9
Months in Europe
9
Main Stops
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📊 Overall Progress
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🎯 Priority now · French visa preparation
The planned long-stay application window is now open for the 20 February 2027 arrival in France. Update the France-Visas wizard to request cover through 12 July, assemble accommodation and insurance evidence, and prepare separate appointment packs for Jill and Rod.
☕ A little preview of the adventure ahead
Slow mornings, maps on the table and plenty of time to enjoy each place—that is the spirit of this long European trip.
Illustrative image created from family photos, just for fun.
🗓️ Suggested Timeline
Now – 2026 · Preparation and booking
Sell and store belongings, confirm the French long-stay visitor visa strategy, arrange insurance, and book the long stays and peak-summer accommodation.
Tue 8 Dec 2026 · Arrive Rome (1 night)
Recover from the flight before travelling south.
Wed 9 Dec 2026 · Bari (about 6 weeks)
Winter in Puglia, through to 18 January.
Mon 18 Jan 2027 · Salerno (about 1 month)
A winter base for Pompeii, Naples, Paestum and the Amalfi Coast.
Fri 19 Feb 2027 · Genoa (1 night)
An overnight stop on the way from Salerno to Juan-les-Pins.
Sat 20 Feb 2027 · Juan-les-Pins (Antibes) (2 months)
A longer French Riviera stay through 22 April.
Thu 22 Apr 2027 · Dijon (about 9 weeks)
A spring stay in Burgundy through 28 June.
Mon 28 Jun 2027 · Strasbourg (2 weeks)
Alsace, canals, cathedral and wine-route villages.
Mon 12 Jul 2027 · Munich (about 4 weeks)
Summer in Bavaria through 11 August.
Wed 11 Aug 2027 · Vienna (3 nights)
Palaces, museums, music and coffee houses.
Sat 14 Aug 2027 · Venice (3 nights)
Three nights in the historic lagoon city over the Ferragosto holiday weekend.
Tue 17 Aug 2027 · Genoa (3 weeks)
Three weeks in Liguria with coastal day trips.
Tue 7 Sep 2027 · Rome (3 nights)
Finish in Rome, then fly home on Friday 10 September.
French long-stay visa is the key: France now lasts 142 nights, so apply for a French long-stay visa covering Juan-les-Pins, Dijon and Strasbourg through 12 July. Using conservative boundary-day counting, the remaining Schengen travel still peaks at 75 days in a rolling 180-day window—a 15-day buffer. See Visas & Docs before adding or extending any stop.
🌤️ Live Weather & Local Time
🇮🇹 Bari
🇮🇹 Salerno
🇫🇷 Juan-les-Pins
🇫🇷 Dijon
🇫🇷 Strasbourg
🇩🇪 Munich
🇦🇹 Vienna
🇮🇹 Venice
🇮🇹 Genoa
Online · Core itinerary and saved details remain available without live weather.Saved on this device
📱 Today & Next
A simplified travel-day view for a phone. It uses the itinerary date below and pulls saved accommodation details and booking references from the Bookings tab.
In an immediate emergency anywhere in the EU, call 112. Contact the travel insurer as soon as practical. For serious consular emergencies, Australia’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre is +61 2 6261 3305.
Emergency contacts
🇪🇺 Police · ambulance · fire
112Free EU-wide emergency number. Tell the operator the city, address and what has happened.
🇦🇺 Australian consular emergency
+61 2 6261 3305For serious emergencies overseas when local authorities, family or the insurer cannot resolve the problem.
Do not store passport numbers, bank details, passwords or document scans in this public website. Keep those in secure private storage.
One-tap travel essentials
SmartravellerCurrent advisories, local contacts and emergency guidance.
Google MapsOpen saved places, walking directions and public transport.
Google TranslateItalian, French and German translation and camera mode.
Train travel helpPractical guidance for European rail journeys and stations.
France-VisasOfficial visa assistant, guidance and post-arrival validation.
