Q. How is sightseeing covered in tour packages?
A. Sightseeing is included in most package itineraries and tour programmes. These may be panoramic city tours, or visits to individual sights and attractions. Valuable tips and instructions offered by your Tour Manager or Local guide will help you enjoy your sightseeing and experience the most out of it.
Q. What are the Passport Requirements for International Travel?
A.
• To travel internationally, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the last day of travel, and you must have at least one empty page per visa.
• If your passport is not valid for six months beyond the arrival date, you must get its validity extended or apply for a new document.
• In case you lack sufficient pages in your passport, you will need to obtain an additional booklet.
Q. What is a visa?
A. A visa is required for international travel, and is required for entry to most foreign countries. It is essentially the permission granted by the visited country for entry, for a restricted period.
Q. How do I get a visa for my holiday?
A. All countries that you wish to visit require advance application for visas. This involves filing your application at the embassy or consulate of the country. Several documents are required to accompany your application. Also the respective consulates may call you for a personal interview, fingerprinting procedures or to furnish additional documentation in select cases. In over 65+ countries Indian passport holder we can land with our passports and get Visa on arrival, in some case it is gratis and in some countries there will be certain Holidays.
Q. Do I need Travel & Medical Insurance?
A Medical Insurance is mandatory for travel to certain countries, and highly recommended for other destinations, as treatment abroad can be prohibitively expensive.
Q. What is the Foreign Exchange entitlement for Resident Indians?
A
• Each Resident Indian citizen is eligible to avail of foreign exchange up to US Dollars 10,000 or its equivalent for undertaking one or several private visits to any country abroad (except Nepal and Bhutan) in a calendar year under the BTQ (Basic Travel Quota).
• The following documentation must be furnished at the time of purchase of BTQ - The BTQ application form duly filled and signed by the traveller, Valid Passport and Overseas Travel Ticket.
Q. How should I plan and purchase currency for international travel?
A • We recommend that you should purchase destination specific currency (currency of the countries of visit) that one is travelling to (eg. Singapore Dollars for Singapore, Euro for Europe etc.). However, for several other worldwide destinations a widely accepted currency such as US Dollar or Euro would be suitable.
• We highly recommend a mixed purse concept, with purchase of a combination of Currency Notes and Travellers Cheques or Travellers Cheques and Prepaid Cards.
• Carry the greater amount in form of Travellers Cheques or Prepaid Cards, since this is secure and if lost you can get the Travellers Cheques or Prepaid Card reissued, canceling the existing ones.
Q. What are your suggestions for exchanging money abroad?
A
• We recommend that you change the money at banks or foreign exchange bureaus as they give a better rate than hotels. A passport is a must for encashment.
• It is prudent to use only authorized dealers so as not to break the applicable laws and risk being cheated or being given counterfeit currency.
Q. Regarding Travellers Cheques, how are these used?
A
• When encashing Travellers Cheques, in most countries one has to pay a commission charge for money exchange. Many shops accept US Dollars. But any change due to you will be given in the local currency only. Exchange rates fluctuate widely.
• Always keep a list of serial numbers & the purchase agreement of your Travellers Cheques separate to your Travellers Cheques. This will assist the refund if your Travellers Cheques are lost or stolen.
Q. What precautions should be taken before I leave?
A
• Reconfirm the airport terminal, flight number, date and time of travel 1-2 days prior to departure.
• Keeping the traffic conditions in mind make sure that you reach the airport at the reporting time, at least 3 1/2 hours before the flight departure time due to security reasons. Also early check-in will ensure that you will not be offloaded.
• Please ensure that you make photocopies of all your Travel Related documents. Keep one set of these documents with your family/relatives in India and carry one set with you on the tour. This is necessary should you lose or misplace any of the aforementioned documents whilst on tour.
• When leaving your house, be sure to take the sensible precautions when leaving your home unattended like securely closing all taps, shutting down and disconnecting electrical appliances, diverting all correspondence and securely closing your home.
