Contd from previous post:
India Travel Tips (2 of 5)
SECTION 5
How To Navigate Indian Airports:
50) Allow plenty of time to get to the airport.Things can often change at the last minute such as sudden traffic delays. Therefore, leave early and make sure you get multiple opinions of how long it takes to get to the airport.
51) Print or download your e-tickets or you WON’T get into the airport. The military guards at the entrance to the airport will not allow you to enter unless you have valid ID and itinerary.
52) Security screen your bags before going up to the check-in desk. If you don’t do this, you’ll be sent back and delay getting through security. Be sure to line up at the correct screening machine for your airline.
53) Make sure your bags don’t weigh too much! Domestic Indian flights have weight limits of 15kgs for checked bags and 7kgs for carry-on bags. All bags are strictly weighed and excess baggage fees are around $5 (300rs) per kilogram.
54) Get carry-on bag tags at check-in. Your bags will not be given the “stamp of approval” unless you have the tags attached to each carry-on item when going through security.
55) Security can be as annoying as heck!Remove absolutely all your electronic items including cameras and batteries. Know that women have their own line. Keep your boarding pass in hand so that the security guard can stamp it and watch out for people pushing in line.
56) Don’t trust the airport food. In my opinion, most airports have food that isn’t safe to eat because it’s been sitting for too long. Instead, bring your food or only buy packaged food that you feel is okay.
57) You’ll probably have to ride on a bus to your plane. Find your gate and wait for your flight to be called and then you’ll line up to catch a bus over to your plane.
58) Have your ticket ready for getting off the plane. If your flight continues on after your destination, you’ll need to show your boarding pass to get off the plane.
59) Hire a pre-paid taxi for getting to your hotel from the airport. Inside the airport there are always pre-paid taxi stands available which will give you a fair price from a reputable driver. If you don’t do this you’ll swamped by a group of untrustworthy drivers screaming for you to help their start up business and asking too much for their service.
Below is a bonus tip from an Indian travel blogger:
60) “Researching India as a solo travel destination can feel pretty darn scary. I’ve met many travelers who have formed their opinions of the country even before they arrive – and that’s half the battle lost. By all means, do and overdo your research, but when you set foot in India, make way for your own experiences. Embrace the colors, give the people a chance, be amazed by the little things, and if the chaos and inequality overwhelm you, so be it.”
– Shivya Nath, award-winning Indian travel blogger at The Shooting Star.
Read my full article for more details:Navigating Indian airports – it’s harder than you think!
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SECTION 6
Handling money in India:
61) You will need to carry cash. Credit cards are only accepted at larger businesses or hotels. Therefore you will always need to carry some cash so that you can pay for taxis, auto rickshaws, cheap hotels and your food etc. I keep all my large bills concealed under my clothing in my passport pouch.
62) Airports give poor currency exchange rates. Use an ATM instead or if that’s not possible only get a few thousand rupees exchanged at the airport because their rates are usually the worst in the whole country.
63) Use a Citibank ATM to withdraw more than 10,000rs at one time. As far as I know, all other ATMs across India will not let you withdraw more than $150 (10,000rs). With all the fees you may have in your home country this can be quite annoying and costly. Citibank allows you to withdraw whatever your daily maximum in your home country is e.g $500.
64) Get a fresh wad of 10 rupee notes. Go to the bank and get a crispy wad of 10 rupee notes because firstly, the 10rs notes are often disgustingly used and dirty. Secondly, it’s one of the smallest denominations of money in a note, so it will be handy for everyday purchases. Thirdly, it’s the perfect amount for tipping. Lastly, it also helps with bargaining so that you can have exact change.
65) Conceal your money & passport under clothing: I have had pickpockets and beggars put their hand in my pocket looking for money. Since I keep my valuables on my chest, concealed under my clothing in a passport pouch, I’ve never had anything stolen.
66) Use PayPal or Western Union to send money to India. If for some reason you need to send money to an Indian from your home country, I recommend PayPal and if that doesn’t work then try Western Union.
