European Union (EU) Archives - Sophisticated Travel

European Union will require new travel authorizations beginning in November 2023

Update: March 7, 2023 ETIAS REQUIREMENTS STARTS SOMETIME IN 2024 Originally the ETIAS system was planned to start on January 1, 2021. It has been delayed several times and now is slated to start sometime in 2024, although no specific date has been set yet. THE EU IS NOT REQUIRING VISAS FOR U.S. CITIZENS There has been a bit of confusion this week over whether the European Union (EU) is imposing a new visa requirement for United States citizens. Currently, U.S. citizens holding a valid US passport can enter Schengen Zone countries and stay for up to 90 days ......

A peaceful Sunday stroll through Madrid’s Retiro Park

Madrid - a Vibrant & Cosmopolitan City When every we take a cruise outside of the Caribbean, we add a few extra days at the beginning or end of the cruise to visit a city we’ve never been to before. One of my favorite European cities is Madrid. It is a city that I keep returning to. Near Plaza Mejor Madrid is 2 hour and 30 minute ride from Barcelona on Spain's high-speed AVE train which travels at 217 mph. Barcelona is the launch point for many cruises around the Mediterranean or up the Atlantic coast, plus it is ......