This is the first video of my Mauritius trip. I visited Mauritius in July 2018. In this video, you will see me sharing information about Mumbai Airport, Immigration formalities in India before going to Mauritius, Mauritius Visa for Indians, and other Important documents and formalities. I have also shared about my experience with Air Mauritius. The flight duration from Mumbai to Mauritius was around 6 hours.
Thanks to the travel portals like Skyscanner, Kayak, Momondo & this tool which helped me to find a cheap flight from India to Egypt. I paid 17,000 Indian Rupees for a flight ticket from Delhi to Alexandria and back.
Why Alexandria, Not Cairo!
I have given a reason in the video for not choosing Cairo, the capital city of Egypt as my destination airport. Despite there are more flight operations from Cairo than Alexandria, I decided to opt for Alexandria, because of the itinerary suggested by the travel portals.
Read : How to get Cheap flights from India to anywhere in the world
Jeddah Airport Review
My itinerary had a long layover at Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia. So for me travelling from India to Egypt via Saudi Arabia was cheaper. However, my experience was not good at the Jeddah airport. No wifi, no free water, less charging points, less comfortable recliner seats, filthy toilets and over-crowded airport were disappointing. Though there are some hacks available, which I have suggested in the video.
Read : How to get Egypt's Visa in India
Flights from India to anywhere
Direct flights provide a lot of convenience to travellers. Unfortunately, as of now, there is no direct flight to Bali from India. But these are airlines which operate between India and Denpasar (Bali) with a stopover. Though if all goes well, very soon there will be a direct flight from Mumbai to Bali which will be operated by Garuda Indonesia. Check this list of flights to Bali from India for more detailed information:
Garuda Indonesia
- It is the national airline of Indonesia
- It is expected to start a direct flight connecting Mumbai to Bali
- It is a full-service airline
- Service from India – Chennai, Mumbai & New Delhi
- Stopover – Jakarta or Singapore
Batik Air
- It is a low-cost airline
- Service from India – Chennai
- Stopover – Kuala Lumpur
Visa, Hotels, Mobile Sim, Local Transport, Vegetarian food in Bali : Bali Travel Guide
Air Asia
- Nothing can beat Air Asia in terms of low-cost flight tickets. Thanks to Air Asia, ‘now everyone can fly‘ :)
- Service from India – Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Pune, Ranchi, Srinagar, Tiruchirappalli & Visakhapatnam
- Stopover – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KLIA2)
- Usual Fares – 25,000 Indian Rupees
- Cheapest Fares – 15,000 Indian Rupees (limited offer)
Despite cheap fares, why he didn't take Air Asia while coming back to India: Check here
Flights from to Bali
Malaysia Airlines
- It is the Flag Carrier of Malaysia
- It is a full-service airline
- Service from India – Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad & Mumbai
- Stopover – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KLIA)
- Usual Fares – 30,000 Indian Rupees
How was my experience with Malaysia Airlines from Delhi to Bali: Watch this video
Thai Airways
- It is the Flag Carrier of Thailand
- It is a full-service airline
- Service from India – Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Gaya, Lucknow, Jaipur & Varanasi
- Stopover – Bangkok, Thailand (Suvarnabhumi – BKK)
- Usual Fares – 45,000 Indian Rupees
Singapore Airlines
- It is the Flag Carrier of Singapore
- It is a full-service airline
- Service from India – Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai
- Stopover – Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)
- Usual Fares – 37,000 Indian Rupees
Click to know, How I spent 5 days in Bali
Malindo Air
- It is a Malaysian full-service airline
- Service from India – Amritsar, Delhi, Kochi, Mumbai, Tiruchirappalli & Trivandrum
- Stopover – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KLIA)
- Usual Fares – 30,000 Indian Rupees
For a country that is only a little bigger than Italy, Vietnam has a great geographic and cultural diversity. It has a tropical climate with four changing seasons throughout the year. With mountains in the north to a coastline stretching 3,200 kilometres, the country has a lot to offer. Check out the ‘Vietnam travel guide’ to know more about this intriguing South-east Asian country!
Vietnam Visa for Indians
Vietnam E-visa for Indians
Vietnam offers the facility of Electronic visa to citizens of selected countries. India is one of them. So all the Indians holding a valid Indian passport are eligible for an e-visa for Vietnam. The validity of Vietnam’s E-visa is 30 days, Single Entry. The E-visa holders can enter and exit only from these ports in Vietnam.
