Traveling is a great way to learn new things, visit new places and discover new cultures. Most of the people love to travel to unknown and distant places. The world is evolving and we are learning to use each other’s resources and adapting to new and possibly better ways to work. Because of that, people have to travel to other places in the world for work.
India is the place to go if you want to have fun, meet amazing people and have a taste of different, new cuisine. For the business travelers and tourists visiting India, we prepared a few tips that will definitely come in handy when you go there.
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Don’t be cheap
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Visiting this great country will most likely seem cheap. There are hostels that go as low as $1 per night. That may seem like a great deal! It’s not! Unless you want to get scabies, bed bugs or worse. To fully enjoy your trip to India, you should not save as much as you can when it comes to accommodation.
Cutting corners will not save you money. You will just have to spend them elsewhere, like in the pharmacy or the doctor’s office.
Don’t expect to get anywhere quickly
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Things there move slowly and almost every means of transportation is late. There are some busses that won’t come and all and the trains will be too crowded. Tickets are usually oversold and even though you may have a ticket that should save you a place to sit, chances are, you won’t.
Indians compensate by driving too fast. You should also know that Uber and Ola are available across most of the country so that you can use those services. You can also rent a car or a bike. Uber is a lot more comfortable than a train or a bus, and chances are you will get to your destination faster.
Get an Internet plan
Source: Rough Guides
You have to have a good internet connection when visiting India. Even though maps can be downloaded and used offline, you definitely want more accurate maps. Navigating in this country can be difficult and you need all the help you can get.
You’d also need a good translation app that will help you in your adventures. Uber, Whatsapp, and other applications won’t work without the internet, so if you are traveling for business, you will need a good and stable connection.
Beware of scams when visiting religious sites
Source: Travel Beyond
India is the birthplace of Asia’s oldest and largest religions: Hinduism, Buddhism as well as Jainism and Sikkhism. Attending prayer services can be really educational, colorful and fun. People who visit this country have to experience at least one of these sites.
However, when you do this, you may feel pressured to make a donation. A holy man may wrap a string around your wrist or put a dot on your forehead and then ask for money. If you don’t want to pay for this, you don’t have to. Ask for the price beforehand, if it sounds like something that would be too expensive for the locals to do, it’s probably just a way of getting money from tourists.
You should know that in proper temples with real religious people, the services will be either really cheap or totally free of charge.
Get the proper documentation
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Before planning your trip, you need to get the proper documentation. No matter where you are from, you will need a passport. To enter this country, you will need a visa, a valid passport and an onward and return ticket.
The passport needs to be valid for at least 180 days after the date of entry and it should have at least two blank pages. Business travelers and tourists from the UK, USA, Germany and France can now apply for Indian Visa online by visiting https://www.india-visa-gov.in/.
If your passport gets stolen or lost, you need to immediately contact your country’s representative. Don’t forget the travel insurance, and some policies can also cover theft, lost luggage, cancellations, or anything else that might go wrong during the trip.
Dress smart
Source: The Beatles in India
The temperature in this country is warm, but you cannot just dress in miniskirts and low-cut tops. This is a conservative destination and you need to dress smart. Always have with you long lightweight pants and shirts that cover your shoulders. If you are visiting a religious site, you need to be covered because anything else is disrespectful.
For the religious sites, it’s smart to have a shawl or sarong to cover your cleavage. This is also for your safety; you don’t want to draw unwanted attention when you dress in a revealing way.
Bring pills
Source: Love to Travel
India has amazing food, but unfortunately, almost every tourist that visits this country experiences “Delhi Belly”. No matter how careful you are, your body is probably not used to the different bacteria found in water and food there. You will probably buy bottled water, but every food you eat there will be made with the country’s water, so you will not be fully protected.
Because of that, you need to prepare yourself for the worst (diarrhea and possible stomach flu). It’s smart to start taking probiotics a few days before your trip so that your body is pre-prepared. If you have diarrhea for more than four days in a row, you need to visit a doctor because you may need antibiotics.
Other tips
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Other things you need to be smart about are:
– Money – take out cash for a few days at a time. There are ATMs everywhere, so you don’t need to carry large sums of money at all times.
– Bargain, but don’t overdo it – learn how to haggle before your trip and don’t bargain on products that are already too cheap.
– Be safe – watch out for pickpockets and don’t carry your personal items (phone, wallet, passport) in your back pocket.
– Carry sanitizer and toilet paper – have that in your bag at all times.
– No PDA – couples should try and avoid public display of attention like kissing and hugging. It is considered inappropriate.
This country is definitely worth seeing. You will have an amazing time and make great memories; you should only be smart and try and learn about the culture before your trip. You could also learn a few simple phrases so it’s easier for you to get things done.
Don’t expect to see everything for the first time you go to India because this magical country has too much to offer.