ETIAS statusCheck the official launch status before the December departure.
Useful phrases
🇮🇹 Italian
Dov’è la stazione?Where is the station?
Abbiamo una prenotazione.We have a reservation.
Ho bisogno di un medico.I need a doctor.
Il conto, per favore.The bill, please.
🇫🇷 French
Où est la gare ?Where is the station?
Nous avons une réservation.We have a reservation.
J’ai besoin d’un médecin.I need a doctor.
L’addition, s’il vous plaît.The bill, please.
🇩🇪 German
Wo ist der Bahnhof?Where is the station?
Wir haben eine Reservierung.We have a reservation.
Ich brauche einen Arzt.I need a doctor.
Die Rechnung, bitte.The bill, please.
Private planning notes on this device
Backup, transfer and print
The checklists, booking tracker, visa progress and notes are saved only in this browser. Export a backup regularly and use Import to move progress to another phone or computer.
📋 Master Booking Tracker
Track every stay and major journey in one place. Enter booking references, addresses, costs, cancellation dates and useful notes. Everything saves automatically on this device.
0Total items
0Booked
0Paid
0Still to book
| Item | Status | Provider / reference | Address, times or notes | Cost | Cancel by |
|---|
Privacy note: this information stays in this browser’s local storage. Avoid entering passport numbers, card details or passwords.
Jill & Rod's Task Progress
🏠 House Sale & Moving
0 / 0
🛂 Visas & Travel Documentation
0 / 0💳 Financial Preparation
0 / 0
🏥 Insurance & Medical
0 / 0
🏠 Accommodation Research & Booking
0 / 0📱 Communication & Admin
0 / 0
👨👦 Brief Dale, Paul & Scott
0 / 0
Confirmed handwritten schedule: Dates below follow Jill and Rod’s revised plan. Prices are planning ranges only; check live rates before booking, especially for Munich, Vienna and Venice in summer.
Detailed destination playbooks & video library
🧭 Plan each stay—and use it while you’re there
Open a destination for arrival advice, local transport, seasonal expectations, day trips and quick easy-day guidance. Each card now also has a fold-out collection of extra sights, local food and markets, gentle ready-made days, official visitor links and exact-place YouTube searches. Personal notes and watched-video ticks save on this device.
🏙️Quick accommodation and cost cardsCurrent weather, areas to consider and planning price ranges
Bari
Puglia, Italy — 9 Dec 2026 – 18 Jan 2027 · about 6 weeks
🏠 Accommodation guide€900–1,400/month
🍽️ Dining for two€40–70/day
✈️ Nearest airportBari Karol Wojtyla (BRI)
🏘️ Areas to considerMurat, Città Vecchia, Poggiofranco
🚆 Getting thereRome → Bari by Frecciarossa, about 4 hours
Why Bari? A relaxed first base in southern Italy, with easy trips to Alberobello, Matera, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Ostuni and Lecce.
Planning tip: Winter is quiet and good value. Murat is convenient; Città Vecchia is more atmospheric.
🗺️ Trip ideasAlberobello · Matera · Monopoli · Ostuni
Salerno
Campania, Italy — 18 Jan – 19 Feb 2027 · about 1 month
🏠 Accommodation guide€900–1,500/month
🍽️ Dining for two€45–80/day
✈️ Nearest airportNaples International (NAP)
🏘️ Areas to considerCentro Storico, near the Lungomare, Torrione
🚆 Getting thereTrain from Bari to Salerno via Naples, about 4–5 hours
Why Salerno? An affordable base for Pompeii, Naples, Paestum and the Amalfi Coast, with a pleasant waterfront and excellent rail links.
Planning tip: Winter ferry services can be limited, so plan on trains and buses as well as boats for coast trips.