• Some countries require vaccinations to be taken prior to land in their country, please check the same while booking the tour.
Q. What essential things should I pack for my holiday?
A
• You should carry the following documents - Passport with all visas and clearances, Air Tickets, Rail Tickets, All Service Vouchers, Tour Programme and Emergency Numbers of the ground handler.
• Include a pair of sunglasses and a cap to take care of the sun. Use sunscreen especially in the summer. Light showers can come and go and a light folding umbrella or windcheater is also recommended.
• Whenever you go sightseeing, keep a small bag handy with essentials like your camera, accessories as required, umbrella, windcheater, sweater, tennis shoes, water bottle, passport, medicines and money.
• Carry as few valuables as possible - Costume jewellery is very fashionable.
• Prescription Medicines as required must be carried. Please refer to the separate question addressing this in detail.
• Carry an additional pair of prescription glasses/lenses to take care of losses or breakages.
Q. What clothing should I carry?
A
• Clothing can be decided on the season. In summer, cool cotton clothing is advisable. In winter, it is advisable to keep various layers of clothing, as temperatures vary considerably.
• A light woolen, jacket or sweater is recommended on all tours, as evenings could get a little chilly.
• Strong, comfortable closed tennis shoes or walking shoes is recommended for walking that is done during sightseeing.
Q. Is there any applicable dress code?
A • Generally, there is no dress code when on a Holiday. However respect for the regional traditions and local sensitivities should be shown. In places of worship such as churches and cathedrals, temples, mosques etc, modest attire is essential.
• For select restaurants, casinos, shows, themed dinners, theatres and musical events formal or smart casual wear is required. Suit/Jackets, Ties and formal shoes for men. Western Eveningwear, Saris or Salwar Kameez are acceptable for ladies.
• Nightgowns and shorts are not allowed in hotel lobby, restaurants or dining areas. Jeans and Sports Shoes are also restricted in some formal settings.
Q. How much luggage am I allowed to carry?
A Its best to travel light - ideally one suitcase and one hand bag, and for maximum convenience, use bags or suitcases with wheels. Travel only with your essentials - keep space in your bags for you to bring home gifts and souvenirs from your holiday. Normally airlines allow 20-25 kgs per person as checked in luggage and 1 bag up to 7 kgs as cabin baggage. .
Q.What must I remember about the safety of my travel documents, valuables and baggage when I travel?
A
• All valuables, cash, travellers cheques, air ticket, passport should be carried in your handbag/luggage at all times. Do not keep all your money, credit cards or travellers cheques in one wallet, purse or pocket - Disperse them so that in case of theft you won't be totally penniless.
• Always take extra care of your luggage and handbags in crowded places like stations and sightseeing spots. In several places, pickpockets and thieves abound. Make sure to hold your bags closely and keep them fastened. Thieves and their methods have become more cunning and unscrupulous. Indians are known 'soft-targets'.
• Avoid carrying too much money on your person while going on around on your own and during sightseeing. Never leave your bags with your valuables unattended not even in the coach.
• For international travel, pack your baggage yourself and label it from inside. Do not accept any parcel or any packages from strangers and co-passengers. Ensure your check-in bags have a locking facility and are well labeled with your name and contact address for easy identification.
Q. Whom do I call or contact in case of emergency?
A
• Please note the numbers of our service partners, indicated on the travel documents issued to you. They would be the primary point to help you resolve any issues that arise in the rare event that may occur.
• Journeyneeds remains accessible to its customers. In case of an emergency at any time during the day or the night, please call our Customer Service Team accessible from all networks.
Q. What about Drinking Water and Beverages?
A
• Water is very expensive in several countries. Locals prefer drinking aerated drinks or wines with their meals. You may even discover that several beverages are actually cheaper than water. Most hotels, restaurants and rest stops do not serve water unless purchased. Packaged bottled water is now widely available.
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are easily available in the street cafes, bars and restaurants. In some cafes/bars, you pay a higher price to drink at the table than drinking at the bar.
