Tips and Tricks for India: Travel Peacefully

How to manage to think of everything when going to India?

The answer is not obvious, unless we take the time to write down everything that comes to mind. That’s kind of the idea of ​​this article. I am writing it while I am in India. My tips and tricks for India will give you real perspective without pretension. These are stories heard from travelers or my mistakes so as not to repeat them.

Before you leave, here’s what you need to do:

• Check your health record
• Make an appointment with the doctor for vaccines and the first aid kit (see the article on the travelers center)
• Book your arrival hotel on Expedia. (€5 to €15 per night in Delhi)
• Also buy your plane ticket on Expedia to get a cheaper package with the hotel.
• Take the “Mondial assistance” travel insurance sold by Expedia for around €25 in addition to the total price.
• Unlock your iPhone or Android on the operator’s website. (Orange Bouygues, SFR or Free) See the conditions linked to your subscription. If you bought it in cash, you will only have to wait 24 hours for it to be ready to receive an Airtel sim card in India.
• Send an email to your bank to request an appointment and obtain cash directly
• Go to a currency exchange office in France (France airport) to avoid queues and ask for rupees (also avoid scams at Delhi airport. Example: no change at the machines so I will take you to a tourist agency which will give you cash if you buy a trip for that many euros and like that you will also pay for my taxi fare)
• Apply for your visa online for India without sending your passport (see the store and the India pack)
• Request an American express to be valid on all online shopping sites in India (IRCTC example for train reservations using your IRCTC application on Apple store or Android)
• Download the IRCTC app
• Download the Uber app and fill out your account if you don’t have one. Put your VISA in it.
• Set the UBER app to India.
• Read the article on preparing your trip in addition.
• Download the MAPS ME application.
• Download all the maps of India in MAPS ME from home with your Wifi. When you arrive, even if you are not connected to the internet, you will have where to go.
• Download the Airtel app
• Download Trip Advisor to find the spots to see.
• The day before your flight, preferably at night, take your first anti-malaria pill. (Mosquitoes)

Tips and tricks for India, on site as soon as you arrive at Delhi airport:

• Take an Airtel SIM card with your rupees. I do not recommend Vodaphone which works poorly here. Then ask the Indian salesperson to install the SIM for you, to do everything that needs to be done for your mobile to work. Do not take the Sim card without the activation service otherwise you will do like me, that is to say struggle for 5 more days.
• Leave the airport if you have your rupees or go to the exchange but be patient, you will have at least 2 hours.
• While waiting in line, write an email on your smartphone to your bank, asking them to add your Airtel (Indian) phone number to receive the “internet purchase verification” SMS. Otherwise you will have difficulty traveling. Because for each ticket order you will have to go through the security service of your bank who will give you a 4-digit code on your mobile to validate your order abroad.
• If your bank refuses the Indian number, buy a local mobile for 500 rupees and you will have a receiver for SMS.
• Do not take local tuk-tuks or taxis as they are guaranteed scams. Take an UBER so you don’t get “harassed for offers from the driver”
• Contact an UBER driver and wait approximately 4 minutes.
• Go to your hotel or your friends’ house
• Connect to the internet, and order your train tickets on IRCTC to travel around the country or by plane with AIR INDIA.
• Stay in Delhi for a maximum of 4 days to see the Lotus Temple and Akshardham but also the other temples.
• Start with Jaipur, then Jodphur and Jaislamer if you go west
• Start with Agra, then Khajurhao, and Varnassi (formerly Benares) if you go east.

Here are some tips and tricks for India, which I will update from time to time as I become aware of the problems encountered.

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