Official website to get Vietnam’s E-visa
The Vietnamese Immigration Department issues the E-visa to the foreigners. This is the official website to apply for the E-visa. https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt
How to get Vietnam’s E-visa
Steps for e-visa application for Vietnam:
- Click this link (official link for Vietnam’s E-visa) to start the online visa application process.
- Fill the application form and upload all the documents. After this, a registration code will be sent to you.
- Pay the e-visa fees (25 USD). The application is processed within 3 working days. Payments can be made by using the online banking system.
- Enter registration code, registered email and Date of Birth to check the result in e-visa search menu (https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.
gov.vn/tra-cuu-thi-thuc). If approved, print the e-visa to enter or exit Vietnam.
Documents required for Vietnam’s E-visa
- Photograph (Portrait)
- Copy of Passport
Vietnam E-visa fee
The fee for Vietnam’s E-Visa is 25 USD. This is equivalent to 1600 Indian Rupees (Approx.).
For any query on E-visa, please visit the E-Visa support of Vietnam
How to reach Vietnam from India?
Although there are no direct flights for Vietnam from India, a lot of connecting flights are available for travel to Vietnam. via Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore.
Airports in Vietnam
There are a total of 21 major civil airports in the country, including three international gateways:
- Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi
- Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City
Tan Son Nhat is the nation’s largest airport, handling 75% of international passenger traffic.
Budget hotels in Vietnam
Vietnam Embassy & Consulate
Embassy of Vietnam in New Delhi, India
- Vietnam embassy Address: 17, Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021
- Vietnam embassy contact number: 011 2687 9852
- Vietnam embassy working hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Consulate of Vietnam in Bombay, India
- Address: Unit 805, 8th Floor, Powai Plaza, Hiranandani Gardens, Central Avenue, Powai, Mumbai – 400076
- Phone: +91 22 2570 2033
- Email: [email protected]
Other valuable tips
Etiquette and customs in Vietnam
- Pass items with both hands.
- Always use your hand while pointing at things.
- Avoid standing with your hands on your hips.
- Avoid passing anything over someone’s head.
- Shorts should only be worn at the beach.
Best time to visit Vietnam
The best season to visit Vietnam is between February to April and between August to October. The temperatures are moderate and rainfall is lighter. In spring, March and April have the lowest rainfall across all destinations and temperatures are pleasant, though still cool in the far north.
Vietnam Currency
The official currency of Vietnam is Vietnamese Dong (VND). 1 Indian Rupees equals 357 Vietnamese Dong. Thus travelling to Vietnam is quite economical for Indian tourists.
India-Vietnam Time difference
Vietnam is 1.5 hours (1 hour and 30 minutes) ahead of India. For example, if it is 2:30 PM in India, it will be 4:00 PM in Vietnam.
Travel Guide : Bali
Bhutan, officially called the Kingdom of Bhutan is one of our neighbours which offers ample reason for Indian citizens to visit this beautiful country. This landlocked country is a great tourist attraction and at the same time, perfect for budget travellers. India and Bhutan have had friendly relations for a long time. Bhutan is easily accessible and economical as 1 Bhutanese Ngultrum (it’s currency) equals nearly 1 Indian Rupee. Check this post and start making your plans to visit Bhutan.
No visa for Indian tourists to visit Bhutan
Bhutan has restrictions over tourism, so people from the west need to spend a lot of money to travel to Bhutan but the same doesn’t apply to Indians. Bhutan is quite welcoming towards Indian tourists! In fact, Bhutan and Nepal are the only neighbouring countries of India, where Indian citizens are not required a visa.
Read: How can you visit Myanmar without a visa for one day
Documents required to enter Bhutan
- Voters Identity card
- Indian Passport (not mandatory)
- 2 passport sized photograph
- Duly filled application form (you’ll get at the immigration office)
To enter Bhutan by road or flight, you require either a valid Indian passport with a six months validity or a Voters Identity Card (VIC). Aadhar is not an acceptable document to enter in Bhutan. After submitting the above-mentioned documents at the immigration office you’ll get an entry permit. It usually takes 1 hour to get the entry permit of Bhutan at the Phuntsholing border.
Documents required to enter Bhutan with own vehicle
- Entry permit issued by the Bhutanese Immigration department
- Driving licence
- Vehicle’s Registration certificate of vehicle
- PUC (Pollution under control) certificate
- A simple application to get the vehicle’s permit, addressing Sr. Regional Transport officer, Phuentsholing, Bhutan (There is no prescribed format)
If you wish to drive your vehicle (car or motorcycle) registered in India, you are required to obtain a Route Permit from the Road Safety and Transport Authority office in Bhutan after obtaining the entry permit from the Department of Immigration.
