm headed to London at the end of the week. It's a fun place, with so many layers of history. The food scene is interesting, too. It also puts Scotland within an easy train ride...that's where I'd be tempted to go in July.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 4:03 pm to kfizzle85
July and August in amsterdam is great. I've spent 2 1/2 weeks there and a few 1 week durations. Lodging has gotten expensive there recently but food/drink is still reasonable. After August the days get short really fast and rain/cold sets in and this is true for most of northern europe. I would head to Barcelona for the fall although Croatia would be good too.
This post was edited on 2/25/19 at 4:05 pm
Posted on 2/25/19 at 4:15 pm to kfizzle85
Oh, also, pay attention to the 90-limit on Schengen Zone countries. 90 days or less stay within 180 days and you won't need a visa. More than 90 days within a 180 day period, and you will need visas. DO NOT overstay.
UK is not Schengen Zone.
UK is not Schengen Zone.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 4:20 pm to kfizzle85
Go somewhere exciting and different!
Kiev
Prague
Warsaw
Kiev
Prague
Warsaw
Posted on 2/25/19 at 4:54 pm to kfizzle85
I would strongly consider one central location within easy train rides to other cities. Reason being is 2-3 weeks in one city and you are still a tourist. Plus if you stay somewhere for 3-4 months you can probably get a considerably better rent.
You also get to find a pub and become a regular, regular at a coffee bar, etc.
I just think that's a lot different and in depth experience than moving around all the time. If you have never done it and are interested in that.
Keep in mind internet. If you work online. Internet in some places is not what it is in the USA. Much worse many places.
You also get to find a pub and become a regular, regular at a coffee bar, etc.
I just think that's a lot different and in depth experience than moving around all the time. If you have never done it and are interested in that.
Keep in mind internet. If you work online. Internet in some places is not what it is in the USA. Much worse many places.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 6:47 pm to baldona
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/30/19 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 2/25/19 at 7:27 pm to kfizzle85
Do it; my 28 y/o daughter is in the UK right now and will be in various countries until May, when she plans to return home. She's really loving it; sends me text everyday about what she's doing. She started planning it almost a year before she left. I think she used some of the itineraries recommended by Rick Steves.
Posted on 2/25/19 at 11:20 pm to kfizzle85
quote:
Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and Amsterdam
Give Sofia, Bulgaria a shot too. Nice city, things are cheap, it's not touristy, and the locals are friendly. There is a ton of natural beauty to be found just outside of the city with lakes, mountains, etc. I'd hit Sofia for a couple of weeks and head down to Greece, spend a couple days in Athens and then head out to one or two of the islands. Croatia should be on your list as well.
quote:
Best weather if going July-Novemberish?
Start in Prague or Amsterdam and work south. Would recommend looking for places in the Prague 2, Vinohrady area. Cool neighborhood with a chill, bohemian vibe. Cheaper and more local than anything in the Old City. Prague is definitely getting more expensive but it's still pretty affordable for the most part. $1.50 Pilsner Urquell anywhere you go outside of the really touristy areas.
quote:
How much do things die down after summer? Totally dead or just casual?
You'll find things to be more relaxed than peak tourist season with plenty of things still going on.
quote:
Weather over that long a period? Thinking I'd just buy cold weather clothes there (don't really have any tbh).
Bring some dark jeans and a hoodie/light jacket, but you can find pretty much anything you need in the cities you'll be in. Malls are still a big thing in Europe.
quote:
Should I open a separate bank account or get a certain type of credit card?
Get a travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees, Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve is great. Get a debit account through Charles Schwab or Capital One 360 that doesn't have ATM fees.
AirBnb is king, you can normally negotiate weekly/monthly rates with the host before you book.
Check Facebook groups for ExPats or Nomads living in your cities before you go, they're usually full of really helpful advice and are always having meetups, etc.
Download the Rick Steves app that's full of great podcasts and walking tours.
This post was edited on 2/25/19 at 11:22 pm
Posted on 2/26/19 at 8:52 am to kfizzle85
I would highly suggest getting away from the big cities. Have you looked into a rental car lease long term? Maybe buy a beater for like $4000? Then sell it? Probably what I'd do. A lot of their cars are dirt cheap to start like 15,000 euro because they so small.
That time of year outside of the big cities you would have some great experiences in medium to small cities/ towns. There are a lot of regions where you could stay somewhere central and be 1.5 hours away from 4-5 cities that are 200k+ population. Find a flat for something like 1200/ month.
The more I think about it, the more I think I'd do something like that for like 6 weeks at a time. That way you have a comfortable home base for awhile. Traveling every week or 2 would get old for me after a couple of weeks. But then again, you can just be flexible and change it up too.
That time of year outside of the big cities you would have some great experiences in medium to small cities/ towns. There are a lot of regions where you could stay somewhere central and be 1.5 hours away from 4-5 cities that are 200k+ population. Find a flat for something like 1200/ month.
The more I think about it, the more I think I'd do something like that for like 6 weeks at a time. That way you have a comfortable home base for awhile. Traveling every week or 2 would get old for me after a couple of weeks. But then again, you can just be flexible and change it up too.
Posted on 2/26/19 at 4:34 pm to kfizzle85
My daughter also used the website "Trusted Housesitters" where she signed up to housesit and she actually got a request from a couple who live outside of Paris somewhere. They had several phone conversations and she has arranged to housesit for them and take care of their pets in exchange for just living there. I can't remember how long, but I don't think it's more than a couple of weeks. So, that will be two weeks without having to pay for a place to stay.
Posted on 3/4/19 at 4:34 pm to TigerAlum1982
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/30/19 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 3/4/19 at 5:31 pm to kfizzle85
quote:
but the Netherlands limits Airbnb to 30 days per year now
the Netherlands doesn't but Amsterdam is trying to enforce a max 30 day limit to rent your house/apt per year. Airbnb and other booking sites have said they are not enforcing the 30 day limit but a 60 day limit instead since this is the agreement they had with the city for the last few years. It has made things more expensive but I found some apts in the $120-$150 range which is what we have paid the last few times we were there. You could book 30 days in one place and 30 days in another. And I wouldn't stay in the city center proper. We usually stay outside the canal ring near Vondel Park and off Overtoom (street). The neighborhoods of Helmersbuurt, Kinkerbuurt, Oud-West....really the area from Singlegracht canal out to Schinkelgract canal is where more locals live and very close to the city center. And there are lots of cafes and bars along Overtoom and the side streets that intersect with Overtoom. We rarely go into the center but do go into the Jordaan (the canal ring zone). But, just looking at airbnb prices, we may have to stay in a hotel next time as there are a bunch of good ones for under $100. We have gone to The Tire Station Hotel for a drink and it was a cool, laid back place.
This post was edited on 3/4/19 at 5:36 pm
Posted on 3/4/19 at 6:26 pm to Zappas Stache
(no message)
This post was edited on 8/30/19 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 3/4/19 at 7:48 pm to kfizzle85
I’m not an expert, but wouldn’t staying that long in some countries require a visa or other paperwork? I would start by researching which countries you can live that long without restrictions
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