Quote Originally Posted by stevewool View Post
is it right before you apply for one you have to have tickets, flights or ferry with a return date plus accomadation booked too, so if we was wanting to go to spain we shall have to book the flights and hotel before we can apply for the visa is that right,
No matey .....
In the case of the French Embassy, you merely download the visa form off their Embassy website & select a date/time for an "interview".

You then turn up at the alloted time with all your revelant docs (as specified on the application form), and you return 1 week later to collect (or get it posted to you).

You do NOT have to have a travel iternery, nor flights/hotels booked etc etc.

I think all Schengen Embassies work the same way, although some outsource to VFS (where the charges come in).