5d • Travel Tips
We didn't know what we didn't know. And it almost cost us
Here's the thing about traveling full-time — you think you've done your homework. You've got your flights, your accommodation, your itinerary sorted. And then something comes along that you had NO idea was even a thing.
That's what happened to me when a friend sent me this REEL about EES. The EU's new Entry/Exit System.
It went fully live on April 10, 2026. And if you're a non-EU traveler (yes, us Americans), every time you enter the Schengen Area, you now get biometrically registered — fingerprints, face scan, passport data. Digital record of every entry and exit. Passport stamps are gone. This is the new reality.
Now here's where it gets real.
People are waiting UP TO 6 HOURS in Portugal right now because they showed up with no idea this was happening. Long lines at border control, confused travelers, delayed flights. It's a mess for the people who didn't know. (This was almost us!)
But here's what I know — and now you know too.
There's an official EU app called "Travel to Europe" (free, App Store + Google Play — do NOT download any version that charges you, those are fakes).
You can pre-register up to 72 hours before you land — scan your passport, take a selfie, answer a few questions. When you arrive, your data is already in the system. You still go through border control, but you move through significantly faster.
That's it. That's the hack. Download the app. Do it before you fly.
A few other things that came up that you should know:
🇬🇧 If you're routing through London — London is NOT Schengen. It's a completely separate border. And as of February 25, 2026, Americans need a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to enter. It's £20, takes 10 minutes to apply for, valid 2 years. Don't skip this or you could be denied boarding. (see my POST earlier last week to learn more about this!)
🕐 The EES also enforces your 90-day Schengen window automatically now. No more relying on passport stamps that were easy to overlook. It's digital, it's tracked, and it flags overstays. Know your dates.
This is exactly why this community exists.
Not to scare you. Not to make travel feel harder than it is. But because the things you don't know are the things that will slow you down, cost you money, or strand you in an airport line for half a day.
You're here because you want to move through the world with confidence. That means staying ahead of the changes — and that's what we do together.
Drop a 🙋🏽♀️ below if you're heading to Europe this year and I'll answer your specific route questions right here in the comments.
CHECK OUT THIS REEL 👉🏽 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYzZwSaIF6W/?igsh=MTl4eWcwbXV3Zmdldg==
xx, Brandi
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We didn't know what we didn't know. And it almost cost us
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