• Normally, tap water is safe for drinking throughout Europe and UK. Requesting hotels and restaurants to fill empty bottles with water is considered rude. Tap drinking water in washrooms is safe to drink, and thus passengers are advised to manage this themselves.
Q. What are the check-in & checkout timings at the hotels?
A
• Broadly, the general check-in time is 2 p.m. and check-out time is 12 noon (In Australia, the check-out time is 10 a.m.). This may vary by hotels or locations where the time may differ from the indicated timings.
• Early check-in and late check-out requests are granted at the discretion of the hotel, and subject to availability of rooms.
Q. What precautions should I take during my hotel stay?
A
• You must keep your bags and suitcases locked and room door locked when you leave your room. On no account must valuables be left lying outside or around the room.
• Most hotels (either free of cost or at a nominal charge) have lockers where you can store all your valuables. Caution with smaller hotels where depositing valuables may not be very reliable, in which case, these will have to be carried along. When out on sightseeing, ensure that you leave the room keys at reception.
• On Departing, prior to checking out of the hotel, please check your room to ensure that all your belongings have been packed, and leave the keys at the reception. You will be required to clear all bills for extra services availed.
Q. What is duty free shopping?
A
• On the International Airports, you can find duty free shops, which sell branded products at discounted rates with no taxes. Many airlines also have in-flight duty free shopping. Some airports are famed for the range of products offered.
• While all the purchases made at duty-free shops are free of duties and levies, customs regulations of the country being entered will apply for the goods purchased.
Q. What are the Health Regulations?
A
• Indians travelling to Yellow Fever endemic countries such as Tropical Africa, South America, Central America and the West Indies, must be in possession of a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, where travel from or through Yellow Fever endemic countries is involved.
• Anyone (except infants up to the age of 6 months) arriving by air or sea from yellow fever endemic countries into India without this certificate is detained in isolation (quarantined) on arrival for 6 days at the Yellow Fever Hospital.
• Some Yellow Fever Endemic Countries are Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela amongst others.
• You are also advised to check up on global health travel advisories applicable at the time of planning your trip, with warnings and alerts are issued from time to time, and for revision in global travel health regulations.
Q. What Medical Precautions must be taken when travelling?
A
• In case of carrying Prescribed Medication, you must check with your doctor whether your medicine is acceptable or a banned drug in the countries that you would be covering. You can carry only what is permitted by destination countries.
• Ensure that you are carrying enough medicine to last the duration of your trip, as well as a copy of your doctor's prescription indicating the medication and the condition. Always carry medications in their original containers, in your carry-on luggage.
• We strongly suggest that you distribute medicines in different bags to ensure that in the event of some baggage getting misplaced, you will still have access to your medicines. .
Q. What is meant by Custom Regulations and Allowances?
A
• Various countries have customs regulations to control the material products and currency that can be imported or exported from that country.
• It must be seriously noted that several countries have very strict regulations and laws regarding export, import, carriage and possession of foodstuff, drugs & narcotics, animals, plants and other articles thereof for which controls may be in force, and violation of such laws could result in prosecution, leading to fines, imprisonment and even the death sentence.
Q. What are the Indian Custom Regulations, and how much duty should we pay on purchased goods?
A.
• According to the most recent Indian Customs regulations, goods purchased with a value less than Rs. 25000/- will not incur customs duty. However, a duty of 40% on the exceeding value will apply.
• Adult passengers arriving into India are allowed to carry in a laptop computer duty-free, for personal or business related use.
• Regarding cigarettes and alcohol, duty-free allowances are restricted to 1 carton of 10 packets (200 sticks) of cigarettes, 1 litre of Spirits and 1 litre of Wine per person to be brought into India (currently applicable, please check for latest update prior to actual travel date.)
• Expensive articles that are carried out of the country (exported) such as cameras and video cameras, which will be brought in (imported) again, must be declared at the customs counter on departure (after immigration), providing details such as model number and serial number.