10 TRAVEL TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST TRIP TO INDIA

The fascination with India often goes hand in hand with respect and a bit overwhelmed by this huge, chaotic and completely different country. Our top 9 India travel tips will help you plan your trip. This makes worrying about anticipation and traveling in India much more relaxed.

TIP 1: CHOOSE THE RIGHT VISA - AND PLAN ENOUGH TIME!

There are basically two visa options for German, Austrian and Swiss travelers:

1) Regular tourist visa

2) E-Visa for tourists - valid for 1 month, 1 year or 5 years

If you are only in India for a short time, the e-visa has many advantages: it is faster, you do not have to send in your passport and it costs less than the regular visa.

Please note:

The application for the online visa for India (ETA-India) must be submitted at least 4 days before departure.
When entering you may have to show a return or onward ticket

TIP 2: TAKE ENOUGH TIME TO PLAN YOUR TRIP TO INDIA!

India is huge and the differences between the different regions are just as huge. One of the most important India travel tips is therefore: take enough time to plan your individual trip to India. Read in and think about what is most important to you: national parks , beaches , temples or palaces. Here we have  a small summary of the most popular travel destinations in India  for you.

We are happy to help you personally. Write to us here and we will advise you and help you plan a trip that brings you closer to India from its most beautiful side!

TIP 3: IT'S BETTER TO DO SOME THINGS CORRECTLY THAN HALF EVERYTHING!

An important one of our India travel tips is: Plan enough time for each station on your trip. Otherwise you hurried from A to B, just to work through all the highlights on your to-do list. So rather say “No” to a goal and explore another one in more detail. Also, because India is usually loud and hectic and the distances are long, the vacation can quickly become stressful. In general, we advise planning several regions only for trips of three weeks or more. A decision often has to be made between North and South India, because both regions are too much for a short trip. Here is a little decision-making aid from us for the choice between North and South India .

We would be happy to advise you on the perfect length of stay in one place. Write to us here .

TIP 4: VACCINATIONS!

In the case of India, adequate vaccination protection is definitely essential for the right holiday preparation. At least one month before the start of the trip, go to an information meeting with your family doctor or in a tropical institute. Which vaccinations are relevant for you depends on your individual travel plans. During a conversation, you will receive all the necessary information and can discuss which ambiguities are on your mind. You can find more information at the Federal Foreign Office .

TIP 5: OBSERVE (AS A WOMAN) SOME SAFETY TIPS!

Women in particular have great respect for their first trip to India. Of course, the image of women in India is a little different than in Europe. But if you follow a few India travel tips, you can avoid some unpleasant situations.

Above all, it is important to dress appropriately, i.e. not dress freely. It is also advisable not to walk through deserted areas and streets after dark in large cities and especially in northern India. Don't be over-friendly to male staff and avoid large crowds.

It is particularly important: Do not let your fears and doubts stop you from exploring India (even alone). Trust your gut feeling. We at India Someday can be reached at any time during your trip if you should ever get into trouble somewhere.

Alexandra, a blogger friend, reported in the Huffingtonpost about traveling alone as a woman. You can find more experience reports and tips in our blog entry about traveling alone as a woman in India .

TIP 6: HOTELS IN INDIA: DON'T SAVE AT THE WRONG END - HOMESTAYS ARE GREAT ALTERNATIVES!

If you travel during the high season, one of the most important India travel tips is: Book your accommodations in advance! India offers many impressive hotels and personal homestays that can become absolute holiday highlights. However, they are booked up quickly. So it is worth planning ahead. Don't save too much on your accommodation either. Because that's how you end up in less prestigious hotels.

We only plan accommodations that we know personally. No matter whether homestays, hotels, resorts or hostels. We are happy to advise you and keep an eye on your budget and your expectations.

Our absolute recommendation are homestays . Here you often get homemade food and are much closer to "real India". There are now many backpacker hostels in India that offer not only cheap accommodation, but also activities and opportunities to interact with other travelers.

TIP 7: PLAN OASES OF CALM!

Due to the guaranteed culture shock and the hectic pace in many Indian cities, you should plan oases of calm. This can be a relaxing place to stay, such as a chic Heritage Hotel far from the hustle and bustle, or a stay in the great outdoors outside the city. These little breaks from the Indian madness give you the opportunity to process the intensive experiences in India and to charge your batteries. Pay attention to a good mix of hustle and bustle and quiet destinations!

TIP 8: CHOOSE THE RIGHT SEASON!

The right time of year for your trip to India depends on which region you want to travel to and what your focus is on. In addition to the climate, also pay attention to the different holidays and festivals . Likewise, various outdoor activities (hiking, national parks , surfing, etc.) are only possible in some months.

Contrary to popular belief, India is easy to travel all year round. You can roughly say that winter from November to February / March is the main travel season and is suitable for almost all regions of India. Suitable travel destinations can also be found during the other seasons. The Himalayan regions are perfect in summer when it gets too hot in the rest of the country. Rajasthan blossoms surprisingly in the monsoon and shows itself from its green side at tolerable temperatures.

TIP 9: THE RIGHT MEANS OF TRANSPORT!

The distances in India are sometimes large and finding the optimal means of transport is not always easy. There are generally three modes of transport available: flights, rental cars (including the driver) and trains. Here you will find our India travel tips for all three options:

Domestic flights in India
Domestic flights allow you to navigate to several regions during a vacation and bridge long distances quickly and comfortably. The disadvantages are also obvious: You only experience the wonderful Indian landscape from the air, it is less authentic and the environment is heavily polluted. It also burdens the travel budget.

Train travel in India
You can travel long distances relaxed and cheaply by train. You can also enjoy the landscape in peace and simply talk to Indians.

The disadvantages of traveling by train : Bookings are time-consuming and nerve-wracking. The website of the Indian railway company is confusing and the route network and the different train classes are significantly more complex than in Germany. Tickets are often booked out months in advance because the network is extremely congested. You need an Indian phone number and credit card to book online, which in turn makes it difficult to get tickets in advance. At least the so-called tourist contingent is available on site ( more on this here ), but even that is often fully booked.

Don't worry, we will be happy to help you book the tickets and advise you which class suits you best. Write to us here .

With the rental car through India
In India it is common to book a rental car with a driver. So you get comfortably from A to B, because the quietness of the rental car allows you to switch off easily. The driver can also give you information about daily planning or Indian culture. On some routes it is even necessary to travel with a rental car as there is no train connection. Here we have described how you can find the right rental car.

The disadvantage of traveling with a driver is that you experience India from a crystal ball and travel less authentically. In addition, a rental car is often expensive.

TIP 10: WITH ENGLISH YOU USUALLY GET VERY FAR

A remnant of colonialism is English, which is the official language along with Hindi. That doesn't mean that everyone speaks English, but you may be surprised at how many people can. Even if the taxi driver can only do a few chunks, it is always enough for communication. If you book a driver with us, we make sure that they have at least a basic knowledge of English. And also street signs, important warnings or announcements in public transport are in English and mostly still the language of the respective state. So you don't have to worry too much about communication.

All in all, India is an absolutely fascinating country where travelers face several hurdles. We will be happy to help you overcome these hurdles in a time-saving manner and plan your trip to India with you - individually, flexibly and transparently.