India Travel Notes
An airport stop on my travels.
- Languages
- Hindi · English · Many Local Languages
- Currency
- Indian Rupee · INR
- Cash
- Keep Rupees For Small Purchases.
- Cards
- Usually Yes At Larger Venues.
- Tap To Pay
- Card Taps And UPI Differ.
- WiFi
- Available. Quality Varies.
- Mobile Data
- SIM Or eSIM · Check Coverage
- Small Shops
- Varies. Keep Cash Handy.
- Tipping
- Appreciated For Table Service
What To Wear
What To Pack
My India visit was an airport connection. Keep a layer and comfortable shoes in your cabin bag. If entering the country, choose clothes for that region and season, with more coverage for religious sites.
Money And Payments
Cash And Cards
Cards usually work at hotels, malls, larger shops, and established restaurants. Keep rupees for small purchases and local transport. UPI QR payments are a different system from tapping your card or phone wallet; seeing a QR code does not mean your usual payment method is set up to use it.
Travel Cards
A travel card is not automatically connected to India’s UPI system. For a permitted landside visit, arrange usable rupees and confirm your payment method.
Tipping Culture
At a nicer restaurant, around 10% for good service is a useful guide. Look at the bill first so an existing service charge is clear. For an airside coffee, no automatic tip is needed. If entering India and choosing a 10% restaurant tip, a ₹1,000 meal would mean ₹100, after checking any service charge.
Getting Around
Getting Around Locally
Confirm the airport and terminal shown on both tickets. A terminal change, baggage collection, or separate booking can turn a transit connection into an immigration and road transfer.
Traveling Between Stops
Do not treat a domestic flight as an international airside transfer. Ask the airline where you clear immigration and reclaim bags before deciding how much connection time is enough.
Staying Connected
Using T Mobile In India
India is listed for international roaming on eligible T Mobile plans. Data allowances, speeds, and call charges depend on your plan. Check before you travel.
Mobile Data For This Trip
Download all onward documents before landing. If remaining airside, airport connectivity may be enough for the layover; do not buy a city data package on the assumption you can leave the terminal.
Where To Stay
Choosing Your Area
Airside and landside airport hotels have different access requirements. Check the exact terminal and whether entry permission is needed before paying. I have no personally reviewed Indian city stay here.
Before You Arrive
Before You Fly
Use the official Indian visa portal for your nationality and transit arrangement. An eVisa is only valid at designated entry points. An arrival declaration and visa permission are separate requirements.
Sources And My Visit
Practical information was researched and checked on 22 October 2026. My reviews describe my own visits. Area comparisons are planning advice, not hotels I claim to have inspected. Entry advice must match your passport, residency, route, and travel date.
