Sunday, May 1, 2011

How to get to India

It's no secret that travel is expensive. Generically speaking, the
farther from your home (country or state) you travel, the higher the
expense. Gas prices are astronomical! Baggage fees are ridiculous!!! And flights… well we all know they are very pricey.
 

How do you get to the exotic land of India without breaking the bank?

 
Here are a few tips that may help you out. First, start your search in the obvious places.  Online travel agencies and discount travel agencies are helpful.  

Book as far ahead as possible.  Sign up at http://www.travelzoo.com/ and www.shermanstravel.com/top25 as these online sights do some of the work for you by checking thousands of online travel sights for unbelievable deals to dream destinations. Remember to proceed with caution if you find an arrangement that you think is too good to be true.


Here are a few tips to keep you on track:
1. ALWAYS make sure that whichever agency you choose offers  a  method to get all or most of your money back if your trip has to be cancelled. Legitimate agencies will offer travel insurance, and some will even allow you to put down a deposit rather than having to pay the full vacation balance at once. This way you can reserve your trip without losing out on the promotion, and still have time to save  to pay off the balance.

2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!  I have never booked a trip without first consulting http://www.tripadvisor.com/, your one stop shop for pictures (from actual travelers not the hotel website), honest reviews, deals and promotions. Also, similar to Travel Zoo and Sherman you can sign up for updates and promotions that will come directly to your email address.
 
Now that you know a safe way to search for an Indian vacation, what's next?
Always check with a reputable company that specializes in Middle East/Asia/Africa trips like http://www.friendlyplanet.com/,
First, be aware; Friendly planet’s steeply discounted packages don't
stick around long at all. So if you plan on taking a trip to India, book
well in advance to take advantage of the best deals.
Once yourIndian destination is chosen and your itinerary is solidified,
don't drag your feet. If you don't have a passport get one as soon as possible. It
could take up to 6 weeks to process your passport request. If you do have a valid passport, make sure your existing passport will not expire prior to  six months after the date of your return. Once you’ve gotten everything with your Passport straightened out then you need to move on to the next step. India requires a visa. Some countries will issue a visa upon

entering the country. Not so with India. You must obtain this document well in
advance of your trip (more on that later).
 
Little things could make for a bad experience in India. Be sure to check the
climate. Do not assume that India is always dry and hot. Northern India
gets cool (40-60 degrees F) while southern India is pretty

consistently warm to hot (65-85 F) with monsoons possible between June and October.
Also be careful and respectful. India has two main religions, Hindu and Islam. If entering a religious edifice on an excursion or tour cover your arms and no daisy dukes or short skirts
ladies. Familiarize yourself with the customs of any new country you are
planning to visit. It will make the trip much more enjoyable and the locals will be more accomodating.
 
A few final note on booking a trip to India and beyond:
1.  Some internet promotions are a scam. Enough said. Do your research.
2.  If you have a question don't try to figure it out. Call the 1-800 #
available. Save yourself some trouble.
3. I can't stress enough to READ reviews. Travelers who have just
returned from a destination will spew (good or bad) about the
service, cleanliness, food of a place and will tell you what travel
agencies to beware of. Some establishments promise you the world and don't deliver.
4. Cruises are an excellent vacation option. I  have learned from experience that cruises can be awesome. You can experience more than one destination at a time.
You have all inclusive food and entertainment. Cruising could really
be a traveler’s Mecca. Just keep in mind when booking, almost every deal
you see from cruise lines are what is called "land only", meaning air is
not included. You can find a great deal for $399 per person but understand you
have to add air fare to that price and if it's Europe or Asia, for
example, the cost of air could get as high as $1500 or more a person
(depending on the season). The conclusion is a really great deal just turned
into a pretty expensive trip. Don't be deceived, some cruise lines now
offer “preferred” air fare services if you book your flight through them.

These services are usually only
pennies cheaper. You may be better off booking your flight separately
with your frequent flyer discounts, card member rewards or points.
See you in India!

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