20 Practical Travel Hacks Every Indian Must Know Before Flying Abroad

Whether you are travelling abroad for the first time or the tenth time, it brings a lot of excitement as well as challenges at the same time.

Last-minute packing can create absent-mindedness, which can make many people get confused about the documentation, formalities, and preparation.

To avoid these unnecessary confusions, learn these 20 travel hacks to make your trip smooth and efficient.

1. Book Flights in Advance

Book your flight tickets in advance, 2 to 3 months before travelling. If you book a flight ticket in the off-season, the price of the flight ticket will be reduced. Take your time before booking flight tickets. Before booking, make a ticket price comparison with an app like Skyscanner, Google Flights, Kayak, or MakeMyTrip.

Tips:

• Avoid your trip during peak seasons like Christmas, New Year, and summer vacation.
• While booking flight tickets, use the incognito tab mode or a new device when searching to avoid dynamic pricing based on repeated searches.

2. Apply for a Visa Early

Apply for your visa earlier to avoid unnecessary delays because countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Schengen nations these countries have longer visa processes due to their higher demand and background checks. Apply 2 months earlier to avoid rejections and delays.

Tips:

• Once your travel date and destination are confirmed, apply for your visa
• Make sure that your passport is updated before applying for a visa
• Keep tracking your visa status through online
• Check the earliest available appointment slots on the embassy website

3. Double-Check All Travel Documents

Documentation is one of the essential processes that you can't neglect; double-check all your documents before applying or travelling, make sure that your name spelling and DOB are the same in all the required travel documents.

Tips:

• Make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months from your date of travel
• Check the photo size requirement because each countries have their own set of rules.
• Ensure that your passport has 2–3 blank pages.
• Have digital and printed copies of all your travel essential documents.

4. Get a Forex Card Instead of Carrying Cash

Carrying cash with you, of course it is essential for immediate expenses. But carrying an excess amount of cash will be a risk while travelling solo. Better, you can use a forex card, which is a safer and smarter option for international travel. The speciality of a forex card it can hold multiple currencies at once, and they are especially accepted at most international stores, restaurants, hotels, and ATMs. You can apply forx card at your indian branch bank.

Tips:

• Before travelling abroad, inform your bank of your international trip.
• In Abroad, withdraw cash when it is necessary to avoid ATM charges.
• Ensure that your name on your passport matches with your card.

5. Apply for Travel Insurance

Many travellers often skip travel insurance, think it is unnecessary, but actually it is essential, even a small medical expense in abroad costs a huge amount. Your travel insurance mainly covers:

• Accidental injuries
• Flight delays or cancellations
• Lost or delayed baggage
• Passport loss assistance
• Unavoidable medical emergencies

Choose your insurance plan based on your destination and duration of stay

Tips:

• Keep printed and digital copies of your travel insurance document.
• Compare travel policies on various platforms like Policybazaar or Coverfox.

6. Carry a Dual SIM Phone

While travelling on an international trip dual SIM phone will be really helpful, your indian sim card will help to receive messages from the bank, OTP, and emergency messages. Meanwhile, you can buy a local SIM at the airport, which ensures that you have instant internet access as soon as you reach your destination.

Tips:

• Keep your indian sim active to receive OTPs and messages
• You can turn on Wi-Fi Calling to receive Indian calls even without internet roaming
• Buy your international SIM before landing to get internet access immediately after landing.

7. Download Offline Maps & Translation Apps

Download offline maps and translation apps before departure to avoid the language barriers and a poor internet connection. Before departure, learn some basic phrases for how much, help, thank you, where is this (destination name).

Tips:

• Download an app like Google Translate, Microsoft Translate, or iTranslate to access offline translation.
• You can use Rome2Rio to make a comparison of routes, transport options, and costs
• Before departure, download Google Maps offline for all cities

8. Carry an International Adapter & Power Bank

Basically, the plug types completely vary from one country to another. Bring a universal adaptor with you while travelling abroad, which supports Type A, C, D, G, and I plugs. Also, carry a power bank with you for urgent needs.

Tips:

• Try to avoid buying an adaptor at the airport, which costs 2 to 3x the normal price
• Buy a power bank with fast charging support and with the LED battery indicators.
• Carry your powerbank in your hand luggage.

9. Keep Essential Medicines & Prescription Copies

Keep a small medical kit with you for emergency medical needs, the basic medicines which include paracetamol, cold syrup, and fever tablets. If you have any health complications, carry a doctor's prescription copy with you to show proof to the immigration officer. This kind of advanced medical preparation helps to save money while travelling abroad.

Tips:

• Always carry a digital copy of the doctor's prescription
• Keep your medical kit in your hand luggage

10. Pack Your Bags Smarter

Pack your bags two days before the date of travel to avoid last-minute chaos. Instead of folding, try the roll method to store more dresses. You can wrap small clothes around a large cloth to avoid wrinkles.