Below is a bonus tip from a fellow travel blogger:
67) “Carry cash on you under your clothes in apouch. If you’re nervous, spread it around between wallet, passport, and luggage. In general, just don’t give people an incentive to steal. Don’t walk around with expensive things hanging out of pockets or purses. Don’t rely solely on the safe in the hotel room. It’s a good idea to have a TSA approved lock on luggage. Pay extra attention to your belongings in airports, train stations, markets, and major tourists sites. Keep digital copies of important items such as credit cards and ID etc. Otherwise, try not to stress too much.”
– Anjuli Ayer, travel blogger at Traveling Monkeys.
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SECTION 7
Communication advice for tourists in India:
68) Learn to understand the famous “head wobble”. This subtle gesture conveys a lot of meaning depending on the context and degree to which the head is wobbled. It can take sometime to learn but when mastered it’s actually a very natural and enjoyable form of human communication.
69) Know that “yes” can mean, “I don’t understand”. Sometimes a driver or shopkeeper may want to please you or simply won’t understand what you’re saying and so they say, “yes”. My friend whose been working in India for 10 years says that he doesn’t take “yes” for an answer!
70) Be open to understanding the many different accents. India has 17 main languages and a huge range of English accents. This can lead to some difficulty comprehending someone’s words but if you’re open you should do fine. Sometimes you may need to simply ask the person to repeat themselves or say “I don’t understand” to gain clarity.
71) Memorize a few key phrases. I recommend learning a few words of the local language because it shows you have an interest in the culture. It will almost always be very well received and help you quickly make friends with the locals.
72) Have plenty of patience. It can be very frustrating when for example, someone says, “yes” to every question you ask. Try to find someone who speaks better English and calmly sort through the miscommunication that may be occurring.
73) Be amused by funny communication rather than angered. You’ll have a much more enjoyable trip if you see the humor in it rather than getting angered and annoyed. These people are doing their best with a second or third language and so give them some compassion.
Below is another tip from Mariellen, a fellow India travel blogger:
74) “India forces you to say yes, or no. Travel to India with an open, trusting, non-judgmental attitude … or not at all. India has an amazing way of mirroring back at you whatever attitude you’re carrying. Be cautious, but not fearful. “– Mariellen Ward, award-winning India travel blogger at Breathedreamgo.
SECTION 8
Transportation throughout India:
75) Indians drive on the left side of the road.Since the British influenced the first Indian cars they follow suit with driving on the left. Although, crazy driving often may lead to seeing people on the wrong side of the road. 
76) Ride a train at least once in your trip.Only travel in 2AC or first class and make sure you book your tickets early enough that they’re not sold out. Trains are the best way to travel long distances if you’re on a budget. Avoid the food they provide except if it’s packaged.
77) Air travel is the most luxurious by far. If you can afford it, the most comfortable and obviously fastest way to get around is by plane. My favorite website for booking domestic Indian flights and trains is Cleartrip.com.
78) Buses can be good if the journey isn’t too long. They are super cheap and usually don’t have AC so they’re going to be hot. If the ride is more than a few hours I recommend you go via train instead because it’s much more comfortable.
79) Traveling via an AC taxi is nice for shorter journeys if you can afford it. The car provides comfort with the windows up and the cool AC air but the zig-zagging can get a bit much if the trip is more than a couple of hours. If you value your life I recommend that you demand a working seat belt before you get in the car. Be persistent and they should be able to hook you up.
80) Auto rickshaw journeys are memorable to say the least! Auto rickshaw’s are great for short rides but I recommend ear plugs, sun glasses and a bandana or dust mask to avoid to much bombardment on the senses. Also it’s best to not ride one for more than 20 to 30 minutes or you’ll be exhausted.
81) As mentioned, try to avoid long journeys by road. The roads in India are wildly dangerous and often uncomfortably bumpy. If there is an option to get a plane, train or bus then I would take it instead. Otherwise you might get car sick or just really tired from all the insanity of weaving between head on traffic.
Below is a bonus tip from a fellow India travel blogger:
82) “India can be overwhelming at first, but the slower you travel the easier things will be and the more you’ll come to understand the culture. Transportation on local buses and sleeper trains can add to stress levels if you change location every 2 days, so start slow and get to know each town you visit for at least a week before moving on to another. To love India, you have to accept even it’s flaws. Be open minded.”
– Rachel Jones, popular India travel blogger at Hippie in Heels.
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