🗺️ Trip ideasPompeii · Paestum · Naples · Amalfi Coast
Juan-les-Pins (Antibes)
French Riviera, France — 20 Feb – 22 Apr 2027 · 2 months
🏠 Accommodation guide€1,400–2,500/month
🍽️ Dining for two€65–110/day
✈️ Nearest airportNice Côte d’Azur (NCE)
🏘️ Areas to considerVieil-Antibes, Juan-les-Pins
🚆 Getting thereSalerno → Genoa on 19 Feb; continue to Juan-les-Pins via Ventimiglia and Nice on 20 Feb
Why Juan-les-Pins? A flatter seaside base beside Antibes, with beaches, its own station and easy rail trips along the Côte d’Azur.
Planning tip: The two-month stay runs from late winter into spring. Check heating for the first weeks, plus lift access and the reopening dates of seasonal businesses.
🗺️ Trip ideasNice · Monaco · Èze · Cannes · Grasse
Dijon
Burgundy, France — 22 Apr – 28 Jun 2027 · about 9 weeks
🏠 Accommodation guide€1,000–1,600/month
🍽️ Dining for two€50–85/day
✈️ Nearest airportLyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS); Paris is also practical by rail
🏘️ Areas to considerCentre-ville, near the Palais des Ducs
🚆 Getting thereJuan-les-Pins → Dijon by train via Marseille or Lyon
Why Dijon? A long spring and early-summer base in Burgundy for markets, architecture, vineyards and easy trips to Beaune and the Route des Grands Crus.
Planning tip: For a nine-week stay, prioritise a proper kitchen, washing machine and easy tram access over tourist-centre views.
🗺️ Trip ideasBeaune · Wine Road · Besançon · Chablis · Lyon
Strasbourg
Alsace, France — 28 Jun – 12 Jul 2027 · 2 weeks
🏠 Accommodation guide€900–1,500/2 weeks
🍽️ Dining for two€50–90/day
✈️ Nearest airportStrasbourg Airport (SXB)
🏘️ Areas to considerGrande Île, Krutenau, Orangerie
🚆 Getting thereDijon → Strasbourg by direct TGV, about 2 hours
Why Strasbourg? A beautiful French-German city with a soaring cathedral, canals, Petite France and the villages of the Alsace Wine Route nearby.
Planning tip: Krutenau is lively and walkable; Orangerie is quieter. Trams make it easy to stay outside the most touristy centre.
🗺️ Trip ideasColmar · Alsace Wine Route · Heidelberg · Baden-Baden
Munich
Bavaria, Germany — 12 Jul – 11 Aug 2027 · about 4 weeks
🏠 Accommodation guide€1,800–3,000/month
🍽️ Dining for two€65–110/day
✈️ Nearest airportMunich International (MUC)
🏘️ Areas to considerSchwabing, Maxvorstadt, Haidhausen
🚆 Getting thereStrasbourg → Munich by train, about 4 hours
Why Munich? Summer beer gardens, major museums and excellent day trips to the Alps, Neuschwanstein, Salzburg and Nuremberg.
Planning tip: This is peak season. Book the full stay early and choose a home near an U-Bahn or S-Bahn station.
🗺️ Trip ideasNeuschwanstein · Salzburg · Nuremberg · Tegernsee
Vienna
Austria — 11–14 Aug 2027 · 3 nights
🏠 Accommodation guide€700–1,300/week
🍽️ Dining for two€60–110/day
✈️ Nearest airportVienna International (VIE)
🏘️ Areas to considerInnere Stadt, Neubau, Wieden, Leopoldstadt
🚆 Getting thereMunich → Vienna by Railjet, about 4 hours
Why Vienna? Imperial palaces, exceptional art museums, coffee houses, classical music and easy public transport.
Planning tip: Neubau and Wieden offer more local atmosphere than the Innere Stadt while remaining close to the main sights.