Read : How to enter Nepal with own vehicle
How to reach Bhutan from India
Bhutan by train:
The nearest railway station from Phuntsholing border is Hasimara (West Bengal). Catch a train from New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri, West Bengal) and then take a shared auto to Jaigaon/Phuntsholing border. You don’t need a reserved seat on the train since it’s not very crowded and the journey is not very long. It takes around 3 hours. The route from New Jalpaiguri to Hasimara is quite scenic. Trains pass through a jungle which is home to elephants. Indian Railways operate all the trains at slow speed for the safety of elephants.
- Hasimara railway station to Phuntsholing border – 19 kilometres
Bhutan by Road:
Phuntsholing is the gateway to Bhutan. The entry point is known as Jaigaon/Phuentsholing border. Jaigaon is on the Indian side of the border and Phuentsholing is on the Bhutanese. You can get a direct bus for Phuntsholling from Siliguri. There is also a direct bus service from Kolkata’s Esplanade bus terminal to Bhutan.
- Siliguri to Phuntsholing border – 156 kilometres
Bhutan by air:
You can travel to Bhutan by flight but it not recommended as it is expensive. Two flights connect India to Bhutan, Bhutan Airlines and Druk air. These flights operate from Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, etc. These flights take you to Paro Airport, which is the only international airport in the country. Flight from Kolkata to Paro takes 1 hour 10 minutes whereas Guwahati to Paro takes 55 minutes.
Airports in Bhutan
- Paro Airport is the only international airport in the country.
- Yongphulla Airport in Trashigang is a small domestic airport that underwent upgrades through 2010. Yongphulla Airport was scheduled for completion in January 2010 but as of January 2015, the airport remains closed due to ongoing runway repair.
Embassy of Bhutan in India, New Delhi
- Address: Royal Bhutanese Embassy, Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021.
- Contact Numbers: 011-26889230, 26889809, 26889807
- Website: http://www.mfa.gov.bt/rbedelhi/
Royal Bhutanese Consulate, Kolkata
- Address: Bhutan House 6/1Mall Road, Dum Dum Kolkata-700080. Landmark: Near ILS Hospital
- Contact Numbers: 033- 25600756, 25600490, 25593676
- Website: http://www.consulkolkata.org/bhutan.html
Useful Websites
- Bhutan, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan
- Druk Air: https://www.drukair.com.bt
- Bhutan Airlines: http://www.bhutanairlines.bt
Other valuable tips
- For travel between cities, buses are the cheapest. They run on fixed times every day but there are only 1-2 buses to a particular destination in a day.
- Food is not expensive. You can eat at nice restaurants without spending too much money.
- Do not take any tourism packages. They will unnecessarily charge you a lot of money.
- No need to plan in advance. The people are friendly and will help you in need.
- You are not required to spend a minimum amount of 250 US dollars per person per day like the western tourists. Indians are exempted from this rule.
- You do not need to submit any pre-planned itinerary anywhere. Feel free to travel at your will. But note that you will be issued travel permit only for the town of Thimphu and Paro from the border town of Pheuntsholing. To travel further, you need to obtain a permit from Thimphu immigration office.
- The cheapest and the best way to travel within Bhutan is the Coaster Bus which is a 40 seater bus, operated by various private bus owners.
Best time to visit Bhutan
March, April, May, September, October & November are the best months to visit Bhutan. Spring season from March to May is the best time for nature lovers when the rich and vibrant colours of flora can be seen. The moderate temperature during Autumn is a good reason to visit Bhutan between September & November.
Bhutan is perfect country for Solo travellers. Check solo travelling tips for Indians
Currency
1 Nu (Ngultrum) = 1 Rupee (approx)
(Ngultrum is pronounced as Naltram) Indian Rupee is happily accepted everywhere.
