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India is a vibrant, fascinating, and culturally rich country, yet many are hesitant due to customs and security concerns...
9 Things You Must Know to Conquer Traveling to India
The diversity of people, cuisine, and culture makes India one of the world's most sought-after destinations for travelers. However, customs, food, security... often deter many. Below are 9 pieces of advice to ensure your India travel goes smoothly.
India offers electronic visas
Travelers to India will utilize a double-entry visa, filling out the registration form online through an Indian government website. This electronic visa process is relatively straightforward and convenient. However, caution is necessary upon receiving the email confirmation of your approved visa, as there may be some confusing details. Read carefully to ensure that what you need to print out for your travels is accurate.
Keep in mind, what you need isn't a printed confirmation email of your visa. Once your visa is approved, revisit the visa application website and select the “visa status” section. After entering your information there, you'll find a form available for download. It will include a photo and a barcode – this is what you need.
Choose the appropriate means of communication
If you plan to spend an extended period in India, consider purchasing a local SIM card. With the AT&T Passport package, the fixed fee is $60 for 30 days along with 1 GB of data. You can also pay $120 for 3 GB of data. If you exceed this limit, the fee will be $50 per additional GB. However, with a local SIM card, for just 999 rupees (about $14), you'll get 1.4 GB of data and 100 SMS per day, along with unlimited domestic calls. This is highly worthwhile, regardless of your duration in India. If your journey takes you through multiple countries, you can use an AIS travel SIM card with 4 GB of data for 8 consecutive days and can be used in 18 different countries.
Remember to bring your credit card
Some people often forget to bring their credit cards when traveling. This can sometimes put you in difficult situations, especially when using your credit card to book hotels or flights. For some airlines, it's crucial that you have your credit card with you as it's a requirement of the airline. Additionally, a credit card can serve as identification in certain situations.
Exchange currency
Exchange rates listed at the airport may be advantageous for you, instead of doing it at ATMs. Additionally, at the airport, you can also request to exchange for smaller bills. Exchange currency as soon as possible, and fast food stalls will be ideal for this. Small bills are essential for buying tea on the sidewalk or taking a tuk-tuk ride and other small services.
Be patient when getting around in India
There are plenty of ride-hailing apps in India, they're very affordable and convenient. Uber and Ola Cabs are two apps that work quite well, but you must cultivate patience as you'll often have to cancel trips because the driver doesn't show up or they're stuck in traffic. If you're standing on a small street, consider walking to a larger road to easily catch a ride.
Be mindful when paying for your trip with a credit card as your card may incur additional fees when using Uber abroad. Sometimes, taking a tuk-tuk is quicker and more convenient. However, not everywhere can you take a tuk-tuk, such as the airport for example.
Participate in activities
When traveling to India, you'll have many opportunities to attend movie screenings, concerts, or cultural events. The Book My Show website is widely used nationwide and very helpful for this purpose, where you can easily book concerts or events without any hassle. Moreover, you'll also have plenty of opportunities to find tour guides when visiting a new city, if not a tour guide, there will be someone offering helpful advice or useful places to hang out.
Always prioritize your safety
To ensure your safety, especially when traveling to India alone, be careful with your money, avoid displaying it openly, and refrain from walking to secluded areas at night. Female travelers should be even more cautious, especially those traveling solo. It's best to consult blogs or insights from female travelers who have been to India to make your own decisions. While travel is about experiencing, adventuring, and discovering, safety should always come first for a fulfilling journey.
Master the art of bargaining
Foreign tourists shopping in India will often be quoted double, or even higher, the price by sellers. However, we shouldn't focus too much on whether the item we want to buy is really worth the price but rather consider if the price of the item meets our expectations. Bargaining is an art, as whether the seller says 500 or 600 rupees doesn't matter because you can offer only 100 rupees, then increase it a bit, but rarely exceeding half the price. Even when you walk away, the seller will call you back and sell at that price.
To eat or not to eat?
Street food offers a diverse and interesting array of dishes that can excite any traveler. However, they also carry many hidden risks, especially for your digestive system. There are some precautions to reduce the chances of encountering trouble. Firstly, avoid drinking water indiscriminately, brush your teeth with boiled and cooled water (or bottled water), and avoid drinks with ice from sidewalk stalls. Fruit juice may be safe, but ice needs caution. As for food, choose items with clear packaging. If not, opt for hot dishes. In India, street vendors offer a wide variety of dishes, but hot dishes are definitely safer than cold or raw ones.
By Theo Tiến Quang/ Ngôi sao
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourJanuary 16, 2019
