How to Plan a Trip to Europe: Basics

There are 3 parts to this introduction blog on general tips to bear in mind for international travel to Europe.

This first post is aimed at visitors from Indian subcontinent planning a trip to Europe on their own; all the rest of the posts have relevant general info valid for people of all countries! Readers holding passports of other countries can skip to the next post...

The next post gives tips for planning a multi destination Europe trip with suggestions for allocation of number of days and choice of season, tour  vs individual trips, aspects to be considered when planning a driving holiday:

http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-plan-trip-to-europe-planning.html

The last past in this particular topic of general tips covers booking air tickets, train trips, Hotel bookings: 
http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-plan-trip-to-europe-air-tickets.html
                       

 http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/10/about-this-blog.html

gives an introduction about the contents of this blog and navigation of this site    
     

   ESSENTIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Passports for all members of the family:

These days it’s very easy to get passports –there is an online service for filling up forms and the procedure is well streamlined. Indians can get your passport in a week without any agents or touts.

http://www.passportindia.gov.in/

is the official government site.

For those with passports, check that the passport is valid for 6 more months at the time of travel and there are at least 2 blank pages

Visa for the relevant country:

Indian citizens need to have a tourist visa valid for the country of visit for the duration of visit.

In the context of the visa, many European countries come under the Schengen category and so with Schengen visa got from one country, you can visit other Countries too.

So you can group a couple of countries which are easily connected. For example, you can visit Paris in France and then take a train to Switzerland and enjoy the scenic beauty there on one single trip and with one Schengen visa.

Paris: Opera Garnier

Switzerland: Bachalpsee

Be aware that UK is not under Schengen and you need a separate UK visa. So clubbing London and Paris for one visit will need 2 different visas for an Indian citizen. Eurostar train journey is just 2 hours 15 minutes for London–Paris and 1 hour 51 minutes for London–Brussels. However, weigh it against the expense and time taken for getting 2 relevant visas.

London: Tower of London Bridge

                                      How to get a visa

In India vfs is the agency dealing with visas for the schengen countries. Google and find out which city is applicable for you, based on your place of residence.

http://vfsglobal.com/

Their site is user friendly and you can easily find out what relevant documents are needed for your visa.

When I put in France as the country I wanted to visit, I got to this page

http://www.vfs-france.co.in/

As you can see all necessary details are here.

What are the most important documents for tourist visa application?

You need confirmed return air tickets, a detailed itinerary of how you plan to spend your time, hotel bookings and a bank balance showing you can foot the expenses for your trip along with the other things specified on the vfs site.

I’m explaining how to book reasonably priced air tickets and hotels in a later entry.

http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-plan-trip-to-europe-air-tickets.html will show you how to book air tickets and hotels

Which country to apply for visa when visiting more than one country?

You can get a visa for the country you enter (port of entry) if you are spending equal amount of time in 2 countries

If time spent is unequal, you should get visa for the country you spend more time in.

If you are spending 3 days in Paris and 5 days in Luzern you should get visa from the Swiss consulate even if you are flying in to Paris first.

Your first port of entry does NOT need to be the country which issued you a Schengen visa. Which country to apply for a visa is determined by which country you're spending the most time according to your filed itinerary. Once the visa is issued, it does not matter what country is your point of entry. Technically, you should also stick to your itinerary as filed. These days, there are random border checks even on trains between 2 countries.

Friendly tip

Based on extensive first hand experience of family, and wide circle of friends. here’s a friendly tip.

In most cases when you submit all the documents listed everything goes smooth.

However, some things are a little ambiguous/ unclear and the standard answer is contact the vfs helpline for clarification. To be frank… it’s not that simple some times!

The vfs helpline is terrible at giving correct answers for doubts... for example 

The documents list specifies bank statement. A person will ask them if online statement will suffice and will receive the answer “yes” on a telephonic conversation AND another answer "hard copy statement with bank stamp needed" when the same question is asked on their email helpline. 

Spain embassy in New Delhi, India for example will only take the latter. However, online statements are accepted by France, Switzerland etc. But depending on the vfs counter person, the applicant will have to run around for the hard copy from bank at the time of application. Total waste of time and energy when you have to have to drive to your bank with the traffic hardly moving on the busy roads… after you have clearly been misled when you asked earlier!

So is the case with passport pictures etc. The site will specify light background, vfs will refuse anything except a white background.

Real experience stories are numerous. Anyways, let's not sweat the small stuff, but learn to laugh at such vagaries if and when they happen!

Only take away is ...leave ample time for run-arounds... apply 90 days ahead instead of 3 weeks ahead… yes, business trips are hard to schedule with huge advance notice but don't expect vfs to have clear cut procedures or communicate them in consistent manner.

Most of the times things will be smooth... but be prepared for inefficiency too!

The trick is to expect delays… when things go smooth, as they do in most cases, be happy!

Also vfs is only a collection agency; they don't have the right to open the passport and ascertain if visa was granted and they don't have studies of what documents are sufficient.

The concerned embassy and the counter person there determine the fate of the application. Again, some times there is inefficiency... Recent example in Aug 2016: Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan was refused a UK visa in New Delhi for performing at Royal Albert Hall after some 40 years of annual visits!! His case got resolved with help from the external affairs minister! We don't hear of unknown individual cases but majority of cases go smooth.

So message for the Traveler: No need to stress over a visa application… apply early and have some extra time to spare!!

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are from experience …this is in no way denigrating vfs who are just providing a paid service

 I'm continuing my tips for drawing detailed plans in my next post...

http://adventuretrav.blogspot.com/2016/03/how-to-plan-trip-to-europe-planning.html