Visa Researching, 2023 Travel Trends Report is out, Surprise Trips Are Becoming More Popular, Costa Rica Cost Of Living Is Rising Fast, US Updated A Mexican Travel Alert and more Expat News

Visas Research Example

I had a reader ask me about going to Greece in October. The main question was does she need to get a visa beforehand.

She’s US American which helps. Greece will allow you to just show up and get the tourist visa as you enter. It’s part of the Schengen Area European passport control which is made up of 27 European countries.

The US State Department has some good information about Greece International Travel Information.

“U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries.

• For entry into Greece, your passport should have at least six months of remaining validity. While Greek law requires three months of passport validity beyond the intended date of your departure, if you are transiting a country that requires six months of validity, you may not be permitted to continue your trip. We recommend that you have at least six months of validity to avoid any travel disruptions.
• You must arrive in country with proof of sufficient funds and a return airline ticket or other evidence that you will depart Greece if asked. The sufficient funds requirement is often met with credit cards.U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet.”

I only look at government websites to figure this all out as they are accurate. Many people blog about visas but the only legal real advice comes from the countries you are a citizen of and where you want to visit or become a resident. Like the example above.

Your citizenship is a big deal. Some countries visiting and becoming a resident rules are better than others depending on where you’re coming from.

I also recommended this universal travel adapter on Amazon US as it handles many countries and is small. Get at least two to charge your stuff.

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Expat News

• Surprise Trips Are Only Becoming More Popular—With Cruise Lines, Train Companies, and Adventure Tours Joining the Trend – Mystery trips have become increasingly popular over the last decade. offering guests one-of-a-kind surprise experiences around the globe, based on their likes and dislikes, time frame, and budget. But more recently, localized agencies as well as cruise lines and passenger railways are getting onboard with the trend.
• 2023 Travel Trends Report – long report on all the latest travel trends. Travelers are booking flights more last minute than ever before. INFO Graphic
• The US updated a travel alert in 13 Mexican states due to levels of crime and kidnapping – same list of non-expat friendly states that you should always avoid in México
• Mérida: For the first time, since 1841 raises the flag of Yucatán – I saw this on Monday passing by in a car, huge flag. Yucatán has an interesting history.
• How the drug cartels and weak governments brought violence and chaos to Ecuador – lengthy article on how Ecuador voilence has gone up
• Merida is selected as one of the most sustainable and resilient cities in the world – The “Cities in Motion” program selected Merida as one of the 24 cities to participate in a global initiative to support locations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the US in creating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient futures. This will be achieved through the development of impactful local projects, the exchange of experiences and knowledge, and cooperation among cities.
• Cost of Living Worries Persist for Costa Ricans : – bottom line is that Costa Rica is expensive