Time
+0600 GMT or +0030 IST
(In Layman’s language = if its 1:00 pm in India, it will be 1:30 pm in Bhutan)
Fuel
Petrol is cheaper than India
Hotels
Popular Tourist places – Starting from Nu 500 to Star hotels
Less popular places – Starting from Nu 250 to Nu 700 or maybe more
Altitude
Phuntsholing – 200 metres
Paro – 2240 metres
Some useful Bhutanese words
- Guzuzangpo – Namaste (in Hindi), Hello
- Kadinche – Thanks
- La – Sir, Ji (in Hindi)
- Lhakhang = Temple
Hotels in Bhutan
Booking.com
When it comes to going on a foreign trip, flight tickets are the costliest part of the trip expenditures. But there are many ways to find a cheaper airfare deal. Recently I travelled to Russia from India. The return flight ticket to Russia cost me just Rupees 15,000. You can get a return flight ticket to Malaysia in just Rupees 4,000, the USA in less than 37,000 Rupees and a one-way ticket to London in just 8,500 Indian Rupees. In this article I am going to share tips and tricks based on my experience on how to get a cheap flight for international trips:
Find the cheapest place to fly
If you’re open to multiple options then budget travelling is greatly possible. If you do not limit yourself to a specific destination then this increases the probability of getting cheap flights. For example, when people travel to Russia, they mostly travel to more prominent tourist destinations like Moscow. But it may happen that flights from your nearest airport to Moscow might be expensive. In that case, choose a different city in Russia (like I travelled to Omsk). After reaching there use available transport options within the country to travel from Omsk to Moscow. Another example, if a person from a foreign country plans to visit India, but can’t find cheap flights to Delhi. Instead, flights to Mumbai or Ahmedabad are low priced. In this case he can book tickets up to either of these cities and then travel by train to Delhi. This method may not guarantee comfort while travelling but will surely enable low-cost travelling.
Book flights as early as possible
Start monitoring the flight tickets well before your planned travel dates. As soon as you find cheap flights, book your tickets. This method is quite effective in getting budget flights. Like, I had planned my travel for 18th September and started monitoring the flight rates from before. On 1st of August, I found cheap flights and booked them quickly.
Book tickets directly from the airlines
There are often chances that you may find cheap flights at the airline’s website than at other online travel agencies (OTA). In this case, compare the two and book the one that’s well in your budget.
Book on weekdays
Though it is not a thumb rule, normally, fares are expensive on weekends. So always book your flight tickets on weekdays. There may also be chances that e-payment or online travelling agencies like GoIbibo, MakeMyTrip, PayTM or Yatra.com may bring offers for cheap flights on weekdays in collaboration with banks like ICICI, AXIS, HDFC, etc. I availed a similar offer from Cleartrip to book my ticket from Delhi to Russia which actually cost about 17,000 but during the offer period, I got a cashback of Rs 2000. Hence Delhi to Omsk and back cost me Rs 15,000.
Go Incognito and search airfares secretly
Always use private modes while booking flight tickets. For example, use the ‘incognito’ mode in Google Chrome. The flight booking websites use cookies and increase the fares in proportion to the number of searches made on the browser. They psychologically force you to book expensive tickets on account of increasing prices. That’s why experts recommend using incognito mode while booking flight tickets in order to stay away from the artificially raising prices by the companies.
Use local airlines
Using local airlines while travelling within the country is always cost-effective as compared to the international airlines. It is recommended that you search more about the local airlines of the country that you plan to visit. For example, if a person decides to visit India and travel by flight within the country, then he may prefer using cheap flights like SpiceJet, GoAir or Indigo rather than Air India or Jet Airways. In this way, he can definitely save some money.
Love long layovers
Having long layovers for connecting flights may often be useful. There are several countries that provide Indians with free visa or visa on arrival. You can utilize this opportunity to explore that particular city rather than waiting at the airport for your next flight. This can also be done in case you have a transit visa for a particular country.
How I spent long layover at Dubai Airport
Use Tourist Helpline
On my blog, I have made a post where I share cheap flight deals whenever I come across them. Also, keep checking the Facebook group of TouristHelpline where there is always a post concerning cheap flight deals. Other members also keep sharing useful information.
Useful websites for booking budget flights
Watch this video for more
Dubai is one of the most sought travel destinations for Indians. If you are also planning a Dubai trip, then this is a must-read. After going through this post, you will get to know how to get Dubai’s visa, flights from India and several other travel tips.
How to get Dubai’s visa
You need UAE visa to visit Dubai. UAE embassy does not issue a tourist visa to ordinary passport holders. There are 3 ways to get a visa for Dubai.
- Hotels
- Airlines
- Travel agents
- Approach the hotel where you are going to stay in Dubai. They will charge their fees and get you the visa.
- Emirates, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, Indigo can help you in getting a tourist visa for UAE.
- You can also approach travel agents, but due to the authenticity issues, its advisable to contact the Airlines.
- Besides these 3 ways, there is one more option to get the visa if you have a sponsor based in UAE. Google to know more about it.
