India
With bountiful well-preserved natural sites and colorful cultural background, India is a perfect destination for travelers who want to experience an extraordinary and memorable South Asian vacation. However, for first-time travelers, it would be helpful to know safety tips on how to go around this unfamiliar territory.
Although Agra has the very iconic Taj Mahal, Goa is the best destination in India, according to the TripAdvisor’s 2012 Traveller’s Choice Award. With long white sand coast lines and evening beach parties, Goa is definitely a great spot for travelers looking for a perfect place to have some fun under the sun. But, you should never underestimate the other places in the country. You might be surprised on what they have in store for travelers who wants to see the real beauty of India.
In this article, we will provide you with the tips you will need to safely travel the Indian roads. Be sure to have them when you pack your bags for a more memorable vacation.
List all the destinations you want to visit:
Before packing your clothes, it’s highly advisable to know first what to see in the country. Wherever you go in India, there will always be tourists’ spots to visit. You should pattern your trip according to your interests. Are you more into beach activities? Visit Goa. Do you want to take snaps of the great India temples? Check out the 10 most popular centrally protected ticketed monuments in India, as presented in this infographic. Lonely Planet also created this list to make things simpler for you:
- Shopping –New Delhi
- Beaches – Goa
- Trekking – Himachal Pradesh
- Yoga – Rishikesh
- Foof – everywhere!
- Tigers – Madya Pradesh
- Thrill-seekers – Manali
- Religious fervor – Varanasi
- Just chilling – Kerala
- City parties – Mumbai
Choose the right package tour:
Along with choosing the perfect places to visit, you must also find the right tour operator to deal with. Tour operators offer you a hassle-free itinerary including air reservations, booking a hotel, land transportation arrangements and more. To avoid being scammed by bogus operators, here are some tips to consider:
- Background check on the company. Go for the one that has been in business for many years.
- Check their tour offers. Usually, reliable tour operators are the one that offer a long list of tour packages.
- Read only about the company and their reputation. If the operator his affiliated with various international travel organizations such as the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) or the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) then they are legit. It will also be helpful to read about their previous customers’ reviews.
Budget your trip wisely:
Although some of the basic necessities in India are not as expensive back home, it will still be smart to budget wisely on your trip expenditures. Hotel can be very expensive in India, if you want to cut down on your boarding expense, why not try some of the Paying Guest apartments in the city. They will allow you to share-a-bed or rent a room in a cheaper price and shorter stay. You can also avoid overspending on phone calls by going with a Pay-and-go International SIM from O2. It will only cost your one penny GBP for both mobile and landline calls to India. Avoid the hassle of paying for ridiculous international calls when you can make it cheaper by getting a pay and go SIM card.
Tourism is a big industry in India that generates $121 billion of the country’s Gross Dometic Product (GDP), according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report in 2011. So far, it is one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world. It wouldn’t be surprising if you would consider India as your next travel destination, but be sure you remember the tips above for a safer Indian trip to remember.
About the Author:
Allie Cooper is a young upcoming writer, a certified gamer known for weaving in her indelible wit into gadgets, tech and game reviews, and tech companies, from UK and internet start-ups. Follow her on Twitter.