🗺️ Trip ideasSchönbrunn · Belvedere · Kunsthistorisches Museum · Wachau
Venice
Veneto, Italy — 14–17 Aug 2027 · 3 nights
🏠 Accommodation guide€1,200–2,500/week
🍽️ Dining for two€65–115/day
✈️ Nearest airportVenice Marco Polo (VCE)
🏘️ Areas to considerDorsoduro, Cannaregio, Castello
🚆 Getting thereVienna → Venice by daytime or overnight train
Why Venice? The Grand Canal, St Mark’s, the Doge’s Palace, lagoon islands and the pleasure of exploring a city without cars.
Planning tip: Mid-August is hot and extremely busy, and 15 August is the Ferragosto public holiday. Book early, confirm holiday opening hours and plan major sights for early morning or evening.
🗺️ Trip ideasMurano · Burano · Torcello · Verona · Padua
Genoa
Liguria, Italy — 19 Feb · 1 night, then 17 Aug – 7 Sep 2027 · 3 weeks
🏠 Accommodation guide€1,200–2,000/month
🍽️ Dining for two€50–90/day
✈️ Nearest airportGenoa Cristoforo Colombo (GOA)
🏘️ Areas to considerMolo, Castelletto, Carignano, Boccadasse
🚆 Getting thereVenice → Genoa by train, about 4 hours
Why Genoa? A dramatic port city with grand palaces, a maze-like old town, pesto, focaccia and superb access to the Ligurian coast.
Planning tip: The February stop is just an overnight connection. For the August–September stay, check hill access, air-conditioning and proximity to lifts or funiculars.
🗺️ Trip ideasCamogli · Portofino · Cinque Terre · Turin
🚂 Getting Between Destinations
Sydney → RomeArrive Tuesday 8 December 2026; stay one night.
Rome → BariWednesday 9 December · Frecciarossa, about 4 hours.
Bari → SalernoMonday 18 January · train via Naples, about 4–5 hours.
Salerno → GenoaFriday 19 February · fast train via Rome; one night in Genoa.
Genoa → Juan-les-PinsSaturday 20 February · train via Ventimiglia and Nice.
Juan-les-Pins → DijonThursday 22 April · train via Marseille or Lyon.
Dijon → StrasbourgMonday 28 June · direct TGV, about 2 hours.
Strasbourg → MunichMonday 12 July · train via Stuttgart or Karlsruhe.
Munich → ViennaWednesday 11 August · Railjet, about 4 hours.
Vienna → VeniceSaturday 14 August · daytime train or overnight Nightjet; confirm the Ferragosto timetable.
Venice → GenoaTuesday 17 August · train via Milan, about 4 hours.
Genoa → RomeTuesday 7 September · direct train, about 4–5 hours; stay 3 nights before flying home on 10 September.
Booking toolsUse the operating railway first: Trenitalia/Italo in Italy, SNCF Connect in France, DB in Germany and ÖBB in Austria. Compare with Trainline, but check operator change rules before paying.
✅ Revised strategy: the dates appear to fit with one long-stay visa
The long French stay breaks the remaining Schengen travel into two blocks. Using a conservative boundary-day count, the largest rolling 180-day window contains 75 short-stay days, leaving a 15-day buffer under the 90-day limit. A French long-stay visa covering 20 February through 12 July 2027 is therefore the key application.
The long French stay breaks the remaining Schengen travel into two blocks. Using a conservative boundary-day count, the largest rolling 180-day window contains 75 short-stay days, leaving a 15-day buffer under the 90-day limit. A French long-stay visa covering 20 February through 12 July 2027 is therefore the key application.
French visa command centre
The planned six-month application window is now open. The stay begins on 20 February 2027 and now continues in France through 12 July. Use the official France-Visas wizard for the current document list and timing, and prepare separate applications and appointment packs for Jill and Rod.
📁 Shared application pack
Official Australia process
France-Visas assistant
Visitor stay over 3 months
Arrival and VLS-TS validation
Last checked against official guidance: 30 August 2026. Requirements can change; regenerate the personalised list immediately before lodging.
