Your first trip abroad has more moving parts than a holiday in India: a passport, possibly a visa, foreign currency, tax collected at source, and a country where you may not speak the language. None of it is difficult if you do it in the right order. Here is the order we follow with first-time travellers.
1. Check Your Passport First
Before you look at a single hotel, check every traveller's passport:
- It should be valid for at least six months after your return date. Many countries insist on this.
- It needs at least two blank pages for visas and stamps.
- Children need their own passports, and so do infants.
Renewals and new passports take time, especially in busy months, so do this months ahead.
2. Pick a Destination That Fits Your Time and Visa Window
For a first trip, choose somewhere that matches the time you have:
- Short trip, simple visa: Thailand, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bali and Sri Lanka are popular because flights are short and visas are straightforward or online.
- Longer trip, bigger planning: Europe, the UK, Japan or Australia need more paperwork and earlier visa appointments.
Visa rules change often, so always check the current rule for your passport before booking anything non-refundable.
3. Start the Visa Early
- E-visa and visa-on-arrival countries: a week or two is usually enough, but don't leave it to the last day.
- Schengen, UK, US and similar: start at least three months before travel. Appointment slots fill up fast in peak seasons.
A typical tourist visa file includes bank statements, income tax returns, a leave letter or business proof, hotel and flight bookings, and travel insurance. Read our visa assistance page for how we prepare files.
4. Book Flights and Hotels in the Right Order
For visa countries, book refundable or hold bookings first, apply for the visa, then confirm. For visa-free countries, book flights early for better fares.
When choosing hotels, location matters more than stars. Stay somewhere central and walkable, close to public transport and with Indian or vegetarian food nearby. It saves money on taxis and makes evenings easier.
5. Understand TCS Before You Pay
If you buy an overseas tour package from an Indian travel agent, Tax Collected at Source (TCS) is added to the bill. From 1 April 2026, the rate on overseas tour packages is a flat 2% of the package value, down from the earlier 5% and 20% slabs.
TCS is not an extra cost in the long run. It is credited against your income tax, and you can claim it when you file your return. Plan for it in your cash flow, though, because you pay it upfront.
6. Sort Out Money
- Carry a forex card loaded in the main currency. It is safer than cash and usually gives better rates than using a debit card abroad.
- Take a small amount of cash for taxis and small shops on arrival.
- Tell your bank you are travelling and enable international use on one card as a backup.
7. Buy Travel Insurance
Medical treatment abroad is expensive. Insurance is mandatory for Schengen visas and strongly advised everywhere else. Check that it covers medical emergencies, trip delays and lost baggage.
8. Plan Your Food
Vegetarian food is easy to find in Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia, and harder in parts of East Asia and Europe. Before you go, note a few vegetarian or Indian restaurants near your hotel and the sights you'll visit each day. For Jain meals, carry some ready-to-eat food as backup.
9. Get Connected
Buy an international roaming pack or an eSIM before you fly, so you have maps and WhatsApp the moment you land.
10. Keep Copies of Everything
Save PDFs of passports, visas, tickets, hotel vouchers and insurance in your phone and in email. Carry one set of photocopies separately from the originals.
The Day Before You Fly
- Web check-in and seat selection done
- Passport, visa printout, forex card, some cash
- Hotel address written in the local language
- Charger, adapter and medicines in hand luggage
A first trip abroad goes smoothly when the paperwork is done early and every day is planned. If you'd like that done for you, our online planner builds a day-by-day itinerary in minutes, and our team can handle flights, hotels and visas end to end.