OTB for Dubai
Ask your airlines to insert the ‘OK to Board’ (OTB) message in your flight ticket details, in case you have got the visa from a travel agency or others. This should be done at least 12-48 hours (depending upon the airlines) prior to the departure of your flight, otherwise, you may not be allowed to travel despite having a valid visa. While getting UAE visa from a travel agency provide them with your flight ticket’s details such as PNR, passenger’s name, date of travel, etc. and ask them to call the airlines to insert the OTB message for you. Call your airlines to clear any doubts.
LATEST UPDATE: No OTB required for Dubai for these travellers
Dubai visa online application
Those travelling with Emirates can get an online visa. For more information please visit the official website of Emirates.
Flights for Dubai
Direct flights from various parts of India to Dubai
- Air India
- Emirates
- Jet Airways
- Fly Dubai
- Air India Express
- Indigo
- Spicejet
Check this - All Airlines between India and Dubai
Other airlines like Etihad and Air Arabia also operate from India but don’t have a direct flight to Dubai. Etihad Airways will take you to Abu Dhabi and from there they will provide a luxury bus to Dubai. The bus takes about 1-1.5 hours to reach Dubai. Likewise, Air Arabia will take you to Sharjah and from there they will also provide a coach to Dubai. Travelling time between Sharjah to Dubai is between half an hour to One hour.
Cheapest flight finder for Dubai
Documents needed for Dubai’s (UAE) Visa
- Bank statement (last 6 months)
- Income Tax Return for previous year (not mandatory)
- 1 passport sized photograph with white background
- Passport in original
- Confirmed hotel reservation (Click here to get online confirmed hotel booking for Dubai)
- Return flight tickets (only Fly Dubai)
- UAE Visa fee – Rs. 5750
- Processing time – 3 to 4 days
- Minimum Bank balance for Dubai’s visa – Its suggested having a bank balance more than Rs 50,000-75000.
I called Fly Dubai to know the documents required to get UAE tourist visa through them. The information shared above has been provided by them.
Dubai’s Visa on Arrival
Those Indian passport holders having a valid visa for the USA or Green card can get a visa-on-arrival for UAE. Duration of such visa is 14 days and fees is AED 120 (2070 INR approx.)
Travel tips for Dubai
The following tips are shared by Mr Rajesh Sood, a member of TouristHelpline’s facebook group who recently travelled to Dubai with his family.
Dubai flights in advance
Plan and book flight tickets at least 2-3 months in advance. Use websites like skyscanner, kayak, momondo to find lowest flight tickets. You can also check this post on TouristHelpline.com to find cheap international air tickets from India –
How to book hotels in Dubai
Choose a central location to stay in Dubai. You can use online travel agencies like booking.com, goibibo, makemytrip, yatra, etc. to book your stay. TouristHelpline’s hotel booking page can also be used for getting a confirmed hotel booking, even without paying in advance.
Use Dubai’s public transport
Use public transport in Dubai to travel between places. Most of the tourist places are well connected with public transportation like metro and buses. Dubai Metro service is world class.
Obey rules in Dubai
When in Dubai, Strictly follow their laws. A small mistake can land you into big troubles. If you are walking, cross a road only using the zebra crossing and that too when its green signal for crossing the road. Don’t spit or throw any waste material anywhere you wish. This can be treated as an offence.
Other valuable tips
- Book activities tickets on their official websites.
- Carry a forex card and use it to pay your bills there.
- I used my Vodafone’s postpaid connection to stay connected back with my friends and family. It gave me roaming facility with unlimited data, incoming and outgoing calls for 7 days.
- There are a lot of people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Dubai. So you will find a lot of people understand and speak Hindi. So language will not be a problem.
- Do not enter beaches in underwear, get a proper swimsuit for the purpose.
- For Desert Safari, chose evening or night Desert Safari.
- For Burj Khalifa, prefer evening time. Capturing photographs around 4.00 pm will give you better results.
- Don’t forget to visit Gould Souk (Gold Market) if you have interest in gold. But the ‘making charges’ on gold ornaments are bit high.
- Electronic products are cheap in comparison to India. But if you buy any electronic item be ready to pay customs at airports in India. You can bring a laptop in your bag after unboxing.
- Indian food is readily available but a higher price.
- Use Google maps to find directions and check reviews. You can also get to see pictures posted by the ‘local guides’ on Google maps.
- Dubai is one of the safest places on Earth. So enjoy and explore the place without any fear.