Tips Traveling To India – Chaotic yet colorful, rapidly modernizing yet deeply traditional, India is full of intriguing contrasts, and if there’s one word to describe this amazing place, it has to be ‘diverse’. A country unlike any other on this planet, the incredible sights, sounds, smells and tastes of India are a delight for the senses. But for some, it can be sensory overload. As a first timer, if you ask any seasoned traveler for advice when traveling to India, one piece of advice you’re sure to get is “be prepared for culture shock”. Well, all we have to say is – acknowledge and embrace the differences; you will enjoy and appreciate the true essence of India.
An overview of the country and a few tips for traveling to India go a long way towards making your holiday here smooth and enjoyable, not confusing and exhausting. But at the same time, remember that too much preparation takes the thrill out of research. So, here are some of the essential things you should know before traveling to India. What are you waiting? Grab the exclusive flight deals and book your flight tickets to India now! Enjoy the rewarding experience that India is and always keep these tips in mind when traveling to India.
Tips Traveling To India
Choosing the Best Flight Booking Agency or Getting Airline Tickets Direct: Here’s What You Should Choose India is one of the most vibrant, colorful and exciting places to visit in the world. The diversity of people, culture and cuisine make it a treasured destination for any traveller. Here are nine tips to make sure your next (or first) trip to India goes as smoothly as possible.
India Travel Tips: 10 Tips For Your First Time In India
A double-entry tourist visa for India, with a four-month window to make your first entry, is fairly easy to obtain through a website run by the Indian government. However, when you receive a confirmation email that your visa has been approved, there is some confusion as to what you actually need to print out and present to the authorities.
As it turns out, they don’t actually email you the document you’ll need to print out to enter the country – and board the plane to India. At least 10 people on my flight to New Delhi were removed from the line during boarding and taken to a small side office at Newark Liberty International Airport to print the correct electronic travel authorization form needed to enter India. They had a printout of the email confirming their visa – ie
I happened to have a printout of the correct document, but found it purely by accident. When approved, return to the visa application site and click on ‘visa status’. Once you’ve entered your information, click “print status” at the bottom of the screen and the correct form should begin downloading. It should have your photo and barcode on it – if it doesn’t, it’s not the right document.
In general, you should make it a habit to take printouts of all itineraries, whether for flights or hotels. But also don’t forget to take the credit card you used to purchase the reservation. For flights, this is especially important – you’ll notice in the fine print on some airlines that this is actually a requirement. And while my credit card wasn’t checked most of the time, on one occasion it was. Don’t get into an awkward situation: Make sure you have it with you.
Safety Tips For Women When Traveling To India
A shop in Goregaon, a suburb of Mumbai that sells SIM cards and repairs mobile phones. Credit… Asmita Parelkar for The New York Times
If you plan to spend more than a short time in India, you should invest in a local SIM card. The AT&T Passport plan charges a flat fee of $60 for up to 30 days and gets you a measly one gigabyte of data — you can also pay $120 for three gigabytes. And if you go overboard, prepare to shell out over $50 for an extra gigabyte of data.
On landing in India, I headed to the Airtel kiosk and paid 999 rupees for a local SIM card including all taxes and fees (just over $14). The card, valid for 84 days, included 1.4 gigabytes of data per day, 100 SMS or text messages per day and unlimited local calls. This is simply an amazing deal and worth taking advantage of, no matter how long your stay is.
If you’re traveling the country, you may want a more flexible option. The data-only AIS travel SIM card came in handy when I boarded a flight to Sri Lanka and my Indian SIM card no longer worked. An AIS card provides four gigabytes of data over a period of eight consecutive days and claims to work in 18 different countries (I can only vouch for Sri Lanka and India though).
Safety Tips For Women Traveling In India
You’ll get to know ride sharing apps in India well – they’re convenient and cheap, and it’s easier to haggle with drivers. However, be prepared to exercise some patience. Uber and Ola Cabs, the two ride-sharing apps I used in India, worked well enough, generally speaking. But I found myself often having to cancel or reschedule as drivers often just don’t show up or get stuck in horrendous traffic. If you are on a small side street, consider walking to the nearest major thoroughfare – it will be easier to get a car.
Also, make sure the credit card you use to pay for your trips doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. If you have a credit card attached to your Uber account that charges a foreign transaction fee, you may find yourself paying extra when you use Uber abroad. The Citi Premier Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve are two examples of cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees.
However, sometimes it is faster and more convenient to take a tuk-tuk or autorickshaw. In that case, be prepared to haggle. Also note that tuk-tuks can’t take you everywhere — when I called one to drop me off at Delhi airport, it was a nasty surprise when the driver didn’t take me right to the terminal and I had to take a separate shuttle – the tuk-tuks, he said, they are not allowed to drop you off at the terminal itself.
I have found exchange rates to be decent at airports and there is one advantage to exchanging in person as opposed to an A.T.M. is that you can request small bills. You don’t want to be walking around with a handful of purple 2000 rupee notes. Whenever you can make a change, make it. Fast food restaurants are particularly suitable for this. You’ll need small bills when buying a cup of tea on the street or riding a tuk-tuk – don’t expect your driver to be able to make change.
Travel To India
There are many options for attending movies, events and concerts in India. The Book My Show website is quite useful for this and is widely used across the country — I booked a gig in Mumbai with no problems. For tours and guides when I was in a new city, I tried to book directly with a company whenever possible, but I also used larger aggregator sites like Viator and Klook just for convenience.
There are also many opportunities to find local tour guides in a new city. In Mumbai, for example, there are quite a few on the street right in front of India Gate. Trusted homestays are also a fantastic way to get suggestions for things to do and places to go – I had great luck with this when I rented a room through Airbnb during my stay in Kolkata.
I had no safety issues while traveling in India – I avoided displaying cash, didn’t walk around too late at night and generally used common sense. But I understand that the experience for women travelers, especially women traveling alone, can be quite different. Much has been written on the subject, including this National Geographic piece by Neha Dara and this piece by Candice Rardon. I recommend reading personal accounts of women who have traveled to India, or talking to friends who have gone, if possible, and then make your own assessment. Travel should be an adventure, but it shouldn’t make anyone feel insecure or compromised.
Bargaining is an art form. And while some people really don’t like to do it (not really me either), it’s worth trying to get into the spirit of it, especially if you plan to shop. In general, decide what a particular thing – a shirt or a bag – is worth to you. Put a mental ceiling on what you’re willing to pay. The first price the seller will throw at you, especially if you are visibly foreign, is likely to be very high. Get back half that price, or even less, depending on the circumstances. The seller will dramatically reject your answer and come back with a slightly smaller number.
Travel Tips For Families
From there it’s just a matter of time