Tips:

• Pack your bags lighter to avoid overpacking
• Create a checklist to carry essential things to carry with you.
• Keep heavy items at the bottom of your bag for better packing

11. Check the Weather Before Packing

Before beginning your packing process, check the weather conditions in the destination. Unlike Indian weather conditions, which are unpredictable, in other countries, make sure that you are fully prepared for the destination's climate, as some places are terribly cold at night, and all of a sudden, sometimes it rains heavily. Be aware of the forecast to pack your bag smartly.

Tips:

• If the climate is a moderate condition, carry lightweight clothes instead of heavy
• Pack your bag layer instead of bulk
• For the winter season, pack gloves, a sweater and winter boots.

12. Carry Snacks from India to Save Money

Comparing India, the expenses were slightly higher abroad, but also your taste won't match sometimes, you are allowed to carry indian dry snacks with you. Carrying ready-to-eat items like instant noodles, Poha, mixture helps to save your money.

Tips:

• Avoid carrying liquid or semi-liquid items like pickles or sauce, chutney and curd they may be seized by the officers.
• You can carry biscuits like Parlie-G, Oreo, and Marie
• Pack your snacks in airtight pouches to save space

13. Avoid Falling for Tourist Scams

Scams are everywhere. Tourist scams are common in many popular countries. The scams happen especially around marketplaces, popular tourist places, and taxis. Be aware of the scam and stay alert

Tips:

• To avoid taxi scams, book your taxi through popular sites like Uber, Bolt.
• Don't hand over your original documents to a stranger.
• Before buying anything from the street-side shop, ask the original price from the nearby local people.

14. Book your Accommodation Smartly

Before departure, book your accommodation based on your budget. Always make a comparison on various sites before booking accommodation. In abroad, temporary accommodation may cost a huge amount.

Tips:

• Before booking, read recent reviews and check the photos that were uploaded by the previous visitor.
• Booking.com would be a Great choice for hotels with free cancellation and flexible rates.
• Hostelworld is Ideal for solo travellers.
• For families staying and groups staying, Airbnb would be a perfect choice.

15. Use Public Transport to Save Money

A taxi may cost a huge amount for travelling, but for budget-friendly options, you can go with public transportation to save money. Using buses, trains, and metros can help to save a significant amount.

Tips:

• Check if your destination offers day passes or weekly transport passes. Based on that, you can apply for a transport pass for a longer stay.
• Use the local bus for nearby destinations
• Download the transportation app to track the bus.

16. Keep USD as a Backup Currency

Wherever you travel, that doesn't matter. Carrying some USD with you will always help you in unavoidable situations. Why, because US dollars are a globally accepted currency, you can transfer them easily.

Tips:

• Don't exchange money at the airport, as it may cost a huge amount.
• Keep your USD currency separately in a hidden pouch.

17. Track Your Spending with Travel Budget Apps

While comparing with India, expenditure costs may huge amount on abroad, to save your money while travelling, have a smart budget plan. Budget apps help to monitor your budget to avoid overspending.

Tips:

• Set a daily budget limit based on that spend your money.
• Update the app regularly to receive accurate tracking.

18. Keep Backups of All Important Documents

Keep digital and printed copies of all your important documents, which include passport, visa, and travel insurance, emergency contacts, and your ID proofs. Store all the scanned documents in a safe folder.

Tips:

• Carry important documents photocopies in a separate file.
• Save the emergency and close friend or family contact in a small note.
• Rename all the document names properly.

19. Register with the Indian Embassy

Many of the indian travellers were unaware that they could register their trip in the official indian embassy through their official website. By registering on the embassy website, they can receive help in an emergency situation, like passport loss, medical issues.

Tips:

• If you lost your passport, you don't need to panic. Contact us at the consular help desk. We are here to help you.
• Register your trip at the embassy soon after booking your flights and accommodation.

20. Respect Local Laws & Cultural Sensitivity

Culture may differ from one region to another, as a traveller, it is mandatory to respect the culture of the destinated country. And rules and laws may differ, so be aware of the rules before travelling.

Tips:

• For example, in Singapore like country chewing gum is banned, and using chewing gum is strictly prohibited.
• In Thailand, touching someone's head or pointing at Buddha statues is disrespectful, so you have to avoid these kinds of things.
• At religious or cultural sites, follow the proper dress codes.

Conclusion

Make your international trip easy and enjoyable with the right preparation, smart planning, and early preparation, Make everything easier. Get ready for your dream trip without any stress.

By Following these 20 practical travel hacks will help you travel smarter, safer, and more confidently, making every moment of your international trip memorable.

If you have any doubt or need to get comprehensive support, contact us at the consular help desk.