EES and ETIAS check: the Entry/Exit System is now operational. ETIAS is expected to start in the final quarter of 2026, but the exact date has not yet been announced. Because the trip begins in December 2026, check the official ETIAS page again before departure and confirm whether the French visa’s validity dates affect what is needed for the initial Italian entry.
Schengen calculation based on the handwritten dates
| Travel block | Dates | Status | Short-stay days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 8 Dec 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 | Visa-free Schengen short stay | 75 days |
| 🇫🇷 France | 20 Feb – 12 Jul 2027 | French long-stay visa | Not counted |
| 🇩🇪 Germany + 🇦🇹 Austria + 🇮🇹 Italy | 12 Jul – 10 Sep 2027 | Visa-free Schengen short stay | 61 days |
Method: entry and exit dates are counted, and the check looks backwards over every rolling 180-day period. Days authorised under a residence permit or long-stay visa are excluded. The pre-France block produces the 75-day peak; the post-France block is 61 days through departure on 10 September. Confirm the exact visa validity and transition dates before relying on the result.
🧮 Live Schengen 90/180 Calculator
Change any of the four critical dates and the count updates instantly. The French period is treated as authorised by the long-stay visa and excluded; all other Schengen days are counted conservatively, including boundary dates.
75Before France
143Visa days
61After France
15Smallest buffer
Calculating…
Planning aid only. Confirm the final itinerary and visa treatment with France-Visas/VFS or a qualified adviser before making non-refundable bookings.
FRENCH LONG-STAY “VISITOR” VISA (VLS-TS)
🇫🇷 Covers Juan-les-Pins · Dijon · Strasbourg
Why it is needed
The French portion runs from 20 February to 12 July 2027—142 nights across 143 calendar dates—so it exceeds 90 days. France-Visas says a stay in France exceeding 90 days requires a long-stay visa; use its wizard to confirm the correct private-stay or visitor category.
Exact period to request
20 February through 12 July 2027, covering Juan-les-Pins, Dijon and Strasbourg without a gap.
Conditions
Applicants must show their resources, accommodation and medical cover in France, and formally agree not to work.
After arrival
If issued as a VLS-TS, validate it online within three months of arriving in France.
Apply in Australia
Start with the France-Visas assistant, then lodge through the designated VFS Global centre in Australia. Apply early enough for an appointment, but follow the application window shown by France-Visas.
Official guidance
ITALY, GERMANY & AUSTRIA — SHORT-STAY DAYS
🇮🇹🇩🇪🇦🇹 No second long-stay visa appears necessary on these dates
Before France
Rome, Bari, Salerno and the Genoa transit night form one continuous 75-day short-stay block.
After France
Munich, Vienna, Venice, Genoa and up to three nights in Rome form one continuous 67-day short-stay block.
Buffer
About 15 days at the tightest point using the site’s conservative boundary-day method. Still avoid unplanned trips outside France during the French visa period without recalculating.
Official calculator
⚠️ Confirm before booking: This is a careful planning calculation, not a visa decision. Ask France-Visas/VFS and the relevant consulates to confirm that the French visa dates and transition back to visa-free travel are recorded correctly. The buffer is now more comfortable, but flight changes or extra Schengen side trips could still matter, so recalculate before confirming.
OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
📋 Essential documents
PassportsCheck validity and blank pages against the latest airline, Schengen and visa requirements.
Travel insuranceArrange comprehensive cover for the full nine-month journey; French visa evidence must meet the requirements shown by France-Visas.
Italy health agreementAustralia’s reciprocal agreement may cover essential treatment in Italy’s public system for up to six months from arrival, but it does not replace travel insurance.
Accommodation evidenceKeep confirmations for Juan-les-Pins, Dijon and Strasbourg together for the French visa application, plus the full itinerary and onward travel.
Copies and contactsKeep secure cloud copies and leave a complete itinerary, insurance policy and emergency contacts with family.
Working Trip Budget · about 9 months · 2 people
$75,000–$110,000 AUD
A planning range, not a quote. Re-price accommodation and long-distance transport when bookings open.
