An Indian travel experience can be an overwhelming one! It is a lovely Asian country with a rich architectural heritage, warm hospitality, beautiful natural landscapes, cultural diversity, and lovely people around. There are beautiful forts, palaces, museums, and a Wonder of the World that will surely take your breath away. Despite all these joys, there may be a chance when you get a setback at an unfortunate time!
To ensure you have a splendid time in India, we have compiled 7 ways to manage setbacks and make the most of your India tour.
Pre-Trip Preparations
Though I am sure that you will ace your Pre-Trip preparations, here is a summary of what you can take note of.
Research your destinations and create a flexible tour itinerary
India has beautiful destinations in their raw forms! The cities are a bit unorganized with usually high traffic but are lively and interactive. There are plenty of experiences in this ancient country that will make your trip a memorable one.
You will be amused to know that a lot of Indian cities are sacred places of worship, and many of them have architectural wonders. Some of these cities are 1000s of years old while some of them are blessed with natural treasures such as towering mountains and others with pristine beaches.
Hence, it will be thoughtful if you do thorough research on the places you are planning to visit in India and make sure that you are choosing the best Indian destinations to visit.
Further, based on your research, create a rough itinerary of the places you want to visit. Keep sufficient commute time between the cities keeping in mind the Indian traffic that can be overwhelming at times.
Book your Accommodations, Transportation, and Travel Insurance in Advance
Booking early always gives the benefit of instant confirmations with the best deals while last-mile bookings often end up with compromises with limited options that often come at higher prices. Hence, make sure to book your hotels, and flights in advance. Don’t miss out on booking comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost belongings.
If you are travelling to India for the first time, I recommend booking a professional Government-certified Travel Company that can make your entire tour seamless, comfortable, and enjoyable. Travel companies like Treasure Trip India provide you with experiential travel that covers all your accommodation and transportation.
2. Health Precautions:
You may find India a little unhygienic and dirty and we second you with this fact. Hence, we advise you to prepare a Travel Health Kit. If you are on prescription medicines, carry copies of your prescription along with medicines for the days plus a few more days.
Keep over-the-counter medicines for pain killers, anti-allergens, and antacids for indigestion, fever, motion sickness, and cough & cold.
For hygiene purposes, carry face masks, hand sanitiser, wet wipes and tissues. The sun may get harsh at times so carry sunscreen (SPF 30+) with a lip balm.
Avoid drinking tap water. Instead, carry a refillable water bottle. Or you can purchase bottled water bottles like Bisleri, Aquafina, and Himalaya. Bottled water like this is clean and drinkable.
3. Handling Delays and Cancellations
Unlike the other developed countries, Indian Railways can disappoint you with their train timings and schedules. Trains may get delayed for various known and unknown reasons. The Indian travelers are used to it but can be inconvenient for new travelers. Hence, if you are taking a train journey, book tour with Express trains, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and now the newly inducted Vande Bharat trains. These are modern trains with modern facilities, and food and are mostly on time. Further, you can check their running status online to keep up with your timings.
Private taxis are the best alternative transportation option for your commute in India. You can easily book a professional taxi from a travel agency or a taxi service provider for your distance. If you are opting for a private tour, you will get a taxi with a professional driver included in the tour. Beware of unexpected very cheap or very expensive taxi deals. Research a bit and bargain before booking a taxi.
4. Dealing with Language Barriers:
India is one of the largest English-speaking countries in the world so if you speak English, communication won’t be a hassle on your India Tour. Along with the native languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, a majority of the Indians can understand and speak in English.
In case you are stuck in a language barrier, seek help from locals and tour guides. Indians are generous in helping out tourists, especially foreign tourists.
5. Staying Safe and Secure on India Tour
Though India is largely safe for all kinds of tourists, mishappenings can happen in any country at unfortunate times. Wish someone could control the mishappenings! However, that shouldn’t worry you a lot! Millions of tourists from all around the world visit and explore this beautiful country and create memories of a lifetime.
To stay safe at all times; stay aware of your surroundings. Don’t entertain strangers seeking selfies and photographs with you. Further, beware of fake tour guides who can influence you for sightseeing, and shopping. You can use Google Maps when in a cab to make sure that you are on the right path.
Keep your valuables safe and have local Emergency contact numbers and local embassy contact details with you.
You can go for a private guided tour from a professional travel agency for maximum comfort and safety. Tours with travel agencies are safe as they are Government-certified and know how to make any tour a memorable tour for their guests.
6. Street Food and Cuisine
You’ll love Indian cuisine and its varied dishes but you also need to be careful about where you are eating at. Avoid street food stalls in quaint lanes and small shops. It can be unhygienic and can upset your stomach. Rather, go for decent restaurants or fine-dine restaurants to get the best taste of Indian street dishes.
Also, Indian cuisine is a fusion of spices, herbs, and vegetables. It can get spicy at times so make sure you are careful about the same.
7. Embracing Flexibility
India’s cities are always bustling with something or the other. Be it festivals, processions, or just a normal morning hour rush; there is a lot to see and observe in the Indian cities. There is always a chance to see something unique and interesting.
Thus, be patient, flexible, and open to new scenes, and adventures. You’ll love them a lot!
Conclusion:
Your India experience will be a lifetime memory for sure! The country is vibrant, colourful, and cheerful topped with beautiful history, heritage, ancient science, and a rapidly growing economy. The points mentioned above aren’t to distress you but to ensure that you come prepared with such possible setbacks and make the maximum of your time here.
