Planning · 3 July 2026 · 8 min read
Planning a first international trip from India
Passports, buffer days, forex and the mistakes we see most often. A checklist for travellers leaving the country for the first time.
Start with the passport. Most destinations expect at least six months of validity from your date of return and two blank pages. If yours is close to the line, renew before you book anything.
Give yourself a buffer. A single tight connection is the most common reason a first trip goes sideways. We plan at least three hours between an international arrival and any onward domestic flight.
Carry a mix of forex card and a little cash. Cards work almost everywhere in Dubai and Bali; ferries, markets and small operators in Thailand and the Andamans often do not.
Finally, share your itinerary with someone at home and save your travel desk number offline. Requirements and rules change, so we confirm the current visa position for your passport at the time of booking rather than relying on anything published months earlier.
