Tim’s 50th Birthday Pilgrimage

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For a short tourism visit, U.S. and Mexican passport holders do not need a visa for Poland or Italy. The limit is 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area combined.

• Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and remain valid for at least 3 months after leaving the Schengen Area. Six months’ remaining validity is recommended.
• If you leave on November 12, 2026, the three-month minimum means validity through February 12, 2027.
• Keep your return ticket, hotel details and itinerary downloaded and accessible.
• ETIAS status checked October 25, 2026: it is not operational and no applications are being accepted.
• EES border registration can include a photograph and fingerprints. It takes place at border control and is free.

This guidance applies to ordinary U.S. and Mexican passports.

Bring a travel adapter labeled for both Poland and Italy, including Italy’s type L sockets. A plug adapter changes the plug shape, not the voltage. Read each device’s input label before use.

Get to know Fr. Luke Doyle, one of our guides in Italy.

Priest in the Wild

Stories of Meeting God in the Everyday — short personal stories about finding God in ordinary life.

Book · English

Homilies with Fr. Luke Doyle

Short homilies to listen to before the trip or during a quiet moment along the way.

Podcast · English

Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN). Italy uses the euro (EUR).

Choose PLN in Poland and EUR in Italy when a card terminal or ATM offers to convert the payment into USD or MXN. Decline the offered currency conversion.

Download the Krakow, Assisi and Rome areas in Google Maps while connected to Wi-Fi. Save screenshots of important walking routes too: Google Maps does not provide walking directions offline.

Cobblestones, hills, stairs and time standing are part of the journey. Wear shoes you have already broken in, bring layers and carry a rain jacket.

For St. Peter’s: long trousers for men, below-knee skirts or trousers for women, and covered shoulders for everyone. Bring similarly respectful clothing for other churches.

The dome climb includes 320 steps after the lift. You can skip the climb.

Tips are voluntary. These are practical guidelines for thanking people for good service.

Longer stories about Poland, Assisi and Rome, in a date-neutral reading edition.

1. Move to a safe, easy-to-describe place.
2. Send your location in the group chat.
3. Use your hotel’s address and phone below if you need help returning.