Travel Tips
India Travel Documents :
To beat jetlag, book an overnight flight or one that arrives in the evening when traveling east so you can either catch your sleep on the flight or as soon as you get in to your destination. All visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for the next 6 months.
India Visa requirement :
Citizens of all countries (including Commonwealth) require a valid passport an an appropriate (entry, transit or tourist) visa. The visa must be obtained abroad from an Indian Mission. If planning to visit a neighboring country such as Nepal and then re-entering India, a double/multiple entry visa should be obtained.
General requirements :
(a) Original passport valid for at least six months
(b) Correct visa fee.
(c) Two passport-size photographs (five photographs in case of Pakistani nationals)
(d) Supporting documents, where necessary
(e) Duly completed application form (Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals need to apply on special application forms)
Air tickets to India :
Major Airlines operating to India: Malaysia Airline, American Airlines, Air India, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Eva Airline, Malaysia Airline, Singapore Airlines, Continental Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Northwest, Air Canada, Ethiopian Air, Lufthansa, Kenya Airways, China Airlines, Thai Airways, United Airlines, Air France, Alitalia, Delta and Korean Air.
Cheap India Airfare Search Tips
~ Traveling on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday traditionally costs less.
~ If your travel plans are flexible, consider these days.
~ Buy your India ticket as far in advance as possible. Fares are often lower when purchased 7, 14 or 21 days in advance.
~ Avoid flying on a weekend. Many airlines have made this a requirement for reduced fares.
Book travel during holidays, or other peak periods, as early as possible to get the best promotions and deals.
Best Airfare Deals from :
Los Angeles, LAX, Logan Boston, BOS, New York, NYC, JFK, Newark, NJ EWR, Chicago, IL CHI, O'hare, ORD, Denver DEN, Las Vegas, LAS, Detroit,Michigan, MI DTW, Baltimore, BWI, Phoenix, PHX, Denver, DEN, Dallas Fort Worth, DFW, Houston, HOU, Atlanta, GA ATL, San Francisco, SFO, Minneapolis, MN MSP, San Diego, CA SAN, Miami, Florida MIA, Texas, IAH, AUS, Philadelphia PHL, Seattle, Tacoma SEA, Pittsburgh PA PIT, St Louis, MO STL, Washington DC WAS, Orlando, FL MCO, Salt Lake City, UT SLC, Charlotte, NC CLT and Cincinnati, OH CVG.
What to take :
As little as possible, you can buy just about everything when you are out there. Perhaps the only area in which buying in India is neither cheaper nor easily available is technical equipment. And offcourse don't forget to bring in your complete clinical / medical records translated into English with you !
What to wear :
Bare minimum ! if you buy out there, you blend in better anyway. During winter months in the North and the highlands in the South do get cold at night, but at all other times light weight cotton is best. Respect their culture, discreet clothing for women especially. For foot wear - comfortable sandals are all you need.
Email / Internet access in India !
Now huge in India, particularly on all well trodden travelers paths. Connection can be slow but you will rarely fail to find a selection of Internet cafes. Good tip is to duplicate records of Travelers Cheque numbers, passport and plane details, etc. on your Yahoo/Hotmail accounts.
Electricity in India :
The voltage used is 220 volts (the U.S. uses 120 volts). You can purchase a converter at most hardware stores for appliances that do not switch to 220V.
General Travel Tips :
(A) Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by both filtering through an “absolute 1 micron or less” filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. “Absolute 1 micron filters” are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
(B) Buy bottled water from respectable outlets to guard against stomach upsets. Some of the better known brands are Bisleri, Kinley, Aquafina, Himalaya etc. Make sure that the seal of the bottle is intact.
(C) Watch out for spicy dishes, especially at the outset of your tour. Avoid eating food from road side stalls. Eat unpeeled fruits and avoid fresh salads, especially in small hotels. If you are forced to eat food at some place that you have doubts about, make sure the food is served hot.
(D) Always use an insect repellent if you find yourself in a mosquito-prone area. But remember, not every place is mosquito-infested and low temperatures in winters (when most tourists come to India) kill most bugs in the northern plains and hills.
(E) If traveling in scorching heat, remember to drink enough water, use hats, sunglasses & UV lotions. Do not venture out in the mid day sun.
(F) Pharmacies or chemists are available in every little town and village and you can buy medication. In case you need to see a doctor for a specific condition, ask for help from your hotel (most have doctors on call) or your tour operator. The cost of visiting a doctor is fairly low (less than a dollar) compared to western countries.