🧾 Actual spending log
Add larger purchases while planning and daily totals while travelling. Keep euros and Australian dollars separate so exchange-rate changes do not distort the totals.
€0Euro total
$0AUD total
0Entries
—Latest place
| Date | Place | Category | Note | Amount |
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This log is included in the Toolkit backup. It is a practical diary, not accounting or tax advice.
💰 Income while away
Australian Age PensionPayments may continue, but supplements and the rate can change after 6 and 26 weeks depending on personal circumstances and Australian residence history.
Confirm with Centrelink
House-sale proceedsAsk a licensed financial adviser and accountant about liquidity, risk, tax and Centrelink asset/deeming effects before choosing savings or term-deposit products.
Personal advice needed
Before departure, report travel longer than six weeks to Services Australia and request a personal portability estimate. Official Age Pension travel guidance →
Currency note: Keep accommodation estimates in euros until payment day, then check the live card or transfer rate and fees. Maintain a separate exchange-rate buffer.
🏠 Accommodation planning ranges
Bari9 Dec 2026 – 18 Jan 2027 · about 6 weeks
€900–1,400/month
Salerno18 Jan – 19 Feb 2027 · about 1 month
€900–1,500/month
Juan-les-Pins (Antibes)20 Feb – 22 Apr 2027 · 2 months
€1,400–2,500/month
Dijon22 Apr – 28 Jun 2027 · about 9 weeks
€1,000–1,600/month
Strasbourg28 Jun – 12 Jul 2027 · 2 weeks
€900–1,500/2 weeks
Munich12 Jul – 11 Aug 2027 · about 4 weeks
€1,800–3,000/month
Vienna11–14 Aug 2027 · 3 nights
€700–1,300/week
Venice14–17 Aug 2027 · 3 nights
€1,200–2,500/week
Genoa19 Feb · 1 night, then 17 Aug – 7 Sep 2027 · 3 weeks
€1,200–2,000/month
Rome7–10 Sep 2027 · 3 nights
€700–1,300/week
The two-month Juan-les-Pins stay and the longer Dijon, Munich and Genoa stays are where monthly discounts matter most. Vienna and Venice fall in the busy August period and may be disproportionately expensive.
✈️ Inter-city travel allowances
Australia → Rome and Rome → AustraliaPrice after dates open; compare direct operator fares and baggage rules.
$4,000–7,500 AUD
Rome → BariPrice after dates open; compare direct operator fares and baggage rules.
Allow $150–500 AUD
Bari → SalernoPrice after dates open; compare direct operator fares and baggage rules.
Allow $150–500 AUD
Salerno → Genoa → Juan-les-PinsPrice after dates open; compare direct operator fares and baggage rules.
Allow $150–500 AUD
Juan-les-Pins → Dijon → Strasbourg → MunichPrice after dates open; compare direct operator fares and baggage rules.
Allow $150–500 AUD
Munich → Vienna → Venice → Genoa → RomePrice after dates open; compare direct operator fares and baggage rules.
Allow $150–500 AUD
Local transport and day tripsMetro, buses, ferries, regional trains, taxis and excursions across nine months.
$3,000–6,000 AUD
🍽️ Living costs · 9 months · 2 people
Food, groceries and diningMix of home cooking, cafés and restaurants; summer tourist centres cost more.
$22,000–32,000 AUD
Comprehensive travel insuranceFull trip, medical and disruption cover; make sure it satisfies the French visa evidence requirements.
$2,500–5,000 AUD
Museums, events and excursionsMajor sights, tours and special experiences.
$4,000–7,000 AUD
Visa, appointments and documentsFrench long-stay visa, service fees, photos, copies and any required translations.
$500–1,500 AUD
Phone and dataEuropean SIM/eSIM plans and occasional roaming.
$500–1,000 AUD
Contingency bufferAt least 10% for exchange-rate movement, rebooking, healthcare gaps and surprises.
$7,000–10,000 AUD